Mastery completed a week-to-week feature double for Sheikh Mohammed and his Diesis mare Moyesii in the G1 English St Leger at Doncaster on Saturday.

His older half-brother Kirklees had raced into Melbourne Cup calculations with a smooth victory in the G3 September Stakes at Kempton Park on September 5.

Mastery (Sulamani) defeated stablemate Kite Wood in a thrilling finish to the English St Leger.  It was fifth time Godolphin had won the final classic race of the year which was first run in 1776.  Godolphin won previous St Legers with Classic Cliche (1995), Nedawi (1998), Mutafaweq (1999) and Rule of Law (2004).

A G2 winner of the Derby Italiano in May, Mastery had since been placed in the G3 Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot, Grand Prix de Paris at Longchamp and the Great Voltigeur Stakes at York.  “I was confident Mastery would run a big race,” trainer Saeed bin Suroor said.  “He ran a brilliant race at York last time and was nice and relaxed today.”

Kirklees (Jade Robbery) booked his ticket to Australia after impressive victories in the G2 York Stakes in July and the G3 September Stakes last Saturday week.  Kirklees came from last bar one to deliver a big finish over 2400m at Kempton Park.  He was trying the trip for only the second time and should keep progressing when he arrives in Melbourne.

“He’s doing everything right and entered quarantine last Tuesday,” Godolphin spokesman Simon Crisford said.  “He will run in the Caulfield Cup and we will see how he goes there before deciding on the Melbourne Cup.”

His sire Jade Robbery (Mr Prospector) shuttled to Woodlands in 2000 and 2001.  From 103 foals, he left 36 winners and three stakes winners including Makybe Diva’s half-sister Valkyrie Diva.

Mastery and Kirklees are out of Moyesii (Diesis – Cherokee Rose by Dancing Brave) who is a winning half-sister to Bowman (Irish River).  He defeated Medicis and Landseer in the 2002 G3 Prix de Fontainebleau and followed up with a placing behind Landseer in the G1 French 2000 Guineas.

Second dam Cherokee Rose was trained by John Hammond to G1 wins in the Haydock Park Sprint Cup and Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville.

Darley won the Caulfield Cup last year with All The Good (Diesis).  Kirklees is currently quoted at $41 by sportingbet.com.au for the Melbourne Cup.