Godolphin-bred Banishing a fitting Godolphin Mile winner

The royal blue colours of Godolphin may not have been seen in the Group 2 Godolphin Mile, sponsored by EMAAR, but HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum's operation played a pivotal part in its outcome when Godolphin-bred Banishing took the prize for the United States and Saudi Arabia.

The American Grade 2 winner relished the stamina-sapping test, charging home under UAE champion jockey-elect Silvestre de Sousa for Kentucky handler David Jacobson to deny leading local horseman Bhupat Seemar.

Dubai World Cup-winning trainer Seemar finished second (Commissioner King), third (Mendelssohn Bay) and fourth (Diamond Dealer), but the Zabeel Stables conditioner not claim his first Godolphin Mile. Instead, Banishing became the seventh American winner of the 1600m dirt feature. 

Saudi owner Sharaf Mohammed Al Hariri has made a habit of buying into American horses to target Middle East riches. His blue, silver and white colours were carried to victory in the G1 Saudi Cup two years ago by Senor Buscador, who then ran third in the G1 Dubai World Cup behind Laurel River.

The same colours were worn by De Sousa aboard Banishing, who finished eighth last time out in the Saudi Cup. Breaking away only fairly, the six-year-old relished a sizzling tempo set by Commissioner King, who scorched the Meydan dirt with a 21.4-second split between the 1400m and the 1000m.

De Sousa remained in touch with the leader while also riding a patient race, but Banishing made ground strongly under the Brazilian jockey as he began to stoke him up on the turn.

While Commissioner King still had three lengths up his sleeve past the 300m, that lead had been reduced to two lengths at the 200m and was negligible at the 100m as Banishing, full of momentum, raced on by. He pulled clear for a two and a quarter length success.

Jacobson was not at Meydan but said from his Kentucky base: "I'm very excited, he ran a super race. I knew he was doing good, he looked great and my assistant (Marino Carlos) has done a great job with him. It's terrific, what can I say? It's indescribable.

"I wasn't sure about the trip. I knew Commissioner King had a lot of speed and was going to the lead. I was hoping we'd stalk, just like it worked out. Looked like he was getting in a little trouble there, but the jockey rode him perfect. Took him out, got him in the clear and Banishing ran one of his top races."

De Sousa said: "My horse was coming back in trip and it suits him, he’s a proper miler. There was a lot of pace in the race and I just held the horse where he wanted to be. He took the turn a bit wrong, with the wrong leg, but he responded well under pressure.

"I was happy to follow him [Commissioner King] and also to have Mendelssohn Bay on my inside. I just took the safe option but the horse wasn’t helping me, he was lugging to the outside when he came into the straight."