Godolphin Phasing Out U.S. Presence

The royal blue colors of Godolphin Racing will no longer be a dominant presence in North American racing after this year, said Eoin Harty, Godolphin's main North American-based trainer.

The horses currently in training with Harty will be managed by and race in the colors of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum's Darley Stud Management instead of Godolphin Racing, which is comprised of three of the Maktoum brothers of the ruling family of Dubai.

"Nothing much will change," Harty said. "The horses who remain here with me will run in the colors of Sheikh Mohammed's Darley Stud until they're worthy of wearing the royal blue."

Instead of making his usual winter trip to the Al Quoz Stables in Dubai at the end of October, Harty will remain in the U.S. and oversee a Darley string based in California year-round. They will include many of the juveniles who normally have brief American campaigns before heading to the Middle East. It also means Harty will likely condition more older horses bound for the American classics and handicaps instead of just focusing mainly on developing the 2-year-olds.

"If anything (Sheikh Mohammed) is more committed to American racing than ever, but there will just be a change in the operation and how it's managed," Harty said. "He has the farm in Kentucky now and it's not like he's not doing well here."

Some of the runners who have carried the Darley Silks to victory so far this year include Sorrento Stakes (gr. III) victor Tizdubai, as well as promising maiden winners Ruler's Court, Flushing Meadows and Fataat Alaraab.