Bill Mott’s sovereignty ended with a flowering to give Sheikh Mohammed’s Godolphin operation with a first Kentucky Derby success at Churchill Downs.
A quantity of over 147,000 were present for the 151th renewal of ‘The Run For The Roses’, with 19 horses to be placed on a slurry track for heavy rain at the Louisville cycle.
Michael McCarthy’s Santa Anita Derby winner journalism was a warm favorite and so likely to commit after making a sweeping step that rounded the home to challenge for the lead.
However, Florida Derby Runner-Up sovereignty was in its slipstream under the Venezuelan rider Junior Alvarado and completed the 10-Fro long competition for demanding a clear victory.
The Hall of Fame Trainer Mott won North America’s most famous race for the second time after his country house was promoted to the No. 1 place in 2019 following the incompatibility of the first past for maximum security.
Of his latest win, Mott said to NBC Sports: “I saw him finished when he left half a mile pole – he started picking up his momentum. I lost him a little, but he made up a lot of land in a hurry.
“He has done well, he is a big horse and he comes from a great organization. I can’t say enough about the horse and the organization that started him and did everything to make this happen.
“It’s great and it will take a while to sink in.”
Whether sovereignty will now compete in the second stage of the US Triple crown, Preakness Stacks, the coach added: “I think we have to talk about it. The pressure is now to go. Had he not won, you would not feel obligated to do so, but we will talk to the team and I think we will make a common decision and try to do the right thing.”
SOVEREIGNY’s triumph rounded off a fantastic Saturday for Godolphin after the previous success with Charlie Appleby’s reigning court in 2000 Guineas in Newmarket.
Michael Banahan, director of Bloodstock for Godolphin USA, said, “It’s astonishing. The founder of Godolphin, Sheikh Mohammed, has given all these great resources to have a wonderful stallion list and a large broodmare band and be able to have horses here that can compete on the big stage.
“It’s a race that we’ve always wanted to try to win. Godolphin likes to compete in the best races around the world, be it Epsom Derby, Melbourne Cup, Dubai world championship and eventually the Kentucky Derby.
“I’m so grateful to be up here on Twin Spiers from this site – it’s a great feeling.”
Alvarado added: “It means the world to me, my family is here. I thought I had a great chance and I was so convinced all the way.
“If I had to choose someone to win the Kentucky Derby with it, it would be Mr Mott. We have been a team for a while, and it is more than a dream come true to get it done with him and the Godolphin people who have been very helpful throughout my career.”