It’s the Godolphin Blue month of June, and already the home-bred blue bloods of World Champion Bivouac and Cartier Horse of The Year Ghaiyyath are arriving at Darley Kelvinside.
In being the World Champion Sprinter of 2020 at four in winning the VRC Sprint Classic of 1200m, Bivouac is a ‘happy and sound retired horse’ in winning all seven races at stakes level.
“Bivouac was lightning quick, tractable, and possessed an amazing turn of foot,” said his trainer James Cummings. “He has been a pleasure, and I certainly look forward to training his progeny.”
In defeating Lovin Gabby and Gytrash in the Newmarket Handicap, Bivouac was stamped Champion 3YO, in also beating Yes Yes Yes and Exceedance in the Golden Rose and Run to The Rose.
Also at four, he won the Vain Stakes and was Gr1 placed in both the Coolmore Stud Stakes and William Reid Stakes, having been a Gr3 winning juvenile and has a 128 Timeform rating.
In being the best produce of champion racehorse and sire Exceed And Excel, Bivouac is the family of champions Guelph and Sepoy, being from the winning More Than Ready mare Dazzler.
The four times Gr1 winner Ghaiyyath also joins Darley Kelvinside as the Longines World’s Best Racehorse and Cartier Horse of The Year for 2020, having beaten Enable in the Eclipse Stakes.
In Enable being a duel Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner, he also defeated the champion Magical in the Juddmonte International and Epsom Derby winner Anthony Van Dyck in the Coronation Cup.
At four Ghaiyyath was crowned Champion Older Horse of Germany in winning the Grosser Preis von Baden and Prix d’Harcourt, while being a Gr3 winner at both two and three years.
“He’s got tactical pace, he’s got gears, he has everything,” said Charlie Appleby, as the best son of the Dubawi, he’s half-brother to European Champion Zhukova, from 1000 Gns winner Nightime.
At Epsom on Saturday, it was Adam Kirby who sneaked a rail’s run at the 2 furlong in the Derby Stakes on Adayar, the ride that was so bold it was described as ‘venturing into no-mans land.’
As the stables 16/1 outsider, Adayar began awkwardly, before gaining a rails run, and with Adam Kirby making ground into Tattenham Corner he quickened at the 2f and won by 4½ lengths.
Previously second in two Derby trails, Adayar won over 1m6½f as a 2yo, and is the first Epsom Derby winner by his sire Frankel, being home bred from the Irish 1000 Guineas heroine Anna Salai.
Charlie Appleby now aims for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe with Adayar having to win the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, while his third place Hurricane Lane is set for the Irish Derby.
As racing fortunes change, it was Adam Kirby who had originally lost the fancied ride on John Leeper to Frankie Dettori, with Franki’s Coolmore mount not being an acceptor with Bolshoi Ballet.
Also last Saturday, across the Atlantic at Belmont Park it was Godolphin’s Exclusive Quality, who claimed the Belmont Stakes as race favourite, having been fourth in the Kentucky Derby.
With jockey Luis Sae having Exclusive Quality racing midfield along the back straight, he reached the lead on entering home straight, before pulling away from Hot Rod Charlie to win by 1¼ lengths.
It was definitely a bold move by Godolphin and trainer Brad Cox to miss dropping back to 1 3/16m of the Preakness Stakes, having been unplaced in the Kentucky Derby of 1¼m two week earlier.
As last season’s unbeaten Champion 2YO in winning the Breeder’s Cup Juvenile and Breeders’ Futurity, Essential Quality went into the Kentucky Derby as the Blue Grass and Southwest Stakes winner.
Also home bred by Godolphin, Essential Quality is by Gainesway Farm’s record-breaking sire Tapit, being from the non-winning Gr3 placed Delightful Quality, a daughter of Exclusive Quality.
With the US Group 1 season moving to Saratoga, Brad Cox is looking for Derby success as the Travers Stakes of 1¼m is termed the ‘Summer Derby,’ and is proceeded by the Jim Dandy Stakes.
