Godolphin: Three of their best buys please log in to view this image By Timeform -- published 28th May 2015 Following last week’s news that leading Derby hope Jack Hobbs will race in the silks of Godolphin, Timeform look back on a selection of the operation’s most successful high-profile purchases. Dawn Approach – TF Peak rating 132 From the first crop of Darley sire New Approach, it was hardly surprising that Godolphin were interested in the unbeaten Dawn Approach following his game win in the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot. Dawn Approach, who remained under the expert tutelage of Jim Bolger, had already won four times prior to being sold, and he racked up a further two victories as a juvenile, winning the Group 1 National and Dewhurst Stakes in the Godolphin blue. It was as a three-year-old, however, that Dawn Approach would really prove Godolphin’s investment to be a wise one, winning the 2000 Guineas by five lengths and bouncing back from a Derby flop to win the St James’s Palace in a memorable dual with Toronado. Dawn Approach’s campaign finished in a bit of a whimper, disappointing in the Prix Jacques le Marois and QEII, but he’d already done more than enough to mark himself down as a top-class horse and stallion prospect. Daylami – TF Peak Rating 138 Daylami had already won the French 2000 Guineas and then finished placed in three Group 1s by the time Godolphin acquired him from the Aga Khan, so he was hardly an unknown proposition, but he took his form to another level for the boys in blue. A successful four-year-old campaign saw wins in the Tattersalls Gold Cup, Coral-Eclipse and Man O’War Stakes, but it was the following season that Daylami established himself as an outstanding horse. Daylami won four Group 1s, impressing with his durability, versatility and brilliance, hailed in some quarters as Flat racing’s answer to Desert Orchid. The highlight of the campaign was arguably an electrifying success in the Irish Champion Stakes which saw Daylami register an eight-length victory in a manner rarely seen at the highest level. Sulamani – TF Peak Rating 130 Sulamani wasn’t the classiest horse Godolphin has ever been involved with, but he did embody the international aims of the operation, winning five Group 1s in four countries following his purchase. French Derby winner Sulamani was bought after his fast-finishing second to Godolphin’s Marienbard in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, and he provided an instant return on investment by winning the Sheema Classic at Nad al Sheba. Defeats in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud and King George followed, but Sulamani bounced back with wins in the Arlington Million and Turf Classic Invitational, and he proved just as good the following season, the highlight being success in the prestigious Juddmonte International at York. Fittingly, the globe-trotting Sulamani signed off by claiming the Canadian International, retiring with a fine record of success on the global stage.
Surprised Timeform didn't mention Balanchine. Surely she was a better horse than 2 of the above. Though she only got a 131 rating that would have seen her beating those 2 and as she was so ill after winning her Oaks and the Irish Derby she might have been better.
Is this only including horses tht they have bought after they raced or all horses they didn't breed themselves because technically Blue Bunting was bough at the sales over in America and she won some pretty decent races
Has a sporting organisation ever wasted as much money or spent as poorly as the Godolphin operation?!? Serious question. I can’t think of any other. To use a footballing analogy most of their purchases are the equivalent of The Arsenal spending £30 million on a player one season and then selling them a year later to Chippenham Town for a fiver and a packet of crisps!
When Chelsea bought Fernando Torres for £50 million once he had stopped banging in the goals for Liverpool, I am sure they thought that he was going to start scoring and win them the European Cup. Not sure how much they got when they dispensed with his services. Liverpool spent £30 million of that money on Andy Carroll, who had been banging them in for Newcastle, and he spent most of the time there not scoring (on the pitch) or injured and they took a bit of a hit when they offloaded him. Wenger should be keeping an eye on Chippenham Town as they might have a thirty-goal-a-season centre forward and a couple of defenders that he can pick up to give the Gooners a shot at the title next season!
Have just read the Balanchine Wikipedia article. I believe she was the first purchase by them and they sent her off to Dubai for the winter. The article says Mohammed was convinced this was the way to success after her 3yo season. I'd say 1 filly was a statistically poor sample and maybe Sheik Mo has always been ruled by his heart and not his head.
Do we say they were ever so unlucky with Dubai Milennium? I don't know a great deal about him but he was a sensational racehorse and didnt they lose him very early in his stud career?
Sensational doesn't do it justice Toppy, he was a serious horse. What made him so special was that he could win races from the front. Most class horses run from off the pace, but he could go a strong gallop and then kick further clear at the business end. It takes a horse with a serious engine to do that. Of horses from the modern era, I'd only really say Frankel had more talent than him. New Approach was probably comparable, but there weren't any others I'd fancy to give Dubai Millenium a challenge. His talents as a stallion have kind of been proven with how well Dubawi, his only son has done. Dubawi was a pretty average racehorse but he's still past on a lot of Dubai Milleniums talent. I think had Dubai Millenium been able to have a few more goes as a stallion he'd of proven to be a big asset for Godolphin. Godolphin do have New Approach and Dawn Approach, so I can see them doing well in the future with there horses
That's what I mean- their equivalent to Coolmores Galileo taken away so early. Who knows how things may have changed
One of the favourite pastimes on this forum is insulting Godolphin, yes/no? Godawful, and other such descriptions. Have any of you tried sending an email to them? I have, on more than one occasion, and their response is prompt, courteous, and informative. As for doping, I'm fairly sure they are not the only people who have screwed-up in this respect, and don't tell me that all the shamrocks in Ireland are entirely safe and edible. Geh!
You have a point Swanny yes but it's no different to the anti Coolmore stuff is it? And there's surely no need for rascism
