The blockbuster Breeders’ Cup meeting at Keeneland continued into it’s second and final day on Saturday with the jewels in the crown – the G1 Breeders’ Cup Classic (1m2f) and Breeders’ Cup Turf (1m4f) won by representatives of Godolphin and Coolmore.
Godolphin homebred 4YO stallion Sovereignty was stepping out for his final appearance in a glittering career that saw him win last year’s Kentucky Derby along with two more G1 races to be crowned 2025 US Horse of the Year.
This year the Bill Mott trained son of Into Mischief placed at his first two runs back and then won the G1 Whitney Stakes at Saratoga in August.
Ridden by his regular partner Juan Alvarado, Sovereignty settled off the pace and charged home to win by a length and three-quarters giving Godolphin their first victory in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.
A Champion crowned on racing’s biggest stage. ?? SOVEREIGNTY takes the @Longines #BreedersCup Classic! #BC26 Congrats to the connections! https://t.co/B6j3HAlre2
— Breeders' Cup (@BreedersCup) October 31, 2026
He has the overall record of eight wins and four placings from 13 starts and is the best of two winners from unraced Bernardini mare Crowned, a daughter of Group I winner Mushka.
It’s been a while since Darley have offered a US bred / raced option on their Australian roster, Street Boss (USA) aside, so it will be interesting to see if Sovereignty makes the trip here next year.
His dam sire Bernardini shuttled for eight seasons to Australia leaving G1 winners such as Boban, Go Indy Go, Ruud Awakening along with Group winners Toydini, Zanbagh, etc.
While the European raiders came up short in other feature races at Keeneland on Saturday, the G1 Breeders’ Cup Turf delivered yet another BC victory for Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore when flashy chestnut Frankel colt Benvenuto Cellini roared back to top form.
Benvenuto Cellini won the Irish Derby back in June and came to this assignment off a ninth in the Arc to Daryz, but connections expected sharp improvement and he was backed into favouritism.
He duly won by three quarters of a length over Wathnan Racing entry Map of Stars with his stablemate Diamond Necklace a brave third.
BENVENUTO CELLINI (IRE) ruled the turf and stole the show in the @Longines #BreedersCup Turf! ?? Congrats to the connections! https://t.co/0jPS0nMlWO
— Breeders' Cup (@BreedersCup) October 31, 2026
Benvenuto Cellini has the overall record of five wins and three placings from 10 starts and will remain in training for next year with a trip to Hong Kong for International Day also a possibility.
A homebred for the Coolmore and White Birch Farm, Benvenuto Cellini is a full brother to stakes-winning filly Giselle and is the second stakes-winner from dual Group I winning Lope de Vega mare Newspaperofrecord.
The family has already had some Classic success producing Irish Derby winner Latrobe and added a new G1 winner to the page this year in 2YO Frankel colt Giant Sequoia, whop won the Doncaster Futurity Trophy last month.
