As his 1000 Guineas heroine, Mawj made her comeback with a victory in the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup at Keeneland, Saeed bin Suroor earned his 500th Group-race winner.
The small filly proved she is still a force to be reckoned with and now begs a Breeders’ Cup bid after going unnoticed since defeating Tahiyra at Newmarket.
Making all the running in the nine-furlong race under Oisin Murphy, she had the option of either competing against the men in the Mile or increasing the distance to 10 furlongs for the Filly & Mare Turf.
“Thank God,” exclaimed Bin Suroor. It’s fantastic for me to have the Classic winning filly Mawj win a Group One race in addition to 500 Grade and Group races. Coming to America and winning at Keeneland is fantastic for everyone. She made it today’s nine furlongs, so it seems to me like she has plenty of speed for a miler. Still, we’ll see. The mile may be her best option, but I want to make my decision closer to the event.
Saeed was pleased with her efforts at home, and when I sat on her last week just before she took off for America, she felt fantastic, according to Murphy. She was once again at her finest. She is a superstar filly, but we ran some very speedy parts in the earlier half of the race. She discovered a lot. She has a wonderful heart and brain. It’s his 500th Group victory, so for me to ride it for him means the world. I’m thrilled to win for Godolphin and Saeed here.
With Sky Bet, Mawj is a 10/1 chance for the Breeders’ Cup Mile, with Paddington topping the odds at 5/2.
