Godolphin is rolling out the big guns for Day 1 at The Championships with its 3yo colts Tentyris and Observer both favoured to improve their Group 1 strike-rates at Randwick on Easter Saturday.

Tentyris (Street Boss) is a $3.70 market-leader for the $3million T J Smith Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) while Observer (Ghaiyyath) has opened a $2.90 favourite ahead of the $2 million Australian Derby (Gr 1, 2400m).

Godolphin’s Australian Group 1 wins tally is already in double figures this season with Tentyris and Observer contributing two each for Sheikh Mohammed’s Blue Army and all four have been at Flemington. 

Tentyris (3c Street Boss – Deity by Exceed And Excel) won the stallion-making Coolmore Stud Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) in November and returned to the straight-six for a breathtaking victory over older sprinters in the Lightning Stakes (Gr 1, 1000m) in February.

 “We came up to Sydney last week and he had an easy hit-out in a barrier trial won by Overpass at Randwick last Friday,” co-trainer Sam Freedman said.  “Mark (Zahra) jumped off and reckons he’s fresh and ready to fire.”

Freedman prepares Tentyris with his father Anthony at Mornington and knows horses of his ability don’t come along very often.  “Dad has been in the game a long time and told me during the spring carnival he might be the best horse you’ve ever trained.  His turn of foot is there when you ask him.

“Godolphin is a valued supporter of our stable and we’ve had some very good horses for them over the years.  Tentyris can end up being right up there with the best of them.”

Freedman also dispelled any fitness doubts following his last-start loss in the VRC Newmarket Hcp (Gr 1, 1200m) when a post-race veterinary exam confirmed a first-time case of cardiac arrhythmia. 

“He was only beaten a bit more than a length and I don’t think that was the sole reason.  He actually ran very well and it was the track more than anything else.  He drew wide and the best lane that day was the inside rail.  They didn’t split down the straight and that made all the difference.”

Tentyris is one of 13 Group 1 winners by Street Boss (Street Cry) who stands at Darley’s Victorian base at Northwood Park in Seymour.  He’s bred on the same Exceed And Excel cross as Elite Street (WATC Winterbottom Stakes) and Tempted (ATC Surround Stakes).

Second-dam Divine Madonna (Hurricane Sky) won Group 1 miles at Flemington (2) and Caulfield and was a $2.7 million buy for Sheikh Mohammed at the 2008 Magic Millions Gold Coast National Broodmare Sale.

The stud career of Street Boss alpha male Anamoe is off to a great start at Darley Kelvinside in NSW.  He won nine Group 1 events between 1000m and 2050m and his 13 first-crop yearlings averaged an astounding $407,000 at the Inglis Australian Easter Sale last week.

Observer is poised for a breakthrough classic victory for Sheikh Mohammed in the ATC Australian Derby (Gr 1, 2400m) on Saturday.

Since taking over from James Cummings at the start of this season, champion trainer Ciaron Maher has guided the colt to Group 1 victories in the Victoria Derby (Gr 1, 2500m) and Australian Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m) at Flemington prior to an unlucky second to Autumn Boy in the Rosehill Guineas (Gr 1, 2000m) a fortnight ago.

Observer (3c Ghaiyyath – Smooth by Lonhro) is living up to a blueblood pedigree and Maher has him primed to follow Hitotsu (Maurice) who he trained to complete the Victoria Derby – Australian Derby double in 2022.  He has also booked James McDonald to take over the reins on Saturday.

“I’m proud to have the opportunity to train such a high-quality horse for Godolphin,” Maher said.  “Observer is very athletic and he’s got a beautiful action with the right attitude.  He’s bred to go the distance and has been ticking over extra well since the Rosehill Guineas. 

“He rallied to run through the line that day and he will handle getting over 2400m for a second time this season.”

Observer is from the first southern-crop of Darley’s Irish-bred shuttler Ghaiyyath (Dubawi) who was named 2020 European Horse of the Year after completing a rare Group 1 treble in the Coronation Cup (Gr 1, 2400m) at Epsom Downs, Eclipse Stakes (Gr 1, 2000m) at Sandown and Juddmonte International (Gr 1, 2000m) at York.

He’s a half-brother to Newcastle Stakes (Gr 3, 1400m) winner Sandpaper (Snitzel) and their dam Smooth is a full-sister to five-time Group 1 winner Pierro.  He has parlayed that race record into a stud career that has generated 40 black-type winners to date and among them is 2018 ATC Australian Derby (Gr 1, 2400m) winner Levendi.

Their Irish-bred second-dam Sky Song (Sadler’s Wells) foaled Laverock (Octagonal) to Group 1 victories in the 2006 Italian Derby and Prix d’Ispahan at Longchamp.

As Observer’s profile continues to build, Godolphin’s Australian Racing and Bloodstock Manager Jason Walsh declared he’s clearly a pretty unique animal.  “We felt he was unlucky not to win the Caulfield Guineas before the Victorian Derby and he’s come back and won an Australian Guineas.

“He’s a stallion prospect of real interest because he’s already shown he’s capable at all the classic distances.  Knowing Observer, there’s no doubt the very best is very much still in front of him.”

Godolphin has a more than able back-up in the Australian Derby with Green Spaces (Street Boss) who is a firming second-favourite at $3.50. 

It’s the culmination of a long-range program that was set in stone by trainer Bjorn Baker after his convincing victory in the Spring Stakes (Gr 3, 1600m) at Newcastle in November.  Since resuming this year, he has improved at every run with a last-start second in the Rosehill Guineas (Gr 1, 2000m) a well-timed dress-rehearsal for the classic.

“I’ve been dreaming about winning the Derby,” Baker admitted.  “It has been a very special race for my father and the family so it’s lovely to have a live chance. 

“Green Spaces probably hasn’t got the pedigree to win over the distance but he can switch off and relax in running.  He was really good in the Rosehill Guineas because the leaders didn’t go quick and he lost a bit of momentum on the home turn.”

Green Spaces (3c Street Boss – Outdoor by Redoute’s Choice) is a half-brother to Trekking (Street Cry) who won a BRC Stradbroke Hcp (Gr.1, 1400m) and SAJC Goodwood Hcp (1200m) in 2019-20.  There’s stamina further down the page through second-dam Serenade Rose (Stravinsky) who completed the VRC Oaks (Gr 1, 2500m) and AJC Australian Oaks (Gr 1, 2400m) double in 2005-06.