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| Staff Writer |
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After teaming up with Classic winner Mawj, Oisin Murphy had high praise for the filly, referring to her as a "superstar." They secured a remarkable victory in the Group One Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup at Aqueduct, earning trainer Saeed bin Suroor an impressive milestone of 500 career wins in grade and group events.
After winning the Qipco 1000 Guineas at Newmarket in May, the daughter of Exceed And Excel took a break and returned to racing with great form. Jockey Murphy quickly took the lead and the horse displayed no rustiness, putting a couple of lengths between herself and her rivals when asked to quicken 300m out.
Although the advantage was cut back nearing the line, they held on tenaciously for the win. Lindy, ridden by Tyler Gaffalione, was the closest rival. This victory was another example of the brilliant training performance from bin Suroor and his team.
The filly had a successful year with two Meydan wins in January and February and a Classic victory at Newmarket on her first British start since September 2022.
She was rested for 161 days before making her debut, and now has an impressive record of four wins from four when debuting or after being rested for 10 weeks or more. The trainer was understandably delighted with this victory, which also marked a personal milestone.
He said, “Thank God. This is great to win 500 grade and group races and a Group One with the filly Mawj, a Classic winner.
“To come to America, to Keeneland, to win a Grade 1 is a great result for everybody.”
As whether a tilt at the Breeders' Cup Mile (Gr.1) against males or the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf would suit his filly, bin Suroor added, “It looks to me she has plenty of speed as a miler and she made it today over nine furlongs (1800m). But we'll see. The mile might be the best for her, sure, but I want to decide closer to the race.”
For Murphy, partnering bin Suroor’s 500th grade and group winner represented a wonderful moment.
“I'm delighted to win for Godolphin and Saeed here; it's his 500th group winner, so for me to ride it for him means the world,” he said.
“Saeed was delighted with her work at home and he asked me to sit on her last week just before she flew to the States and she felt brilliant. She felt back to her best.
“We did quite quick fractions in the first half of the race, but she is a superstar filly. She found plenty. She's got a great heart and mind.”