Sovereignty and East Avenue provide two strong chances for Godolphin to secure an elusive first G1 Kentucky Derby victory at Churchill Downs, US, on Saturday.
A total of 12 colts in the royal blue silks have previously contested the Run for the Roses, with Champion Two-Year-Old and subsequent Belmont Stakes hero Essential Quality faring best as he was promoted to third in 2021.
Both 2025 contenders come into the race on the back of strong efforts in defeat, with Sovereignty having closed well to go down by a length and a quarter to Tappan Street in last month’s G1 Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park.
Sovereignty scored on his three-year-old return at the Florida track, swooping late to edge out River Thames in the G2 Fountain Of Youth Stakes.
The Bill Mott-trained son of Into Mischief shed his maiden tag at Churchill Downs in late October, decisively winning the G3 Street Sense Stakes by five lengths.
East Avenue enjoyed a spectacular start to his career for Brendan Walsh, scoring by eight lengths on his debut at Ellis Park before an equally emphatic victory in Keeneland’s G1 Breeders’ Futurity.
A bad stumble leaving the stalls cost East Avenue any chance in the G1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, although the Medaglia d’Oro colt had no excuses for a disappointing start to his three-year-old campaign in the G2 Risen Star Stakes.
East Avenue returned to form under an aggressive ride in the G1 Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland in April, when he was caught in the shadow of the post to finish a nose second to Fountain Of Youth Stakes fourth Burnham Square.
Michael Banahan, Director of Bloodstock, Godolphin USA, said: ‘Sovereignty is coming into the Kentucky Derby in excellent shape. He appears to be galloping everyday with great vigour and enjoying the Churchill Downs surface. He breezed on Sunday, and it was a nice easy maintenance work with a good gallop out. Bill could not be happier with the way he is doing.
‘His draw [18] shouldn’t be too much of an inconvenience with his running style. Hopefully, as they stretch out, he will be able to draft into the middle of the pack and not be wide going into the first turn. I believe having Junior Alvarado back from injury to ride him is a big advantage as he knows the horse so well and has confidence in him.’
Good Cheer aims to provide Godolphin with a second G1 Kentucky Oaks victory in the space of three years as she looks to maintain her unbeaten record.
Like the 2023 winner Pretty Mischievous, Good Cheer lines up under the Twin Spires having prepped at Fair Grounds, with easy wins in the G2 Rachel Alexandra Stakes and G2 Fair Grounds Oaks on her two starts this season.
A homebred daughter of Medaglia d’Oro, Good Cheer won at Churchill Downs three times during her juvenile season.
‘East Avenue has delighted Brendan since his very narrow miss in the Bluegrass. He is pleasing all in the Walsh barn and appears to be peaking at the right time. He showed in the Bluegrass that he has grown up and is ready to fight when the going gets tough.
‘He had his final work for the Derby on Sunday and shaded a minute for his 5-furlong breeze with a nice gallop out. Manny Franco flew in from New York for the work and was very complimentary. He is very excited about riding him on Saturday.
‘He got a good draw in 12, so hopefully he can draft in just behind the speed and be in position to take on the leaders on the final turn. We expect him to show up and be fighting out the finish.’
Sprinting revelation Think Big goes for back-to-back G2 wins in the Twin Spires Turf Sprint on the same card. Trained by Michael Stidham, the Twirling Candy homebred is unbeaten in three appearances on grass and made an impressive Graded Stakes debut when beating Rogue Lightning in Keeneland’s Shakertown Stakes earlier in the month.