Title: Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Celebrates Kentucky Derby Victory with Homebred Colt Sovereignty

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum finally realized his Kentucky Derby dream Saturday at Churchill Downs when his homebred colt Sovereignty won the run for the roses.

The connections assembled for the sheikh’s Godolphin Stable referred to the win as a family affair, with Godolphin racing manager Michael Banahan, trainer Bill Mott, and jockey Junior Alvarado celebrating as kin after their triumph. It not only was the first win from 13 tries for Sheikh Mohammed but also his first finish in the top three. Essential Quality finished fourth in 2021 and was promoted to third place.

"It’s been a long time coming," Banahan said. "We’ve had a few chances, and to finally get this done is just unbelievably special for the whole team."

The family affair extends to the horses as well. Sovereignty is the fourth generation of horses whom Mott has trained from a female family that traces back to Alabama Stakes winner Lakeway. All were for different owners until Godolphin acquired Sovereignty’s dam Crowned, who was sired by Godolphin homebred Bernardini.

"It’s a neat thing to be able to train those families and generations of horses," Mott said. "My first Derby memory is listening to the 1967 Derby in a pickup truck in Fort Pierce, S.D., never dreaming that I’d come to Kentucky let alone win races then win titles. And now to be sitting up here after winning the Kentucky Derby is like I’ve been shot into outer space."

Sovereignty was not quite shot into outer space when making his winning move, but jockey Junior Alvarado knew he was on a rocket when the son of Into Mischief ranged into contention on the far turn while tracking favorite Journalism.

"When we hit the five-eighths pole (halfway through the race) he was ready to go, but I wanted to be patient," Alvarado said. "I didn’t want other riders to know what I had. Then when we hit the three-eighths I was right behind Journalism. Once we turned for home, I put my horse in the clear and felt like we could get there. Then by the eighth pole I knew we had it won because my horse was still running hard."

There was a decent scrum into the first turn through a first quarter of 22.81 seconds and a half of 46.23. The complexion began to change down the backside and into the far turn when Owen Almighty made a brush to the front through three quarters in 1:10.78. By the quarter pole, though, it was clear that the battle was joined to Sovereignty and Journalism.

"I had a beautiful trip, I had the trip I wanted," Journalism’s jockey Umberto Rispoli said. "I wanted to turn for home with just a couple horses ahead of me, and that’s what happened. But Sovereignty was just best today."

Both Sovereignty and Journalism saved ground into the first turn, and Alvarado, Rispoli, and Mott all noted that was a key to their top two performances.

"We all know you don’t win Grade 1 races if you’re four or five wide on both turns," Mott said. "Junior did a great job getting him over, and with all the speed in the race it really set up well for us."

This is Mott’s second Kentucky Derby victory, having earned his first in 2019 when Country House was placed first via disqualification of Maximum Security. He is the 19th trainer to win multiple derbies, but the Hall of Fame conditioner was quick to say this one definitely felt different.

"I was silent until he hit the wire, and then it all came out," Mott said. "My family was here, and we had a special celebration together. I’m so proud of anyone who had anything to do with this horse. It’s a really special feeling for this to happen for this team."

The win completed a Kentucky Oaks-Derby double for Godolphin, making it the first owner since Calumet in 1952 to sweep those races. As if that were not enough, Godolphin sandwiched a 2,000 Guineas win with Ruling Court between the Oaks and Derby wins. Brad Cox trained Good Cheer to victory Friday in the Oaks ahead of Sovereignty’s score. Godolphin also had the Brendan Walsh-trained East Avenue in the Derby, and other trainers on its roster include Michael Stidham and Eoin Harty.

"We try to keep some families together that trainers have previously conditioned," Banahan said. "Temperament-wise, physicality-wise, we try to figure out what suits each trainer. We consider them all equally and want to give each trainer a chance to have different horses.

"With Bill, there is a wonderful kind of symmetry. He goes back to training for Sheikh Mohammed in the old maroon Darley colors, and he was a great supporter of the Dubai World Cup when he brought Cigar over there when at that time it was more about that horse than it was the race."

That sense of family that pervaded the post-Derby celebration was present long before the roses. Alvarado was hurt just before the Florida Derby and missed that race, where Sovereignty finished second to Tappan Street. But Mott assured his regular rider that Sovereignty would be waiting for him in Louisville.

"I was heartbroken thinking I wouldn’t be able to ride this horse," Alvarado said. "Mr. Mott called me and said, ‘Listen, do what you need to do. You’re riding these horses back.’ That gave me the peace of mind I needed to recover properly."

Everyone recovered from that Florida Derby misstep, as Sovereignty and Mott both thrived beneath the Twin Spires in the leadup to the Kentucky Derby. After a five-furlong workout in 1:00.6 two weeks before the Derby, Mott knew his charge was ready.

"When a racing Hall of Fame trainer phones you and says, ‘That was a serious racehorse work,’ it gives you a lot of confidence," Banahan said. "He knew it would take the race of Sovereignty’s life to win this race, and that is what we got out of him."

Given it was that type of race, Sovereignty’s connections were in no hurry to commit to the Preakness Stakes on May 17 at Pimlico. They will do the usual checking of the horse before making a decision. One thing is for certain, the Godolphin team welcomes the competition with Journalism.

"This has the makings of one of those great traditional East versus West-type rivalries," Banahan said. "I’m sure we’ll have races down the road where they’ll want to try to come back to us. As for the Preakness, we’ll just have to wait and see. That sounds like a trainer decision to me. We trust (Mott), and I’m sure he’ll give it a consideration."