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2010
Godolphin's 2010 season commenced with runners at the stunning new Meydan racecourse in Dubai.
The stable did not have to wait long for a first success at Meydan as Whispering Gallery posted a facile victory in a 10-furlong Tapeta handicap on the first day of the Dubai International Racing Carnival on January 28.
A further 23 Godolphin victories followed during the nine-week carnival, securing top owner honours, while the trainers' championship went to Saeed bin Suroor. Godolphin's retained rider Frankie Dettori also thrived at the new racecourse and clinched the jockeys' title with 13 wins to his name.
Allybar certainly enjoyed racing on Tapeta as he claimed the notable scalp of Hong Kong Group One winner Presvis in a 10-furlong handicap in February and gave Godolphin a first Group success of the year when scoring over the same course and distance in Round Two of the Al Maktoum Challenge later the same month.
Other notable performances included the success of Desert Party in the Group Three Mahab Al Shimaal, while Campanologist warmed up for a fruitful European campaign with a powerful success in the Group Two Dubai City Of Gold.
Godolphin announced on March 24 that Mahmood Al Zarooni had been appointed as a trainer, based at Al Asifa Stables in Dubai and then Moulton Paddocks in Newmarket, England, during the summer months.
The 34-year-old Dubaian, who had spent the previous year assisting Saeed bin Suroor, saddled his first hopefuls three days later at the Dubai World Cup fixture and enjoyed the best possible start when his first runner, Calming Influence, stormed to victory in the Group Two Godolphin Mile under Ahmed Ajtebi.
Mahmood Al Zarooni and Ahmed Ajtebi, his stable jockey, almost pulled off an incredible double as Allybar only lost out by a nose and a short-head to Gloria De Campeao and Lizard's Desire in a thrilling renewal of the world's richest race, the US$10-million Dubai World Cup, sponsored by Emirates Airline which also sponsors Godolphin.
As well as Saeed bin Suroor and Mahmood Al Zarooni, Godolphin also enjoyed a productive relationship with 19-time French champion trainer Andre Fabre who ensured that Godolphin hit the ground running for the 2010 European season.
Simon De Montfort gained a Listed success at Saint-Cloud, France, on April 4 - two days before the horses of Saeed bin Suroor and Mahmood Al Zarooni started arriving in Newmarket from Dubai.
The three-year-old King's Best colt progressed to Group Three glory in the Prix la Force at Longchamp later the same month. Rewilding also highlighted his potential when second in the Group Two Prix Noailles at the same course. In May, both horses travelled to England to continue their careers with Mahmood Al Zarooni.
Cutlass Bay proved to be the star of the early European campaign as he ran on strongly to triumph for Andre Fabre in the Group Two Prix d'Harcourt at Longchamp in April before returning to the Parisian course for a stylish win in the Prix Ganay on Sunday, May 2 - Godolphin's initial Group One success of the year.
Mahmood Al Zarooni recorded a first European victory as Lion Mountain opened Godolphin's account in Britain for 2010 with an easy six-length win in a Pontefract maiden on April 28 and the handler was soon setting his sights substantially higher as Rewilding announced himself an Investec Derby prospect after unleashing a powerful turn of foot to take a Listed contest at Goodwood in the middle of May.
Godolphin's newest trainer enjoyed Classic success when his first runner, Frozen Power, swooped late under Frankie Dettori to triumph in the German 2,000 Guineas, the Group Two Mehl-Mulhens-Rennen at Cologne on May 24.
Buzzword failed to make an impact on his seasonal return in the StanJames.com 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket at the start of May, but the tough and consistent performer built on that effort when staying on to take fourth in the French equivalent of the mile Classic, the Poule d'Essai des Poulains, at Longchamp later the same month.
After creditable runs in the Investec Derby and the Group Two King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot, Buzzword continued Mahmood Al Zarooni's faultless record in German Classics as he and jockey Royston Ffrench gamely prevailed in the 141st Deutsches Derby at Hamburg on July 18, yielding a first Group One victory for the trainer.
Rewilding produced a sterling effort to finish third behind Workforce in the premier British Classic, the Investec Derby, despite looking ill at ease on the demands of Epsom Downs, and the three-year-old Tiger Hill colt went on to give Mahmood Al Zarooni another landmark success - this time a first British Group win - when taking the Group Two sportingbet.com Great Voltigeur Stakes at York's Ebor meeting in scintillating fashion on August 17.
Shakespearean, trained by Godolphin's longstanding handler Saeed bin Suroor, made all for a cosy Listed success at Epsom's Derby meeting in early June, while Antara also made a winning start to her campaign in the Group Three Princess Elizabeth Stakes at the same course the following day.
Both horses went on to greater things. Shakespearean became a leading player over seven furlongs, with another dominant victory in the Group Two CGA Hungerford Stakes at Newbury in August. Antara also proved herself to be among the best of her division, coming home third to Midday in the Group One Blue Square Nassau Stakes at Glorious Goodwood at the end of July and finding only Stacelita a head too strong in the Group One Darley Prix Jean Romanet at Deauville the following month.
Godolphin, Saeed bin Suroor and Frankie Dettori enjoyed a pair of victories at Royal Ascot. Invisible Man weaved a path through his 28 rivals to post a remarkable half-length success in the Royal Hunt Cup, while Hibaayeb stamped her class when comprehensively taking the Group Two Ribblesdale Stakes.
High summer saw Campanologist gain a deserved first Group One win with a game display in the Grosser Preis - Grosser Hansa Preis at Hamburg, Germany, on July 17 and the consistent five-year-old returned to the country for a more comfortable verdict in the Group One Rheinland-Pokal at Cologne on August 15.
A piece of history was made in August when Biondetti, trained by Mahmood Al Zarooni and ridden by Ahmed Ajtebi, won on his debut in the Talk Night Club Maiden Stakes at Newmarket on the evening of Friday, August 6. The two-year-old was Godolphin's 100th winner of the year and the landmark had never been achieved faster on seven previous occasions.
Godolphin enjoyed one of their most satisfying wins of the season when Poet's Voice quickened impressively for a facile success in the Group Two totesport.com Celebration Mile at Goodwood on August 28. The three-year-old Dubawi colt had previously been difficult to settle in his races and his victory came after months of effort from trainer Saeed bin Suroor and his team to teach Poet's Voice to relax.
A new generation of potential stars emerged as several two-year-olds made promising debuts. White Moonstone and Saamidd both lost their maiden tags in style.
White Moonstone showed a powerful turn of foot when stepping up in class in the Group Three german-thoroughbred.com Sweet Solera Stakes at Newmarket on August 7 and continued an impressive start to her career when quickening clear of her rivals for an emphatic five-length success in the mile Group Two Keepmoat 'Delivering Community Regeneration' May Hill Stakes at Doncaster on September 10.
Barely 24 hours later, Saamidd produced an excellent victory in the Group Two Neptune Investment Management Champagne Stakes, also at Doncaster, while fellow juvenile Khawlah continued Saeed bin Suroor's purple patch when recording Godolphin's 1,000th British win at Newmarket on September 17.
Godolphin enjoyed a superb Group One double at Ascot on September 25, initiated by White Moonstone, who completed an unbeaten juvenile campaign with a neck triumph under Frankie Dettori in the Meon Valley Stud Fillies' Mile.
No other rider can match the prowess of Godolphin's jockey around Ascot and Frankie Dettori treated the crowds to another vintage performance an hour later as he guided Poet's Voice from last to first in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (Sponsored By Sony), with the pair snatching the lead on the line for a famous nose victory over Rip Van Winkle.
The following weekend produced another big-race double for Godolphin and Saeed bin Suroor, this time in the United States. Girolamo opened Godolphin's US Grade One account for 2010 in the Vosburgh Stakes at Belmont Park on October 2, while Hibaayeb relished the firm turf of Hollywood Park when gaining a game success in the Grade One Yellow Ribbon Stakes the same day.
More international glory followed seven days later as Rio De La Plata and Biondetti gave Godolphin a third pair of Group/Grade One victories in the space of three weekends at Milan's San Siro racecourse in Italy on October 9.
The Saeed bin Suroor-trained Rio De La Plata has endured more than his fair share of injury trouble since he proved himself as one of Europe's top juveniles in 2007 but the five-year-old son of Rahy returned to his best in 2010 as he followed up a narrow defeat in the Group One Prix du Moulin de Longchamp in September with a gutsy short-neck verdict in the Premio Vittorio di Capua.
Biondetti also went from strength to strength with victory in the Premio Gran Criterium providing a first Group One victory of the year for Ahmed Ajtebi, and the juvenile became Mahmood Al Zarooni's first runner at America's Breeders' Cup meeting when a creditable fourth on switching to dirt in the Grade One Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Churchill Downs on November 6.
The renaissance of Rio De La Plata continued when he completed an Italian Group One double in the Premio Roma at Capannelle, Rome, on November 7 and the success was all the sweeter for Frankie Dettori, who celebrated his 100th Group/Grade One win for Godolphin in his homeland with a decisive victory over Voila Ici.
Following a record 202 successes achieved in 2009, Godolphin had another excellent year sending out 200 winners, with the final runner of the year - Mastery in the 12-furlong Group One Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Vase - winning impressively to bring up the double century.
Mastery, trained by Saeed bin Suroor and ridden confidently by Frankie
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2011
Godolphin enjoyed a good start to 2011, thanks to 28 winners in Dubai during the first three months of the year.
The run of successes at Meydan, initially at the Dubai International Racing Carnival and then on Dubai World Cup night, saw Godolphin capture three UAE Classics.
The first of these came when Splash Point, trained by Mahmood Al Zarooni and ridden by French ace Mickael Barzalona, came through from last to win going away in the mile Group Three UAE 2,000 Guineas Sponsored By Dubal on February 10.
Khawlah made her seasonal debut in the Group Three UAE Oaks Sponsored By Al Tayer Motors the following month and took the nine and a half furlong Classic, also on Tapeta, in good style.
The three-year-old Cape Cross filly went to the front under Frankie Dettori with a quarter-mile remaining and resisted the challenge of UAE 1,000 Guineas scorer Mahbooba by a length and a quarter, with the first two well clear of the third.
The form of the fillies' Classic looked strong and so it proved when the Saeed bin Suroor-trained Khawlah lined up in the US$2-million Group Two UAE Derby Sponsored By The Saeed & Mohammed Al Naboodah Group over the same course and distance on Dubai World Cup night, Saturday, March 26.
Mickael Barzalona partnered the Godolphin filly as Frankie Dettori could not do the weight and produced her to challenge on the outside of the field in the straight. Khawlah stayed on strongly to get up in the last stride of a thrilling finish to beat Master Of Hounds by a nose.
Khawlah thus became the first filly to take the UAE Derby and also gave Godolphin a seventh success in the Classic.
There were two other triumphs for Godolphin on a memorable Dubai World Cup night - Skysurfers in the Group Two Godolphin Mile Sponsored By Etisalat and Rewilding in the Group One Dubai Sheema Classic Sponsored By China Guangsha.
Skysurfers provided Godolphin with an amazing 10th victory in the Godolphin Mile. The Saeed bin Suroor-trained five-year-old E Dubai horse crept into contention under Frankie Dettori before going ahead with a half-furlong remaining.
Rewilding, third in the Investec Derby at Epsom Downs the previous year, reappeared in the Dubai Sheema Classic over a mile and a half on turf.
The Tiger Hill four-year-old, with Frankie Dettori up, faced 13 rivals but went clear after hitting the front inside the final furlong, winning by three and a quarter lengths from Redwood.
The impressive victory gave Mahmood Al Zarooni his second Dubai World Cup night success, following on from Calming Influence's win the year before, three days after becoming a Godolphin trainer. He also saddled the third, Monterosso, in the Dubai World Cup for the second year running following on from Allybar in 2010.
Rewilding, like most of the horses, journeyed to Britain in early April to be trained in Newmarket, Godolphin's main European base, for a summer campaign.
As one of Godolphin's stars, the colt was prepared for Royal Ascot in June, with his target being the Group One Prince of Wales's Stakes over 10 furlongs. Seven runners lined up in the very prestigious contest, including So You Think, who made his name as a champion in Australia in 2010 and had won both his races in Europe including the Group One Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh from Godolphin's Campanologist.
The race looked all over when So You Think went into a clear lead in the straight but Frankie Dettori brought Rewilding with a strong challenge inside the final furlong, snatching the verdict in the final few strides to win by a neck. It was one of the best performances globally by a horse all year, with Rewilding given a rating of 127 in the World Thoroughbred Rankings.
The brilliant racehorse returned to Ascot for the Group One King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes sponsored by Betfair, Britain's top 12-furlong race for three-year-olds and upwards, towards the end of July but tragically suffered a fatal injury when making his challenge two furlongs out.
Blue Bunting became Godolphin's most successful horse at Group One level in 2011 by winning two European Classics, the QIPCO 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket and the Darley Irish Oaks at the Curragh, plus the Darley Yorkshire Oaks at York.
The Dynaformer filly, who cost US$200,000 as a yearling, had done well as a two-year-old in 2010 for Mahmood Al Zarooni, albeit at a more modest level. She finished second in a Newmarket seven-furlong maiden in July of that year and progressed to win a mile Doncaster maiden the following month and a Newmarket Listed race over the same trip at the end of October.
Her first start as a three-year-old was in the Group One QIPCO 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket on May 1 over the Rowley Mile, a distance that her trainer felt would be too short.
But Blue Bunting was a revelation. Partnered by Frankie Dettori, she was fourth last of the 18 runners in the season's first British fillies' Classic at half-way but then started to make relentless progress on the stands' side. She went third with a furlong left to race, came with a storming run to take the lead close home and won going away by three quarters of a length.
It was a third 1,000 Guineas success for Godolphin, following on Cape Verdi (1998) and Kazzia (2002).
Blue Bunting then attempted to repeat Kazzia's achievement - collect the other British fillies' Classic, the Investec Oaks, over an extra half-mile at Epsom Downs in early June.
She tried but a slow early pace and the undulations of the unique course proved her undoing, finishing fourth to Dancing Rain. However, it was another matter at the more galloping Irish track of the Curragh in mid-July.
Blue Bunting came through to go fourth with two furlongs to run but then seemed to hit a flat spot and was fifth when Frankie Dettori switched her out wide at the distance to get a clear run which resulted in an exciting last-gasp victory by a short-head. It was a first Darley Irish Oaks triumph for Godolphin.
The three-year-old seemed to thrive on racing as a month later she took on older fillies and mares for the first time in the Group One Darley Yorkshire Oaks during York's Ebor meeting and came out on top. She led over a furlong out and ran on gamely to hold Vita Nova by three quarters of a length. The filly's success also provided trainer Mahmood Al Zarooni with his 100th winner since joining the Godolphin in 2010.
Blue Bunting then headed to Doncaster for the Ladbrokes St Leger, the final British Classic of the season, over the longer trip of one mile, six furlongs and 132 yards on September 10. But she never got into the race, finished a well-beaten sixth of the nine runners and clearly did not run anywhere near her best on her first start against colts. She is now enjoying a well-deserved rest before coming back into training for 2012.
Other fillies did Godolphin proud in 2011. Wavering, a three-year-old daughter of Refuse To Bend trained by Andre Fabre in France, won the Group One Montjeu Coolmore Prix Saint-Alary at Longchamp on May 22, while the ultra-consistent and tough It's Tricky also gained success at the highest level, taking the TVG Coaching Club American Oaks at Saratoga on July 23.
Trained by Kiaran McLaughlin, the three-year-old Mineshaft filly, ran nine times during the year in America, winning five, coming second three times including in two Grade Ones and finishing fourth once.
Lyric Of Light and Be Fabulous were two more fillies to make their names in 2011.
The former was unbeaten in three starts for Mahmood Al Zarooni and is certainly going the right way. She won her maiden over seven furlongs at Newmarket in August, took the Group Two Barrett Steel May Hill Stakes at Doncaster the following month at a mile and then stepped up successfully to Group One level in the Shadwell Fillies' Mile back at Newmarket on September 23.
Be Fabulous, a four-year-old filly by Samum handled by Andre Fabre, made great strides when tackling longer trips towards the end of the 2011 campaign in France, proving successful in a Listed 14-furlong event at Saint-Cloud early in October. Near the end of the same month, she was pitched into Group One company in the Prix Royal-Oak over half a furlong short of two miles and won the 14-runner race in great style.
One of Godolphin's favourites, six-year-old Campanologist showed he was as good as ever in 2011. Saeed bin Suroor sent the horse out to win two more Group Ones, the Preis Von Europa at Cologne, Germany on September 25 and the Gran Premio del Jockey Club Italiano at Milan, Italy on October 16. Campanologist subsequently ran well to finish fifth in the Group One Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Vase at Sha Tin, Hong Kong in December.
The final of Godolphin's 12 Group One winners in 2011 - the same excellent total as the previous year - came through the unbeaten two-year-old Mandaean.
Andre Fabre sent out the son of Manduro to win a nine-furlong newcomers' race at Longchamp on October 16 and just under a month later the colt with Classic potential captured the 10-furlong Criterium de Saint-Cloud in a pleasing manner despite running green when in front.
There were plenty of other excellent performances by Godolphin horses, in defeat as well as victory.
Opinion Poll was never out of the frame in nine 2011 starts and developed into a stayer of the highest class. He was twice denied a Group One victory by Fame And Glory but still gained a couple of Group Two triumphs, in the Artemis Goodwood Cup and York's Weatherbys Insurance Lonsdale Cup, for Mahmood Al Zarooni.
Godolphin enjoyed 12 Group Two successes in 2011 plus 13 at Group Three level, the highest ever annual total at that grade.
The final tally for the year was 186 winners including 56 Stakes victories, with the Godolphin horses earning US$18,949,966 in prize money across the world.
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2012
A hugely memorable 2012 for Godolphin included an unprecedented 214 winners and record prize money of more than US$25.8-million in a year that featured a host of notable victories and ended with an eighth owners' title in Britain.
The tone was set with Godolphin's very first runners of 2012 as Sarrsar, Honour System, City Style and Time Prisoner all won at the initial fixture of the Dubai World Cup Carnival on January 5 at Meydan, Dubai's stunning racecourse.
An excellent start to the campaign continued with the Mahmood Al Zarooni-trained trio of Gamilati, Kinglet and Falls Of Lora capturing the UAE 1,000 Guineas Sponsored By Gulf News, the UAE 2,000 Guineas Sponsored By Dubal and the UAE Oaks Sponsored By The Saeed & Mohammed Al Naboodah Group respectively.
Godolphin unveiled two new jockeys at the Dubai World Cup Carnival. Silvestre de Sousa, runner-up in the 2011 British jockeys' championship, and multiple Group One-winning rider Mickael Barzalona became retained riders for the international stable.
Both wasted little time settling into their new roles, with Silvestre de Sousa gaining a first Pattern success in the royal blue silks aboard the Saeed bin Suroor-trained Do It All in the Group Two Zabeel Mile Sponsored By Commercial Bank of Dubai on March 1.
Saeed bin Suroor gained further Group Two success with Mendip, who continued his fine record at Meydan with a comfortable win in the Al Maktoum Challenge Round Two Sponsored By Dubal, while African Story readily scored in the Group Three Burj Nahaar Sponsored By Emirates Sky Cargo.
Capponi, handled by Mahmood Al Zarooni, provided Godolphin with a first Group One victory of 2012 as he powered clear of his rivals for a convincing four-length verdict under Ahmed Ajtebi in the Al Maktoum Challenge Round Three Sponsored By Emirates on March 10.
Godolphin ended the Dubai World Cup Carnival as champion owner for a fifth consecutive time and Saeed bin Suroor receiving the award for leading trainer.
Dubai World Cup night itself started superbly as African Story continued his rich vein of form with a facile success in the Group Two Godolphin Mile Sponsored By Etisalat, while the Mahmood Al Zarooni-trained Opinion Poll was the comfortable winner of the Group Three Dubai Gold Cup Sponsored By Al Tayer Motors.
The highlight of the evening came in the Group One Dubai World Cup Sponsored By Emirates Airline as the Mickael Barzalona-ridden Monterosso stormed to a stunning victory over Capponi in the world's richest race, giving Mahmood Al Zarooni a memorable 1-2 in the world's richest race.
In the United States, the Kiaran McLaughlin-trained It's Tricky continued to be one of the country's leading fillies as she started her four-year-old campaign with a hat-trick of wins that culminated with victory in the Grade One Ogden Phipps Handicap at Belmont Park on May 28.
As the European season swung into action, several Godolphin runners announced themselves as horses to follow over the summer months.
Colour Vision made an exciting seasonal return by breaking the course record in the Group Three Blue Square Levy Board Sagaro Stakes, run on Polytrack at Kempton on May 2, while Farhh powered to a very easy victory under top-weight in a Thirsk handicap three days later.
Saint Baudolino snatched a cosy success in the Group Three Prix de Guiche at Chantilly on May 11 and the Andre Fabre-trained three-year-old returned to the same course on June 3 to take second in the Group One Prix du Jockey Club.
Both Colour Vision and Farhh headed to Royal Ascot, with the latter running an excellent race to take third on his Pattern debut in the Group One Prince Of Wales's Stakes.
In the Gold Cup, the highlight of the staying season in Europe, Colour Vision prevailed in a thrilling climax, getting the better of Opinion Poll by half a length in a pulsating finish to the two and a half-mile Group One for a Godolphin 1-2.
Tha'ir quickened well to win the Listed Chesham Stakes as Godolphin was crowned Champion Owner at Royal Ascot for a second successive time.
Andre Fabre once again provided Godolphin with a stream of major winners in France, with Aesop's Fables capturing the Group One Prix Jean Prat at Chantilly on July 1.
The handler's good form continued into France's premier summer fixture at Deauville in July and August, with Godolphin clinching another major owner's prize at the prestigious meeting.
Saint Baudolino got the better of Aesop's Fables in the Group Two Prix Guillaume d'Ornano, while subsequent Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe third Masterstroke came with a swooping run to take the Group Two Grand Prix de Deauville.
Such success was mirrored in North America, as Kiaran McLaughlin enjoyed a purple patch of form at Saratoga's summer meeting.
Questing recorded a pair of comprehensive Grade One victories in the TVG Coaching Club American Oaks on July 21 and the Alabama Stakes on August 18, while Alpha also scored twice, including when forcing a dead-heat in the Grade One Travers Stakes on August 25.
Emcee's dominant win in the Grade One Forego Stakes on September 1 ensured Godolphin topped the owner standings at Saratoga in terms of prize money won.
In Britain, Farhh filled the runner-up spot in four of Europe's leading contests, going down by half a length to Nathaniel in the Group One Coral-Eclipse Stakes at Sandown Park on July 7 before finishing second behind the world's best horse Frankel in the Group One QIPCO Sussex Stakes at Glorious Goodwood on August 1.
The four-year-old also chased home Frankel in the Group One Juddmonte International at York's Ebor Festival on August 22 before ending his season with another second, this time going down by a head to Moonlight Cloud in the Group One Prix du Moulin de Longchamp on September 16.
Encke had started his campaign with victory in a Sandown Park handicap on July 6 but the Mahmood Al Zarooni-trained colt was allowed to take his chance in the Ladbrokes St Leger at Doncaster on September 15, following a pair of pleasing runs in the key trials for the final Classic of the British season.
Lining up against the unbeaten Triple Crown-seeking Camelot, Encke relished the step up to 14 and a half furlongs as he kicked clear of his rivals entering the final quarter mile for a fabulous three quarters of a length success under Mickael Barzalona, a 15th British Classic victory for Godolphin.
The same week, two of Godolphin's leading juveniles recorded impressive victories of their own. Certify maintained her unbeaten record with a cosy head verdict in the Group Two May Hill Stakes at Doncaster on September 14 and Dawn Approach also continued a faultless start to his career with a facile win in the Group One Vincent O'Brien Stakes at the Curragh a day later.
Both horses rounded off their two-year-old campaigns at Newmarket. Certify produced an electric turn of foot to provide Mahmood Al Zarooni with a second successive victory in the Group One Shadwell Fillies' Mile on September 28, while Dawn Approach continued trainer Jim Bolger's superb record in the Group One Dubai Dewhurst Stakes on October 13.
Hunter's Light epitomised Godolphin's international ambitions as after capturing the Group Three Rose Of Lancaster Stakes at Haydock Park on August 11, he then headed to Turkey where he enjoyed an easy Group Two success in the Anatolia Trophy on September 1. The Saeed bin Suroor-trained four-year-old chased home the world's second best horse Cirrus Des Aigles in the Group Two Prix Dollar at Longchamp, France, on October 6 and ended his season with a deserved Group One victory in the Premio Roma at Rome, Italy, on November 4.
French Navy registered Godolphin's 200th win of the year in a Newmarket Listed contest on November 3, while a late flurry of winners helped ensure that Godolphin edged out Prince Khalid Abdulla to clinch an eighth British champion owner title in a thrilling finale at Doncaster on November 10.
With the end of the European Flat season, attention turned to North America, where Godolphin finished the year well with a pair of Grade One wins. Dance Card made all of the running for an impressive victory for Kiaran McLaughlin in the Gazelle Stakes at Aqueduct on November 24, while another three-year-old filly, the Tom Albertrani-trained Better Lucky, scored in the Matriarch Stakes on the other side of the country at Hollywood Park 24 hours later.
Godolphin's 2010 season commenced with runners at the stunning new Meydan racecourse in Dubai.
The stable did not have to wait long for a first success at Meydan as Whispering Gallery posted a facile victory in a 10-furlong Tapeta handicap on the first day of the Dubai International Racing Carnival on January 28.
A further 23 Godolphin victories followed during the nine-week carnival, securing top owner honours, while the trainers' championship went to Saeed bin Suroor. Godolphin's retained rider Frankie Dettori also thrived at the new racecourse and clinched the jockeys' title with 13 wins to his name.
Allybar certainly enjoyed racing on Tapeta as he claimed the notable scalp of Hong Kong Group One winner Presvis in a 10-furlong handicap in February and gave Godolphin a first Group success of the year when scoring over the same course and distance in Round Two of the Al Maktoum Challenge later the same month.
Other notable performances included the success of Desert Party in the Group Three Mahab Al Shimaal, while Campanologist warmed up for a fruitful European campaign with a powerful success in the Group Two Dubai City Of Gold.
Godolphin announced on March 24 that Mahmood Al Zarooni had been appointed as a trainer, based at Al Asifa Stables in Dubai and then Moulton Paddocks in Newmarket, England, during the summer months.
The 34-year-old Dubaian, who had spent the previous year assisting Saeed bin Suroor, saddled his first hopefuls three days later at the Dubai World Cup fixture and enjoyed the best possible start when his first runner, Calming Influence, stormed to victory in the Group Two Godolphin Mile under Ahmed Ajtebi.
Mahmood Al Zarooni and Ahmed Ajtebi, his stable jockey, almost pulled off an incredible double as Allybar only lost out by a nose and a short-head to Gloria De Campeao and Lizard's Desire in a thrilling renewal of the world's richest race, the US$10-million Dubai World Cup, sponsored by Emirates Airline which also sponsors Godolphin.
As well as Saeed bin Suroor and Mahmood Al Zarooni, Godolphin also enjoyed a productive relationship with 19-time French champion trainer Andre Fabre who ensured that Godolphin hit the ground running for the 2010 European season.
Simon De Montfort gained a Listed success at Saint-Cloud, France, on April 4 - two days before the horses of Saeed bin Suroor and Mahmood Al Zarooni started arriving in Newmarket from Dubai.
The three-year-old King's Best colt progressed to Group Three glory in the Prix la Force at Longchamp later the same month. Rewilding also highlighted his potential when second in the Group Two Prix Noailles at the same course. In May, both horses travelled to England to continue their careers with Mahmood Al Zarooni.
Cutlass Bay proved to be the star of the early European campaign as he ran on strongly to triumph for Andre Fabre in the Group Two Prix d'Harcourt at Longchamp in April before returning to the Parisian course for a stylish win in the Prix Ganay on Sunday, May 2 - Godolphin's initial Group One success of the year.
Mahmood Al Zarooni recorded a first European victory as Lion Mountain opened Godolphin's account in Britain for 2010 with an easy six-length win in a Pontefract maiden on April 28 and the handler was soon setting his sights substantially higher as Rewilding announced himself an Investec Derby prospect after unleashing a powerful turn of foot to take a Listed contest at Goodwood in the middle of May.
Godolphin's newest trainer enjoyed Classic success when his first runner, Frozen Power, swooped late under Frankie Dettori to triumph in the German 2,000 Guineas, the Group Two Mehl-Mulhens-Rennen at Cologne on May 24.
Buzzword failed to make an impact on his seasonal return in the StanJames.com 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket at the start of May, but the tough and consistent performer built on that effort when staying on to take fourth in the French equivalent of the mile Classic, the Poule d'Essai des Poulains, at Longchamp later the same month.
After creditable runs in the Investec Derby and the Group Two King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot, Buzzword continued Mahmood Al Zarooni's faultless record in German Classics as he and jockey Royston Ffrench gamely prevailed in the 141st Deutsches Derby at Hamburg on July 18, yielding a first Group One victory for the trainer.
Rewilding produced a sterling effort to finish third behind Workforce in the premier British Classic, the Investec Derby, despite looking ill at ease on the demands of Epsom Downs, and the three-year-old Tiger Hill colt went on to give Mahmood Al Zarooni another landmark success - this time a first British Group win - when taking the Group Two sportingbet.com Great Voltigeur Stakes at York's Ebor meeting in scintillating fashion on August 17.
Shakespearean, trained by Godolphin's longstanding handler Saeed bin Suroor, made all for a cosy Listed success at Epsom's Derby meeting in early June, while Antara also made a winning start to her campaign in the Group Three Princess Elizabeth Stakes at the same course the following day.
Both horses went on to greater things. Shakespearean became a leading player over seven furlongs, with another dominant victory in the Group Two CGA Hungerford Stakes at Newbury in August. Antara also proved herself to be among the best of her division, coming home third to Midday in the Group One Blue Square Nassau Stakes at Glorious Goodwood at the end of July and finding only Stacelita a head too strong in the Group One Darley Prix Jean Romanet at Deauville the following month.
Godolphin, Saeed bin Suroor and Frankie Dettori enjoyed a pair of victories at Royal Ascot. Invisible Man weaved a path through his 28 rivals to post a remarkable half-length success in the Royal Hunt Cup, while Hibaayeb stamped her class when comprehensively taking the Group Two Ribblesdale Stakes.
High summer saw Campanologist gain a deserved first Group One win with a game display in the Grosser Preis - Grosser Hansa Preis at Hamburg, Germany, on July 17 and the consistent five-year-old returned to the country for a more comfortable verdict in the Group One Rheinland-Pokal at Cologne on August 15.
A piece of history was made in August when Biondetti, trained by Mahmood Al Zarooni and ridden by Ahmed Ajtebi, won on his debut in the Talk Night Club Maiden Stakes at Newmarket on the evening of Friday, August 6. The two-year-old was Godolphin's 100th winner of the year and the landmark had never been achieved faster on seven previous occasions.
Godolphin enjoyed one of their most satisfying wins of the season when Poet's Voice quickened impressively for a facile success in the Group Two totesport.com Celebration Mile at Goodwood on August 28. The three-year-old Dubawi colt had previously been difficult to settle in his races and his victory came after months of effort from trainer Saeed bin Suroor and his team to teach Poet's Voice to relax.
A new generation of potential stars emerged as several two-year-olds made promising debuts. White Moonstone and Saamidd both lost their maiden tags in style.
White Moonstone showed a powerful turn of foot when stepping up in class in the Group Three german-thoroughbred.com Sweet Solera Stakes at Newmarket on August 7 and continued an impressive start to her career when quickening clear of her rivals for an emphatic five-length success in the mile Group Two Keepmoat 'Delivering Community Regeneration' May Hill Stakes at Doncaster on September 10.
Barely 24 hours later, Saamidd produced an excellent victory in the Group Two Neptune Investment Management Champagne Stakes, also at Doncaster, while fellow juvenile Khawlah continued Saeed bin Suroor's purple patch when recording Godolphin's 1,000th British win at Newmarket on September 17.
Godolphin enjoyed a superb Group One double at Ascot on September 25, initiated by White Moonstone, who completed an unbeaten juvenile campaign with a neck triumph under Frankie Dettori in the Meon Valley Stud Fillies' Mile.
No other rider can match the prowess of Godolphin's jockey around Ascot and Frankie Dettori treated the crowds to another vintage performance an hour later as he guided Poet's Voice from last to first in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (Sponsored By Sony), with the pair snatching the lead on the line for a famous nose victory over Rip Van Winkle.
The following weekend produced another big-race double for Godolphin and Saeed bin Suroor, this time in the United States. Girolamo opened Godolphin's US Grade One account for 2010 in the Vosburgh Stakes at Belmont Park on October 2, while Hibaayeb relished the firm turf of Hollywood Park when gaining a game success in the Grade One Yellow Ribbon Stakes the same day.
More international glory followed seven days later as Rio De La Plata and Biondetti gave Godolphin a third pair of Group/Grade One victories in the space of three weekends at Milan's San Siro racecourse in Italy on October 9.
The Saeed bin Suroor-trained Rio De La Plata has endured more than his fair share of injury trouble since he proved himself as one of Europe's top juveniles in 2007 but the five-year-old son of Rahy returned to his best in 2010 as he followed up a narrow defeat in the Group One Prix du Moulin de Longchamp in September with a gutsy short-neck verdict in the Premio Vittorio di Capua.
Biondetti also went from strength to strength with victory in the Premio Gran Criterium providing a first Group One victory of the year for Ahmed Ajtebi, and the juvenile became Mahmood Al Zarooni's first runner at America's Breeders' Cup meeting when a creditable fourth on switching to dirt in the Grade One Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Churchill Downs on November 6.
The renaissance of Rio De La Plata continued when he completed an Italian Group One double in the Premio Roma at Capannelle, Rome, on November 7 and the success was all the sweeter for Frankie Dettori, who celebrated his 100th Group/Grade One win for Godolphin in his homeland with a decisive victory over Voila Ici.
Following a record 202 successes achieved in 2009, Godolphin had another excellent year sending out 200 winners, with the final runner of the year - Mastery in the 12-furlong Group One Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Vase - winning impressively to bring up the double century.
Mastery, trained by Saeed bin Suroor and ridden confidently by Frankie
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2011
Godolphin enjoyed a good start to 2011, thanks to 28 winners in Dubai during the first three months of the year.
The run of successes at Meydan, initially at the Dubai International Racing Carnival and then on Dubai World Cup night, saw Godolphin capture three UAE Classics.
The first of these came when Splash Point, trained by Mahmood Al Zarooni and ridden by French ace Mickael Barzalona, came through from last to win going away in the mile Group Three UAE 2,000 Guineas Sponsored By Dubal on February 10.
Khawlah made her seasonal debut in the Group Three UAE Oaks Sponsored By Al Tayer Motors the following month and took the nine and a half furlong Classic, also on Tapeta, in good style.
The three-year-old Cape Cross filly went to the front under Frankie Dettori with a quarter-mile remaining and resisted the challenge of UAE 1,000 Guineas scorer Mahbooba by a length and a quarter, with the first two well clear of the third.
The form of the fillies' Classic looked strong and so it proved when the Saeed bin Suroor-trained Khawlah lined up in the US$2-million Group Two UAE Derby Sponsored By The Saeed & Mohammed Al Naboodah Group over the same course and distance on Dubai World Cup night, Saturday, March 26.
Mickael Barzalona partnered the Godolphin filly as Frankie Dettori could not do the weight and produced her to challenge on the outside of the field in the straight. Khawlah stayed on strongly to get up in the last stride of a thrilling finish to beat Master Of Hounds by a nose.
Khawlah thus became the first filly to take the UAE Derby and also gave Godolphin a seventh success in the Classic.
There were two other triumphs for Godolphin on a memorable Dubai World Cup night - Skysurfers in the Group Two Godolphin Mile Sponsored By Etisalat and Rewilding in the Group One Dubai Sheema Classic Sponsored By China Guangsha.
Skysurfers provided Godolphin with an amazing 10th victory in the Godolphin Mile. The Saeed bin Suroor-trained five-year-old E Dubai horse crept into contention under Frankie Dettori before going ahead with a half-furlong remaining.
Rewilding, third in the Investec Derby at Epsom Downs the previous year, reappeared in the Dubai Sheema Classic over a mile and a half on turf.
The Tiger Hill four-year-old, with Frankie Dettori up, faced 13 rivals but went clear after hitting the front inside the final furlong, winning by three and a quarter lengths from Redwood.
The impressive victory gave Mahmood Al Zarooni his second Dubai World Cup night success, following on from Calming Influence's win the year before, three days after becoming a Godolphin trainer. He also saddled the third, Monterosso, in the Dubai World Cup for the second year running following on from Allybar in 2010.
Rewilding, like most of the horses, journeyed to Britain in early April to be trained in Newmarket, Godolphin's main European base, for a summer campaign.
As one of Godolphin's stars, the colt was prepared for Royal Ascot in June, with his target being the Group One Prince of Wales's Stakes over 10 furlongs. Seven runners lined up in the very prestigious contest, including So You Think, who made his name as a champion in Australia in 2010 and had won both his races in Europe including the Group One Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh from Godolphin's Campanologist.
The race looked all over when So You Think went into a clear lead in the straight but Frankie Dettori brought Rewilding with a strong challenge inside the final furlong, snatching the verdict in the final few strides to win by a neck. It was one of the best performances globally by a horse all year, with Rewilding given a rating of 127 in the World Thoroughbred Rankings.
The brilliant racehorse returned to Ascot for the Group One King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes sponsored by Betfair, Britain's top 12-furlong race for three-year-olds and upwards, towards the end of July but tragically suffered a fatal injury when making his challenge two furlongs out.
Blue Bunting became Godolphin's most successful horse at Group One level in 2011 by winning two European Classics, the QIPCO 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket and the Darley Irish Oaks at the Curragh, plus the Darley Yorkshire Oaks at York.
The Dynaformer filly, who cost US$200,000 as a yearling, had done well as a two-year-old in 2010 for Mahmood Al Zarooni, albeit at a more modest level. She finished second in a Newmarket seven-furlong maiden in July of that year and progressed to win a mile Doncaster maiden the following month and a Newmarket Listed race over the same trip at the end of October.
Her first start as a three-year-old was in the Group One QIPCO 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket on May 1 over the Rowley Mile, a distance that her trainer felt would be too short.
But Blue Bunting was a revelation. Partnered by Frankie Dettori, she was fourth last of the 18 runners in the season's first British fillies' Classic at half-way but then started to make relentless progress on the stands' side. She went third with a furlong left to race, came with a storming run to take the lead close home and won going away by three quarters of a length.
It was a third 1,000 Guineas success for Godolphin, following on Cape Verdi (1998) and Kazzia (2002).
Blue Bunting then attempted to repeat Kazzia's achievement - collect the other British fillies' Classic, the Investec Oaks, over an extra half-mile at Epsom Downs in early June.
She tried but a slow early pace and the undulations of the unique course proved her undoing, finishing fourth to Dancing Rain. However, it was another matter at the more galloping Irish track of the Curragh in mid-July.
Blue Bunting came through to go fourth with two furlongs to run but then seemed to hit a flat spot and was fifth when Frankie Dettori switched her out wide at the distance to get a clear run which resulted in an exciting last-gasp victory by a short-head. It was a first Darley Irish Oaks triumph for Godolphin.
The three-year-old seemed to thrive on racing as a month later she took on older fillies and mares for the first time in the Group One Darley Yorkshire Oaks during York's Ebor meeting and came out on top. She led over a furlong out and ran on gamely to hold Vita Nova by three quarters of a length. The filly's success also provided trainer Mahmood Al Zarooni with his 100th winner since joining the Godolphin in 2010.
Blue Bunting then headed to Doncaster for the Ladbrokes St Leger, the final British Classic of the season, over the longer trip of one mile, six furlongs and 132 yards on September 10. But she never got into the race, finished a well-beaten sixth of the nine runners and clearly did not run anywhere near her best on her first start against colts. She is now enjoying a well-deserved rest before coming back into training for 2012.
Other fillies did Godolphin proud in 2011. Wavering, a three-year-old daughter of Refuse To Bend trained by Andre Fabre in France, won the Group One Montjeu Coolmore Prix Saint-Alary at Longchamp on May 22, while the ultra-consistent and tough It's Tricky also gained success at the highest level, taking the TVG Coaching Club American Oaks at Saratoga on July 23.
Trained by Kiaran McLaughlin, the three-year-old Mineshaft filly, ran nine times during the year in America, winning five, coming second three times including in two Grade Ones and finishing fourth once.
Lyric Of Light and Be Fabulous were two more fillies to make their names in 2011.
The former was unbeaten in three starts for Mahmood Al Zarooni and is certainly going the right way. She won her maiden over seven furlongs at Newmarket in August, took the Group Two Barrett Steel May Hill Stakes at Doncaster the following month at a mile and then stepped up successfully to Group One level in the Shadwell Fillies' Mile back at Newmarket on September 23.
Be Fabulous, a four-year-old filly by Samum handled by Andre Fabre, made great strides when tackling longer trips towards the end of the 2011 campaign in France, proving successful in a Listed 14-furlong event at Saint-Cloud early in October. Near the end of the same month, she was pitched into Group One company in the Prix Royal-Oak over half a furlong short of two miles and won the 14-runner race in great style.
One of Godolphin's favourites, six-year-old Campanologist showed he was as good as ever in 2011. Saeed bin Suroor sent the horse out to win two more Group Ones, the Preis Von Europa at Cologne, Germany on September 25 and the Gran Premio del Jockey Club Italiano at Milan, Italy on October 16. Campanologist subsequently ran well to finish fifth in the Group One Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Vase at Sha Tin, Hong Kong in December.
The final of Godolphin's 12 Group One winners in 2011 - the same excellent total as the previous year - came through the unbeaten two-year-old Mandaean.
Andre Fabre sent out the son of Manduro to win a nine-furlong newcomers' race at Longchamp on October 16 and just under a month later the colt with Classic potential captured the 10-furlong Criterium de Saint-Cloud in a pleasing manner despite running green when in front.
There were plenty of other excellent performances by Godolphin horses, in defeat as well as victory.
Opinion Poll was never out of the frame in nine 2011 starts and developed into a stayer of the highest class. He was twice denied a Group One victory by Fame And Glory but still gained a couple of Group Two triumphs, in the Artemis Goodwood Cup and York's Weatherbys Insurance Lonsdale Cup, for Mahmood Al Zarooni.
Godolphin enjoyed 12 Group Two successes in 2011 plus 13 at Group Three level, the highest ever annual total at that grade.
The final tally for the year was 186 winners including 56 Stakes victories, with the Godolphin horses earning US$18,949,966 in prize money across the world.
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2012
A hugely memorable 2012 for Godolphin included an unprecedented 214 winners and record prize money of more than US$25.8-million in a year that featured a host of notable victories and ended with an eighth owners' title in Britain.
The tone was set with Godolphin's very first runners of 2012 as Sarrsar, Honour System, City Style and Time Prisoner all won at the initial fixture of the Dubai World Cup Carnival on January 5 at Meydan, Dubai's stunning racecourse.
An excellent start to the campaign continued with the Mahmood Al Zarooni-trained trio of Gamilati, Kinglet and Falls Of Lora capturing the UAE 1,000 Guineas Sponsored By Gulf News, the UAE 2,000 Guineas Sponsored By Dubal and the UAE Oaks Sponsored By The Saeed & Mohammed Al Naboodah Group respectively.
Godolphin unveiled two new jockeys at the Dubai World Cup Carnival. Silvestre de Sousa, runner-up in the 2011 British jockeys' championship, and multiple Group One-winning rider Mickael Barzalona became retained riders for the international stable.
Both wasted little time settling into their new roles, with Silvestre de Sousa gaining a first Pattern success in the royal blue silks aboard the Saeed bin Suroor-trained Do It All in the Group Two Zabeel Mile Sponsored By Commercial Bank of Dubai on March 1.
Saeed bin Suroor gained further Group Two success with Mendip, who continued his fine record at Meydan with a comfortable win in the Al Maktoum Challenge Round Two Sponsored By Dubal, while African Story readily scored in the Group Three Burj Nahaar Sponsored By Emirates Sky Cargo.
Capponi, handled by Mahmood Al Zarooni, provided Godolphin with a first Group One victory of 2012 as he powered clear of his rivals for a convincing four-length verdict under Ahmed Ajtebi in the Al Maktoum Challenge Round Three Sponsored By Emirates on March 10.
Godolphin ended the Dubai World Cup Carnival as champion owner for a fifth consecutive time and Saeed bin Suroor receiving the award for leading trainer.
Dubai World Cup night itself started superbly as African Story continued his rich vein of form with a facile success in the Group Two Godolphin Mile Sponsored By Etisalat, while the Mahmood Al Zarooni-trained Opinion Poll was the comfortable winner of the Group Three Dubai Gold Cup Sponsored By Al Tayer Motors.
The highlight of the evening came in the Group One Dubai World Cup Sponsored By Emirates Airline as the Mickael Barzalona-ridden Monterosso stormed to a stunning victory over Capponi in the world's richest race, giving Mahmood Al Zarooni a memorable 1-2 in the world's richest race.
In the United States, the Kiaran McLaughlin-trained It's Tricky continued to be one of the country's leading fillies as she started her four-year-old campaign with a hat-trick of wins that culminated with victory in the Grade One Ogden Phipps Handicap at Belmont Park on May 28.
As the European season swung into action, several Godolphin runners announced themselves as horses to follow over the summer months.
Colour Vision made an exciting seasonal return by breaking the course record in the Group Three Blue Square Levy Board Sagaro Stakes, run on Polytrack at Kempton on May 2, while Farhh powered to a very easy victory under top-weight in a Thirsk handicap three days later.
Saint Baudolino snatched a cosy success in the Group Three Prix de Guiche at Chantilly on May 11 and the Andre Fabre-trained three-year-old returned to the same course on June 3 to take second in the Group One Prix du Jockey Club.
Both Colour Vision and Farhh headed to Royal Ascot, with the latter running an excellent race to take third on his Pattern debut in the Group One Prince Of Wales's Stakes.
In the Gold Cup, the highlight of the staying season in Europe, Colour Vision prevailed in a thrilling climax, getting the better of Opinion Poll by half a length in a pulsating finish to the two and a half-mile Group One for a Godolphin 1-2.
Tha'ir quickened well to win the Listed Chesham Stakes as Godolphin was crowned Champion Owner at Royal Ascot for a second successive time.
Andre Fabre once again provided Godolphin with a stream of major winners in France, with Aesop's Fables capturing the Group One Prix Jean Prat at Chantilly on July 1.
The handler's good form continued into France's premier summer fixture at Deauville in July and August, with Godolphin clinching another major owner's prize at the prestigious meeting.
Saint Baudolino got the better of Aesop's Fables in the Group Two Prix Guillaume d'Ornano, while subsequent Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe third Masterstroke came with a swooping run to take the Group Two Grand Prix de Deauville.
Such success was mirrored in North America, as Kiaran McLaughlin enjoyed a purple patch of form at Saratoga's summer meeting.
Questing recorded a pair of comprehensive Grade One victories in the TVG Coaching Club American Oaks on July 21 and the Alabama Stakes on August 18, while Alpha also scored twice, including when forcing a dead-heat in the Grade One Travers Stakes on August 25.
Emcee's dominant win in the Grade One Forego Stakes on September 1 ensured Godolphin topped the owner standings at Saratoga in terms of prize money won.
In Britain, Farhh filled the runner-up spot in four of Europe's leading contests, going down by half a length to Nathaniel in the Group One Coral-Eclipse Stakes at Sandown Park on July 7 before finishing second behind the world's best horse Frankel in the Group One QIPCO Sussex Stakes at Glorious Goodwood on August 1.
The four-year-old also chased home Frankel in the Group One Juddmonte International at York's Ebor Festival on August 22 before ending his season with another second, this time going down by a head to Moonlight Cloud in the Group One Prix du Moulin de Longchamp on September 16.
Encke had started his campaign with victory in a Sandown Park handicap on July 6 but the Mahmood Al Zarooni-trained colt was allowed to take his chance in the Ladbrokes St Leger at Doncaster on September 15, following a pair of pleasing runs in the key trials for the final Classic of the British season.
Lining up against the unbeaten Triple Crown-seeking Camelot, Encke relished the step up to 14 and a half furlongs as he kicked clear of his rivals entering the final quarter mile for a fabulous three quarters of a length success under Mickael Barzalona, a 15th British Classic victory for Godolphin.
The same week, two of Godolphin's leading juveniles recorded impressive victories of their own. Certify maintained her unbeaten record with a cosy head verdict in the Group Two May Hill Stakes at Doncaster on September 14 and Dawn Approach also continued a faultless start to his career with a facile win in the Group One Vincent O'Brien Stakes at the Curragh a day later.
Both horses rounded off their two-year-old campaigns at Newmarket. Certify produced an electric turn of foot to provide Mahmood Al Zarooni with a second successive victory in the Group One Shadwell Fillies' Mile on September 28, while Dawn Approach continued trainer Jim Bolger's superb record in the Group One Dubai Dewhurst Stakes on October 13.
Hunter's Light epitomised Godolphin's international ambitions as after capturing the Group Three Rose Of Lancaster Stakes at Haydock Park on August 11, he then headed to Turkey where he enjoyed an easy Group Two success in the Anatolia Trophy on September 1. The Saeed bin Suroor-trained four-year-old chased home the world's second best horse Cirrus Des Aigles in the Group Two Prix Dollar at Longchamp, France, on October 6 and ended his season with a deserved Group One victory in the Premio Roma at Rome, Italy, on November 4.
French Navy registered Godolphin's 200th win of the year in a Newmarket Listed contest on November 3, while a late flurry of winners helped ensure that Godolphin edged out Prince Khalid Abdulla to clinch an eighth British champion owner title in a thrilling finale at Doncaster on November 10.
With the end of the European Flat season, attention turned to North America, where Godolphin finished the year well with a pair of Grade One wins. Dance Card made all of the running for an impressive victory for Kiaran McLaughlin in the Gazelle Stakes at Aqueduct on November 24, while another three-year-old filly, the Tom Albertrani-trained Better Lucky, scored in the Matriarch Stakes on the other side of the country at Hollywood Park 24 hours later.
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