Horse of the Year title underlines sensational season Stateside

Another banner year in North America resulted in Godolphin collecting five accolades at the 2023 Eclipse Awards on Thursday, headed by Cody’s Wish securing a first Horse of the Year title for the royal blue silks.

Cody’s Wish enjoyed a superb year, with stunning wins in the Churchill Downs Stakes and Met Mile in addition to a successful defence of his Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile crown. His exploits also saw him receive the award for Champion Older Dirt Mile.

Pretty Mischievous also enjoyed a brilliant 2023, becoming the first Godolphin winner of the Kentucky Oaks before going on to further G1 success in the Acorn Stakes and Test Stakes. The daughter of Into Mischief, who remains in training this year, was voted Champion Three-Year-Old Filly.

Godolphin picked up the Outstanding Owner Award for a fourth consecutive year, and seventh time in total, thanks to prizemoney in excess of US$17m and 12 G1 victories. All 12 were achieved by homebreds, helping Godolphin take the Outstanding Breeder Award for a third straight year.

On the track, Measured Time readily beat Ottoman Fleet in the Jebel Hatta at Meydan on Friday to become Godolphin’s first ever G1 winner in the month of January, setting up a tilt at the Dubai Turf on Dubai World Cup Night.

Hartnell previously held the record for the earliest G1 scorer in the year, taking the 2018 C F Orr Stakes in early February. Godolphin’s Lifetime Care flagbearer made his own racecourse appearance over the weekend as he proved a popular attraction at Moonee Valley.

A good night for Godolphin at Meydan also saw Mysterious Night continue his resurgence with a brave win in the G2 Al Fahidi Fort, while Star Of Mystery easily accounted for older opposition in the G2 Blue Point Sprint. Siskany completed a clean sweep of the evening’s turf races as he led in the final stride of the Listed Al Khail Trophy.

The Dubai Racing Carnival continues this Friday with the G3 Dubai Millennium Stakes providing the highlight. Godolphin has won nine of the 10 editions of the race, including with Ghaiyyath and Nations Pride, and both New London and Warren Point will be looking to add their names to the roll of honour.

Local Dynasty and Passion And Glory could head to Bahrain on the same day for the Listed Crown Prince’s Cup, while impressive Fair Grounds winner Maycocks Bay will be seeking Kentucky Derby points in Saturday’s G3 Southwest Stakes in the United States.