Mawj Edges Out Tahiyra in Epic Guineas Battle

Saeed bin Suroor ended a long wait for another Classic success by landing the One Thousand Guineas (G1) with 9-1 shot Mawj , who battled on splendidly to thwart 6-4 favorite Tahiyra  May 7 at Newmarket.

He has trained for Godolphin since 1994 and won 12 British Classics between 1995 and 2009.

The trainer ended a 14-year wait for number 13 when Mawj gave him a third One Thousand Guineas victory under Oisin Murphy,  who was landing a second British Classic success and his first since he served a 14-month ban after admitting to breaking COVID-19 rules, misleading the British Horseracing Authority and prejudicial conduct, plus two alcohol breaches.

"She's a champion," the jockey said on ITV. "Thanks very much to Saeed and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed for giving me the opportunity. These group 1s are what it's all about."

Murphy had finished second in the Two Thousand Guineas (G1) on Hi Royal  Saturday and when asked what this success meant, he said: "There is nothing better. I was second in the race yesterday and to win it is unbelievable. Thank you to the trainer and his staff, they did all the hard work."

Mawj, a group 2 winner by Exceed and Excel  last season who also finished third in the Cheveley Park Stakes (G1) on this course, had won both her races in Dubai this year.

She showed great determination to hold off the previously unbeaten Tahiyra by half a length, covering one mile in 1:37.92 on turf rated soft. The first two pulled 7 1/2 lengths clear of third-place Matilda Picotte  (33-1).

The winner had only returned to Britain from Dubai two weeks ago and bin Suroor said on Racing TV, "She's a tough filly. She's a nice filly over this trip. The Irish One Thousand Guineas could be an option."

Asked what it meant to win another Classic, he said, "It's great to come and win the Guineas, it's a good result for us."

Tahiyra is owned by the Aga Khan, whose daughter Princess Zahra Aga Khan said of the filly, "I don't think she loses anything in coming second by half a length. They pulled way ahead of the rest of the pack.

"The going was something she hadn't necessarily tried before, it was sticky, and the jockey said that she couldn't get up on the ground. It's her first time out this year, you've got to give her credit. I'm very proud of the filly."

Mawj is out of the New Approach  mare Modern Ideals, making her a half sister to 2022 Eclipse Award champion turf horse and Breeders' Cup Mile (G1T) winner Modern Games .