For the fourth consecutive year, Sheikh Mohammed's powerful Godolphin racing stable exited 2024 as the leading North American breeder by earnings.
Remarkably the international breeding and racing operation has exceeded the already stout accomplishments it achieved as the leading breeder during the 2021-23 racing seasons. Last year, Godolphin-bred runners banked $23,205,149 in earnings and included 23 individual black-type winners. Nineteen of the 23 stakes winners won a graded stakes.
The quality of Godolphin's breeding program has clearly allowed it to maintain such a dominant position in North American racing. As an individual breeder, Godolphin was represented by 41 graded/group winners worldwide and of these 34 were campaigned as homebreds.
In North America, Godolphin raced eight grade 1 winners, of which three have been named as a finalist for Eclipse champion honors. Cinderella's Dream has been named a finalist for 3-year-old filly and turf female honors, Immersive has been named a finalist for 2-year-old filly champion honors, and Rebel's Romance is a finalist for turf male honors.
Cinderella's Dream, a daughter of Shamardal, started the year racing in Dubai and was shipped to the United States in late spring. She immediately made an impact by winning the Belmont Oaks Invitational Stakes (G1T) and Saratoga Oaks Invitational Stakes (G2T) back-to-back and ended the year with a runner-up effort in the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf (G1T) by half a length to Moira.
Immersive seems assured a championship title after capturing three grade 1 wins during her undefeated campaign of four races. She won the Spinaway Stakes (G1), Alcibiades Stakes (G1), and capped the year off with a 4 1/2-length romp in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1). Immersive is by Darley Stallions' Nyquist , who enjoyed a strong year overall with 115 winners that included six graded stakes winners.
Rebel's Romance, a now 7-year-old gelded son of Godolphin's leading European sire Dubawi, continued to be the model of consistency in 2024. He made six starts and never raced in any jurisdiction twice, having made starts in Dubai, England, Germany, Hong Kong, Qatar, and the U.S. His worst performance was a third in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (G1) at Ascot but otherwise he rang the bell every time. Rebel's Romance sweetened his sterling performances last year by capturing his second Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T) victory at Del Mar. He won his first Breeders' Cup Turf in 2022 at Keeneland.
When individual breeders and their partners are considered, Godolphin ended 2024 with $25,912,067 in earnings and was represented by 26 black-type winners. Brad Kelley's Calumet Farm finished in second on the leading breeders list by individuals and with partners. Runners bred by Calumet alone earned more than $13.9 million and included 13 black-type winners.
The late Brereton C. Jones, founder of Airdrie Stud, ranks third among the leading individual breeders with more than $11 million in earnings and 19 black-type winners. Considering individuals and partners, Kenny Troutt's WinStar Farm takes the third-leading spot with more than $12.2 million in earnings and 11 black-type winners.
