The first weekend in May represented a key date in the international racing diary. Beginning with the domestic action, the opening Classics of the 2025 campaign rolled onto the Rowley Mile, as Newmarket staged the 2,000 and the 1,000 Guineas. Over in the USA, the road to the Triple Crown began at Churchill Downs with the Run for the Roses in the Kentucky Derby and the supporting Kentucky Oaks.
With all four contests offering considerable prize money and an exponential boost to the breeding value of the winners, the most powerful owners and breeders headed into the weekend with high hopes. Coolmore, Juddmonte, Shadwell, and more were represented, but all were swept aside by an irresistible blue tide. This weekend belonged to Godolphin, who swept all four events.
Reason to Cheer in Kentucky Oaks
| Position | Horse | Odds | Jockey | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Good Cheer | 7/5 | Luis Saez | Brad H Cox |
| 2nd | Drexel Hill | 32/1 | Ben Curtis | D Whitworth Beckman |
| 3rd | Bless The Broken | 178/10 | John R Velazquez | William Walden |
The first leg of this spectacular four-timer came at Churchill Downs on Friday evening, as a field of 13 lined up in the Kentucky Oaks. In common with the Epsom Oaks, this contest is restricted to three-year-old mares but is held over 1m1f, rather than the 1m4f trip of the English event.
Having first tasted Kentucky Oaks success with Pretty Mischievous in 2023, this year Godolphin relied on the Medaglia d’Oro filly Good Cheer, who hailed from the yard of dual Oaks winner Brad H Cox.
Unbeaten in four starts at two and arriving on the back of Group 2 wins in the Rachel Alexandra Stakes and Fair Ground Oaks, the mount of Luis Saez started as the solid 7/5f to come home in front. Those who supported the market leader had barely a moment of concern. Kept out of trouble in sixth for the bulk of the contest, Good Cheer surged into contention turning for home, hit the front at the furlong pole and powered home to score by just over two lengths.
Buick Holds Court in 2,000 Guineas
| Position | Horse | Odds | Jockey | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Ruling Court | 9/2 | William Buick | Charlie Appleby |
| 2nd | Field Of Gold | 15/8 | Kieran Shoemark | John & Thady Gosden |
| 3rd | Shadow Of Light | 6/1 | Mickael Barzalona | Charlie Appleby |
With all due respect to the Kentucky Oaks, the main events were still to come with the English mile Classics, and the biggest US race of the year. First up on Saturday afternoon, the focus switched to Newmarket for a compelling edition of the 2,000 Guineas. First successful with Mark Of Esteem in 1996 and most recently with Notable Speech in 2024, Godolphin headed to HQ seeking a sixth 2,000 Guineas success.
Shadow Of Light and Ruling Court were the colts tasked with landing the prize in 2025. William Buick’s decision to ride the latter saw the odds of Ruling Court shorten dramatically in the days leading up to the race. Having launched his Classic campaign with a six-length romp in the Meydan version of the race, could he repeat the trick in a field containing impressive Craven Stakes winner Field Of Gold and a host of challengers from the leading British and Irish yards?
He could. But only just. Travelling smoothly towards the near side throughout, he was the first of the main contenders to kick for home under William Buick. That early move proved decisive. Having mastered Shadow Of Light inside the final furlong, Ruling Court held on to score by half a length from the fast-finishing Field Of Gold.
Sovereignty Rules in the Mud
| Position | Horse | Odds | Jockey | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Sovereignty | 8/1 | Junior Alvarado | William Mott |
| 2nd | Journalism | 17/5 | Umberto Rispoli | Michael McCarthy |
| 3rd | Baeza | 139/10 | Flavien Prat | John Shirreffs |
Heading into Saturday evening, Godolphin were already enjoying a fine weekend, with a signature success on both sides of the Atlantic. However, the Maktoum family-backed operation wasn’t done yet. The next stop for the boys in blue saw the action swing back to the US for the biggest one of all.
Since the inaugural edition of 1875, the Kentucky Derby has grown to become the one race of the year which truly captures the imagination of the US public. Where the UK has the Grand National, and Australia has the Melbourne Cup, the US has this 1m2f event, held on the Churchill Downs dirt.
Given that level of interest and $5 million total prize money, this is also the race that US owners and trainers covet above all others. However, before 2025, the prize had proved elusive for Godolphin. With only two wins from five career outings, the Bill Mott-trained Sovereignty didn’t have overwhelming claims to put that right in a field including Santa Anita Derby winner Journalism. However, in a race run in extremely sloppy conditions, Sovereignty responded admirably to the urgings of Junior Alvarado. Making up four lengths on the leaders from the two-furlong poll, he hit the front a furlong out and forged on for a famous victory by a length and a half.
Flower Floors 1,000 Guineas Field
| Position | Horse | Odds | Jockey | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Desert Flower | Evens | William Buick | Charlie Appleby |
| 2nd | Flight | 28/1 | Oisin Murphy | Ollie Sangster |
| 3rd | Simmering | 33/1 | Dylan Browne McMonagle | Ollie Sangster |
Three Group/Grade 1 wins were already in the bag, and Godolphin still had their “banker” to come in the 1,000 Guineas on Sunday afternoon. For the owners, this represented the opportunity to claim a fifth win in the fillies’ Classic, whilst Charlie Appleby and William Buick sought a first success in the race. Desert Flower boasted the credentials to delight owner, trainer, and jockey alike.
By Night Of Thunder, who claimed his Classic in the 2014 2,000 Guineas, Desert Flower was nicely bred for the task. Her form, headlined by a win of more than five lengths in the Fillies’ Mile, also caught the eye. If able to repeat that Fillies’ Mile display, many fancied she would have too many guns for fellow unbeaten filly Lake Victoria and a host of promising sorts for the leading yards.
Whilst not as emphatic as some predicted, Desert Flower was more than good enough on the day. Leaving little to chance, Buick kicked his mount straight into the lead, and there he remained, almost throughout. Briefly blindsided by Flight, who kicked first from the smaller near-side group, Desert Flower soon recovered her advantage to score by a comfortable length.
Four Group/Grade 1 wins and over £3.7 million in prize money – not a bad haul. Godolphin are no strangers to international success, but by any standards, this was a weekend to remember!