Mastery gave Godolphin a fifth success in the Group One Ladbrokes St Leger when overcoming Kite Wood, his stable companion, in an exciting finish to the final British Classic of the year at Doncaster overnight.
  It was a the British classic success of 2009 for the boys in blue. 
   Ridden by Ted Durcan, Mastery, winner of the Italian Derby earlier in the year, scored by three-quarters-of-a length. 
 Kite Wood, ridden by Frankie Dettori,  settled on the speed with Mastery just behind him in third spot, and when, Dettori made his move with two furlongs to run, Mastery stalked him and to issue his challenge inside the final furlong.  Mastery had to fight hard over the concluding stages before he got the upper hand of his barn mate to win the classic.
   Owned by Darley Australia’s principal, Sheikh Mohammed, and founder of Godolphin, he told his website: “I think one liked the ground and that was Mastery.
   “Everybody in Godolphin works as a team. These are horses, not machines and they are flesh and blood. The team is the same throughout the year - I am very proud of my team.”
   Godolphin’s previous successes in the St Leger came through Classic Cliche (1995), Nedawi (1998), Mutafaweq (1999)  and Rule Of Law (2004).
   Mastery is by Sulamani (Hernando - Soul Dream by Alleged), winner of the Group I York International and Chantilly Prix du Jockey Club, out of the winning Diesis mare Moyessi, dam of the WS Cox Plate, Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup nominee, Kirklees (by Jade Robbery) and winner of the Group I Milano Gran Criterium.
   Moyessi is a daughter of the Group I Haydock Park Sprint Cup and Deauville Prix Maurice de Gheest winner, Cherokee Rose.   It’s a family that’s left a big hoof print on this side of the world.  As Volksraad (by Green Desert) is out of the dam of Cherokee Rose, Celtic Assembly.

Permalink| Sep 13, 2009

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