Mawj sparkles on Keeneland comeback to set up Breeders’ Cup bid

Mawj continued her superb unbeaten season as she repelled all challengers on her return from a break in the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup at Keeneland on Saturday.

Making the first start since capturing the 1,000 Guineas, the half-sister to dual Breeders’ Cup winner Modern Games made almost all to secure her second G1 success, providing trainer Saeed bin Suroor with a 500th Group race victory in the process.

All roads now lead to Santa Anita and the Breeders’ Cup for Mawj, who could look to emulate Modern Games with victory in the Mile or take on her own sex in the Filly & Mare Turf.

There was further European success in the United States over the weekend, with Bold Act flashing home to take the G3 Sycamore Stakes at Keeneland on Friday. Eternal Hope posted back-to-back wins at Aqueduct as she gamely came out on top in Saturday’s G2 Sands Point Stakes.

Five Godolphin winners at Newmarket’s Dubai Future Champions Festival included exciting fillies Devoted Queen and Dance Sequence, who maintained an unbeaten start to her career when getting up close home in the G3 Godolphin Lifetime Care Oh So Sharp Stakes.

The colts joined the party on Saturday’s card, with Ancient Wisdom dominating the G3 Emirates Autumn Stakes to provide Godolphin with a seventh win in the race in the space of eight years.

Arabian Crown announced himself as a potential Derby contender as he stormed to victory in the G3 Ghaiyyath Zetland Stakes, while veteran Highland Avenue gained a deserved first G3 success in the Earthlight Darley Stakes.

Godolphin’s two runners in The Everest both emerged with credit from the world’s richest race on turf, with In Secret flashing home to grab fourth and Cylinder finishing fifth as just over a length separated the first five home.