Godolphin's Classic winner Mawj (Ire) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) is expected to make her next start in the Nov. 4 GI Breeders' Cup Mile, according to trainer Saeed bin Suroor on Tuesday.
Unbeaten in four starts this season, the sophomore filly most recently came home a half-length winner over Lindy (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) in Keeneland's Oct. 14 GI QEII Challenge S.
“She's a tough filly with a big heart, to do that on her first run for five months and win a Grade I,” said Bin Suroor. “She had been doing well before the race and Oisin [Murphy] had been in to ride her and we knew she was well–she's come back well from the race too.”
In that nine-furlong test, she was making her first start since scoring in the G1 QIPCO 1000 Guineas at Newmarket in May.
“When she beat Tahiyra (Ire) [Siyouni (Fr)] in the Guineas, they were a long way clear of the others–they are the best by a long way.”
He continued, “She will head to Santa Anita now for the Breeders' Cup Mile. If she stayed against the fillies, it would be a mile and a quarter and a mile is the best trip for her, she's proved that.
“Because she's a tough filly she stayed nine furlongs at [Keeneland] but the Mile is for her, she's a top-class filly. She's not very big so the two turns over a mile will suit her.”
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