Godolphin's Highland Avenue Wins on Euro Road to Derby

Back in the day, all roads led to Rome. This year, all the various Roads to the Kentucky Derby seem to lead back to Dubai.

With Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) contenders already prominent in the United States, Japan, and back at the mothership at Meydan, Godolphin's far-flung, Dubai-based empire marched successfully along the European Road to the Kentucky Derby March 3 at Kempton Park in England.

Highland Avenue, with Hollie Doyle up for trainer Charlie Appleby, was the heavy favorite in the Road to the Kentucky Derby Conditions Stakes, a middle leg of the series that offers a guaranteed spot in the Run for the Roses to the overall top points-getter.

The Dubawi colt, out of the Shamardal mare Lumiere, didn't look like he was getting any points at the start of the one-mile affair, strolling out of the stalls and requiring a bit of urging to get fully into stride. Once his attention was engaged, however, the gray colt was unstoppable, challenging for the lead a furlong out and blowing by the pacesetters to win by 1 3/4 lengths.

Sergeant Tibbs, a Bobby's Kitten colt, was second and the well-regarded Oo de Lally, a Vadamos colt, could only manage third without a late punch.

Highland Avenue, a Godolphin homebred and a Jan. 31 foal, ran his record to 2-for-2 this season after finishing second in his only start as a 2-year-old. All three races have been over the Kempton Polytrack.

Highland Avenue earned 20 points for the win, with Sergeant Tibbs scoring eight, Oo de Lally four, and fourth-place finisher Bodroy two. The victory puts the Godolphin colt atop the leaderboard with two races to go. The March 5 Patton Stakes at Dundalk in Ireland also offers 20-8-4-2 points and the April 1 Cardinal Condition Stakes at Chelmsford City will settle matters with the awards on the 30-12-6-3 scale.

The first four races in the series were run during the autumn on the turf and are more likely to impact the British classics than the U.S. Triple Crown.

Highland Avenue, too, remains a candidate to go in either direction. While all of his starts to date have been on the all-weather surface, he is not an original nominee to the Triple Crown.

Godolphin's uniquely strong hand in this year's Derby preparations starts with champion Essential Quality and Proxy, who currently stand at No. 3 and No. 5 on the main Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard, respectively. 

Godolphin also is represented near the top of the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby standings by Lemon Pop, a Lemon Drop Kid  colt who won the Cattleya Stakes in November at Tokyo Racecourse. Lemon Pop is a Triple Crown nominee and more will be known about intentions for him as the final race in that series, the March 27 Fukuryu Stakes, nears.

Godolphin also has Rebel's Romance, a Dubawi gelding who won twice on British all-weather courses last year and started his 3-year-old career with a victory in Dubai before finishing fourth in the Al Rahji Bank Saudi Derby Feb. 20 in Riyadh.

The road for Rebel's Romance could wend back to Meydan Racecourse in Dubai March 27 for the UAE Derby Sponsored by Emirates NBD (G2), a 100-40-20-10 points race on the Road to the Kentucky Derby that includes the major U.S. prep races.