'It comes back to Sheikh Mo, Sheikh Mo, Sheikh Mo' - Godolphin's US summer lovin

It's hardly a shocking turn of events when a famed international stable has an extraordinary run of success.

Yet even with the enhanced expectations attached to a massive operation that spans four continents, what Godolphin has already accomplished with its United States division in the first six months of 2021 is startling.

Quick checks of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association poll and Longines Breeders' Cup Classic rankings paint a picture rarely seen in recent decades.

Atop the NTRA poll is a Godolphin homebred, Mystic Guide. Third is a Godolphin homebred, Maxfield. Sixth is, yes, a Godolphin homebred, Essential Quality

In the Classic rankings, which offers a pecking order for America's richest race, Maxfield is first, with Mystic Guide second, and the three-year-old Essential Quality third.

A Hall of Fame trainer having three horses like that in his barn is not a far-fetched thought. Yet in an era when partnerships have proliferated, for a single ownership entity to have three of the top six American horses in training with homebreds is an astonishing accomplishment for the US arm of Godolphin's prosperous worldwide operation.

Jimmy Bell, president of Godolphin USA, says: "Things are moving in the right direction and firing on a lot of different fronts. We've had some nice horses stepping up in some meaningful races.

"We're very blessed to have the good fortune we've had. You hope to have one good horse but we have three extraordinarily talented colts, and, hopefully, they still have some improvement in them. We feel very fortunate and optimistic. We're grateful for what we've accomplished."

While six more months and dozens of major races are yet to come in 2021, there's little doubt that Godolphin is setting the early pace in the race for the Eclipse Awards as the outstanding owner and breeder.

Its list of major wins is already impressive, to say the very least.

That man Luis Saez again as Mystic Guide collects the Dubai World CupCredit: DRC & Erika Rasmussen

Mystic Guide, a four-year-old son of Ghostzapper trained by Michael Stidham, is to for two this year with victories in the $12 million Dubai World Cup and the $600,000 Grade 3 Razorback Handicap. He'll try to notch another rich graded stakes win on Saturday when he runs in the $400,000 Suburban Stakes, his first start since March 27 and his convincing three and three-quarters of a length victory in Dubai.

"We wanted to give him time off but he bounced back very well, and we're looking forward to seeing him back here in the states," says Bell. "Hopefully, he can run a few good races here and add on to what he did in the Dubai World Cup. We could not be any happier with his progression."

Maxfield, a four-year-old son of Street Sense trained by Brendan Walsh, has won three of his four starts this year, capturing the Stephen Foster Stakes, Alysheba Stakes and Mineshaft Stakes dating back to February. His lone loss in that stretch and his eight-race career was a third by two lengths in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap.

Bell says: "He's always been impressive-looking physically but he's even better now. It feels like he's taken a big step forward mentally and is more professional in his races. He's really in tune with what's going on and taking care of business. He has a different attitude and outlook and all of that has made a difference in his races.

"He learned from that race at Santa Anita. He had things his own way before that and hadn't been in many dogfights but the Santa Anita Handicap moved him forward, which is what you expect from a tight race. It wasn't a bad race considering it was his first try at a mile and a quarter. He just got beat."

Maxfield: winner of three of his four starts in 2021

Essential Quality, a son of Tapit trained by Brad Cox, was the champion two-year-old male in 2020 and won the Belmont Stakes to give Godolphin its first Triple Crown victory since 2006, when Bernardini won the Preakness Stakes under Sheikh Mohammed's Darley banner.

It is expected he'll be shipped to Saratoga on Monday, with the August 28 $1.25m Travers Stakes as his main objective, and the Jim Dandy Stakeson July 31 as a possible prep.

Bell said: "We all know how important the Travers is. That's the date we have circled on the calendar.

"I think he'll probably need a prep race. He'll work one more time at Churchill Downs and then ship to Saratoga and we'll leave it to Brad, but that is a distinct possibility. It's beneficial to have a race there before a race like the Travers."

And beyond that trio, like a superstar rock group, the hits have kept coming. Prior to Essential Quality's Belmont Stakes win, two European-based Godolphin fillies, the homebred Althiqa and Summer Romance ran 1-2 in the Just A Game Stakes for Charlie Appleby. Both female turfers are still in New York and are scheduled to run in the $500,000 Diana Stakes on July 17 as part of what could be an incredibly huge Saratoga meeting for Godolphin.

With a continued stretch of good luck, it's quite possible that Godolphin could be represented with the favourite in the featured stakes on five of Saratoga's eight Saturdays, with Maxfield pointing toward the August 7 Whitney Stakes and Mystic Guide a possibility for either the September 4 Jockey Club Gold Cup at the Spa or the August 21 Pacific Classic at Del Mar.

"We've got some good things to look forward to at Saratoga," Bell admits.

With all of that on the horizon, it adds even more glitter to Godolphin's already glittering North American totals this year. From 187 starters, Godolphin has 33 wins, 11 of them in graded stakes, with earnings of $5.5m — totals that do not accurately reflect the Group 1 win and $6,960,000 in purse money taken home by Mystic Guide in the Dubai World Cup.

This year's achievements also include wins in the Grade 3 Penn Mile Stakes, Grade 3 The Very One Stakes, and Grade 2 Hillsborough Stakes.

"This is really a testament to what Sheikh Mohammed has developed over the years with his broodmare band and the horses he's raced," says Bell.

Sheikh Mohammed's investment in mares and sires in the US is paying off big timeCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

"You look at the kind of broodmare sire Bernardini has become and it comes back to Sheikh Mo, Sheikh Mo, Sheikh Mo, and the passion he has for the industry and his support of it. He puts so much into the racing programme, which builds the breeding programme. Those are the seeds we've planted that are being sowed now."

As amazing as its recent success story has been in the US — which does not take into account Godolphin's foreign strength that was reflected last month in wins by Adayar in the Derby at Epsom and Hurricane Lane in the Irish Derby at the Curragh — Stidham believes it was inevitable that all of the finances and resources Sheikh Mohammed has poured into his American division would be handsomely rewarded.

"It's phenomenal what's happening, but when you look at the operation, at the stallion power, and the broodmare power they have, and you combine all that, you can understand it," he says.

"They have diversified themselves in California, the midwest, the east coast with different trainers, and with the power they have in the breeding shed it was inevitable that this was going to happen. To me, it's shocking that it hasn't happened sooner.

"In today's world, it's incredible what they are doing. Amazing things are happening for them and deservedly so. It's a world class operation. That's how they treat it and it's all working out for them."

A decision a few years ago to diversify and bring in Cox, Stidham and Walsh, and expand into the midwest and south to complement the eastern base with trainers Bill Mott and the now retired Kiaran McLaughlin played a huge role in the current success.

Yet there's also a platoon of behind-the-scenes workers who propel the US-based breeding operation at Jonabell Farm in Lexington that Bell is quick to credit. It is people such as Godolphin USA chief operating officer Dan Pride, director of farm operations Michael Banahan, stud farm manager Danny Mulvihill, sales manager Darren Fox, assistant sales manager Kate Galvin, head of sales administration Suzanne Watkins, and many others who have supplied a vital helping hand to all those graded stakes wins.

Bell says: "Sheikh Mohammed set the programme up but we have so many people that don't get a lot of credit but they do so much to make these Saturday afternoons happen. We're grateful to have such a great team that has allowed us to build such a formidable stable."

As much as Bell and Godolphin may have a full house in a high-stakes game of poker, in a few months' time it could grow into a royal flush. That's when the initial runners from a crop of about 80 two-year-olds will make their debut, bringing with them a common stamp.

Cox says: "I'll have about 14 two-year-olds for them and you know at least a couple will be good. There are going to be a couple of graded winners in the bunch because there's Grade 1 in the pedigrees. It's almost a given with the [catalogue] pages they have. It's an amazing collection of bloodstock.

Jimmy Bell and Brad Cox with rider SaezCredit: Sarah Stier

"They are all homebreds. They were homegrown, raised at their facility, and went through their programme. It shows the depth of their breeding operation and all-around good horsemanship. It's a class organisation. The whole Godolphin team deserves the success they are enjoying because they are phenomenal people to work with and work for. They are having a fantastic year, and I hope it continues."

Finding Grade or Group 1 pedigree in Godolphin bloodlines is indeed one of racing's easiest tasks.

Mystic Guide is by Hall of Famer and 2004 Horse of the Year Ghostzapper out of the multiple Grade 1 winner Music Note. Maxfield is by 2007 Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense out of Velvety, a daughter of the aforementioned Bernardini. Essential Quality is by the Grade 1-winning Tapit.

The homebred Antionette, winner of The Very One who was second last weekend to Letruska in the Fleur de Lis Stakes for Mott, is by Grade 1 winner Hard Spun out of a Grade 2-winning mare.

It all adds up to a special year that, with the summer and autumn classics ahead, hasn't even hit top stride yet.

"It's one horse out of a Grade 1-winning stallion or a Grade 1-winning mare after another," says Stidham.

"The bloodlines are phenomenal. In today's world, it's amazing what they are doing. Amazing things are happening for them and deservedly so. It's a world-class operation and that's how they treat it, and it's all working out for them. I'm just glad to be along for the ride."

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