The 2025 season may have ended feeling like an unfinished story for Kentucky Derby (G1) and Belmont Stakes (G1) winner Sovereignty after he was scratched as the morning line favorite from the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) with an illness. However, on the bright side, that unfinished business has led to the Horse of the Year candidate returning to training for a 4-year-old campaign in 2026.
Speaking with Louie Rabaut and Sean Collins on the BloodHorse Monday podcast Jan. 5, Godolphin USA director of bloodstock Michael Banahan said the decision to return was made with the best interest of the horse in mind "first and foremost."
"If he went in there (the Breeders' Cup Classic) and did something special, I'm sure we wouldn't even be having this conversation. He more than likely would have been in the stallion barn," Banahan said on BloodHorse Monday. "This gives us the opportunity to bring him back and try to rectify not being able to run in the Breeders' Cup Classic of 2025."
The son of Into Mischief returned to the care of Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott at Payson Park Training Center in Indiantown, Fla., as the calendar changed from 2025 to 2026. Although it has long been speculated that the colt's first target would be the March 28 Dubai World Cup (G1) at Meydan given Godolphin is owned by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Ruler of Dubai, Banahan said there are currently no plans as to when Sovereignty will make his first start since dominating the Aug. 23 Travers Stakes (G1) by 10 lengths.
"We'll just let him get back there, settle in. Let Bill get him back going again and see where he takes him," Banahan said. "I think the only race that we have in mind is for the end of October at Keeneland (for the Breeders' Cup Classic). We'd like to try and get him back to Keeneland and work back from there. There's a lot of nice races through the year. Hopefully, we can get him started here whenever the appropriate time might be."
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Banahan said that Sovereignty took more time than expected to recover from the illness that caused him to scratch from the 2025 Classic. The colt developed a fever a few days after shipping to Del Mar and recording his final breeze for the Classic. He was withdrawn three days before the race.
READ: Sovereignty Scratched from Breeders' Cup Classic
After the Breeders' Cup, Sovereignty returned to Godolphin's rehab barn on Rice Road at Keeneland, where he was overseen by Johnny Burke and his team. Banahan said there were a couple of times in which Sovereignty developed "little fevers" after he arrived.
"We were just being cautious and wanting to do the right thing with him. It was easier to take care of him in Kentucky," Banahan said. "It just wasn't 100%, so we just had to let him come back to us. He was in good shape to get some galloping into him, keeping him ticking over. But it just took longer than we anticipated, and we didn't want to send him down to Florida until we were 100% happy that he was doing really well."
As Sovereignty got over his illness, Burke and his team were able to begin galloping the horse and build some fitness back into him before shipping him down to Payson Park, where Mott can get him back into racing condition.
"Fortunately, we're in a good place now," Banahan said. "Hopefully, he has a good month, and we'll let Bill build him back up again. He had a nice few gallops in him through December time anyway. He's not going in there cold."
Good Cheer Targeting Spring Return
Joining Sovereignty on that journey to Florida was Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner Good Cheer, a finalist for Eclipse champion 3-year-old filly. The daughter of Medaglia d'Oro rejoined trainer Brad Cox at Payson Park after receiving some time off following a sixth in the Sept. 20 Cotillion Stakes (G1) at Parx Racing.
Returning to Kentucky after the Cotillion for an examination, veterinarians discovered bone bruising, and Godolphin and Cox gave her some relaxation time in the fields. Also returning to Burke's Keeneland operation after her vacation, Banahan said the filly is in great shape.
"She did really well in the fall, put on plenty of condition, plenty of weight," Banahan said. "She lived out most of the time and enjoyed her time here."
Banahan said they expected Good Cheer to be ready to race in the spring and be a major competitor in the Distaff division over the summer.
"Medaglia d'Oros usually improve with age," Banahan said. "We'd like to think there's plenty of improvement in her as well."
During the 20-minute BloodHorse Monday interview, Banahan also discussed the benefits and risks a 4-year-old campaign could have on Sovereignty's stallion career, referencing how Flightline greatly improved his breeding value with a 4-year-old year. Additionally, Banahan discussed the incredible 2025 season from all of Godolphin's American runners, provided updates on runners like Verity, Poster, and East Avenue, and what it means to the Godolphin team to again be nominated for Eclipse champion owner and breeder—awards they have swept in four consecutive seasons.
