Godolphin have long been synonymous with excellence on the international racing scene, but the opening weekend of May 2025 delivered a new high watermark, even by their lofty standards.
In an extraordinary display of dominance on both sides of the Atlantic, Sheikh Mohammed’s powerhouse operation landed an unprecedented four Group/Grade 1 Classics in just three days—clinching the 2000 and 1000 Guineas at Newmarket and then storming Churchill Downs with victories in the Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby.
No ownership group had ever managed to complete this transatlantic sweep, and to add further gloss, Godolphin became the first owners since 1952 to land both the Oaks and the Derby in the same year.
Here’s a closer look at the quartet of blue-blooded champions who etched their names—and Godolphin’s—into the history books.
Newmarket
Ruling Court – 2000 Guineas
Ruling Court delivered a commanding victory in the 2000 Guineas, under an expert ride from William Buick, for Charlie Appleby, to regain the title they had won 12 months earlier with Notable Speech.
The 9/2 second favourite broke away with his stablemate Shadow Of Light around two furlongs out, taking the lead coming out of the dip and holding on to clinch a narrow win from a charging Field Of Gold.
Epsom Downs for the Derby is likely the next destination for the three-year-old, but then it could be on to Berkshire for the St James’s Palace Stakes, where he’s 6/1 in the Royal Ascot tips.
Desert Flower – 1000 Guineas
Just 24 hours later, Desert Flower completed the Classic double with a stylish victory in the 1000 Guineas, giving Appleby and Buick a weekend to remember with their first win in the fillies’ contest for the trainer-jockey duo.
The daughter of Night Of Thunder was the red-hot favourite at even money, and justified her place at the top of the market when ridden in the final furlong and keeping on to beat Ollie Sangster’s pair of fillies—Flight and Simmering.
Royal Ascot could also be next on the agenda for her and she’s as short as 2/1 to win the Coronation Stakes on the Friday of the June meeting.
Churchill Downs
Good Cheer – Kentucky Oaks
Good Cheer went into the Kentucky Oaks unbeaten in her previous six races under rules, but was somewhat weak in the pre-race market despite her unblemished record—drifting out to 7/5 from around evens.
Horses don’t know what price they are, and it didn’t make a difference for the Brad Cox-trained filly, who came around the bend for home widest of the field but ridden out by Luis Saez for a comfortable win over Drexel Hill by a little more than two lengths.
Sovereignty – Kentucky Derby
Journalism was the well-backed favourite for the prestigious Kentucky Derby, which is one of the biggest races in the world, and it looked to be going to the Michael McCarthy-trained horse that took the crown.
Journalism appeared to have the race at his mercy a furlong and a half out from the wire, but was edging right and Sovereignty—who was 8/1 pre-race—was staying on to make ground from deep in the field, easing ahead in the final furlong to forge clear and win in style with 1½ lengths to spare.