EPSOM: Ballydoyle and Coolmore versus Godolphin and Darley is a rivalry that goes back more than 20 years but if there is one element of it that stands out above all others it is Fantastic Light’s tussle with Galileo in 2001.
Fantastic Light avenged his defeat in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes with a narrow and thrilling win in the Irish Champion Stakes, but although he won that particular battle Galileo has since swung the war very much in favor of the Irish outfit as the world’s best sire. At 20 years of age he remains a dominant force, but strategically Coolmore are already looking beyond the horizon.
In English 2000 Guineas winner Saxon Warrior, Coolmore have made a play that could create a nearly unstoppable force were he to win the Epsom Derby today.
The Irish syndicate of John Magnier, Derrick Smith and Michael Tabor have sought the bloodlines of Deep Impact, Japan’s version of Galileo. They sent their Group One-winning mare Maybe to Deep Impact and the product of their meeting was Saxon Warrior, who is the clear favorite for the 239th running of the world’s most important race.
Win, and Coolmore are likely to ramp up their visits to the Japanese legend who leapfrogged Darley’s Dubawi in January as the world’s most expensive advertised sire at $275,000.
Donnacha O’Brien guided Saxon Warrior to victory at Newmarket, but it is Ryan Moore who will be in the saddle in pursuit of his third win in the $1.9 million contest.
Trainer Aidan O’Brien has revealed that Saxon Warrior will tilt at the Triple Crown, the three races that start with the 2000 Guineas and finish with the St. Leger at Doncaster in September — it has not been won since Nijinksy in 1970. What an irony it would be if Godolphin could derail those ambitions this afternoon with Masar.
Six years ago Coolmore’s Camelot won the first two legs and was thwarted at Doncaster by Godolphin’s Encke, a horse who passed drugs tests both before and after the race but was later found to have been administered steroids by now-disgraced trainer Mahmoud Al-Zarooni.
Much like Saxon Warrior is for Coolmore, Masar is a son of 2008 Derby winner New Approach, who was owned by Princess Haya of Jordan, and his mother is the tough UAE Derby-winning filly Khawlah. He may be a fine advertisement for the ruler of Dubai’s bloodlines, but whether he is good enough is a matter of debate.
Masar is the only Godolphin representative in the field of 12, that includes the Aga Khan’s Hazapour and Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed of Dubai’s Dee Ex Bee. The lack of Godolphin numbers puts Masar at a tactical disadvantage under William Buick, even if the pairing has lucked out with gate 10, which has produced the most winners of the race with nine.
O’Brien has a stranglehold on how the 12-furlong event could play out, as Saxon Warrior, who is poorly drawn in stall one, is accompanied by stable companions Delano Roosevelt, Kew Gardens, The Pentagon and Zabriskie.
Sheikh Mohammed has displayed a knack of naming horses, none more so than when he changed a colt’s name from Yaazer to Dubai Millennium before that horse won the 2000 Dubai World Cup.
Masar is named after an academic and expatriate exchange training program that was set up under Sheikh Mohammed’s patronage.
The students are likely to be at Epsom today. As is Sheikh Mohammed. It remains to be seen whose vision will become reality on these rolling downs south of London.
Masar out to spoil Saxon Warrior’s history bid at Epsom
Masar out to spoil Saxon Warrior’s history bid at Epsom
- In English 2000 Guineas winner Saxon Warrior, Coolmore have made a play that could create a nearly unstoppable force were he to win the Epsom Derby today.
- Masar is the only Godolphin representative in the field of 12, that includes the Aga Khan’s Hazapour and Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed of Dubai’s Dee Ex Bee.
E1 World Championship opens 2026 season in Jeddah with expanded field, growing global profile
- Season’s opener features record 10 teams
JEDDAH: The 2026 UIM E1 World Championship presented by PIF will launch its new season in Jeddah, with the Red Sea city once again hosting the world’s first all-electric raceboat series, and champions Team Brady beginning their title defense against an expanded and competitive field.
Set against Jeddah’s Red Sea coastline, the season-opening E1 Jeddah GP 2026, which takes place over Jan. 23-24, will feature a record 10 teams racing the cutting-edge E1 RaceBirds, underlining the rapid growth of the championship and its ambitions as a global competition spanning four continents.
Team Brady are the outfit to beat, having claimed the Champions of the Water title in 2024 and 2025. However, competition is expected to be fiercer than ever, with several teams strengthening their lineups ahead of the new campaign.
Team Monaco and Sierra Racing Club join the championship for 2026, adding further depth to the grid with a mix of experienced and emerging pilots. Team Rafa, who finished just 11 points behind Team Brady last season after a title fight that went down to the final laps, are widely regarded as one of the leading contenders and will be aiming to make an early statement in Jeddah.
Team AlUla Championed by LeBron James also return to race on home waters, one year on from their E1 debut. Carrying local pride, the team will be looking to build on last season’s momentum in front of Saudi fans.
The world-class field is further strengthened by a roster of high-profile, celebrity-backed teams, including Will Smith’s Team Westbrook, DJ Steve Aoki’s Team Aoki, Team Drogba, led by football legend Didier Drogba and his partner Gabrielle Lemaire, and Team Miami, featuring Grammy Award-winning artist Marc Anthony.
Fans will be able to get close to the action across qualifying and race day, with on-water viewing available from the E1 Fan Zone. The area will give visitors the chance to see the E1 RaceBirds up close and will feature a gaming arena with simulator and virtual reality experiences, as well as a VOX cinema screening of “Zootopia 2.” Merchandise outlets and a range of food and beverage options will also be available, creating a family-friendly race-day experience.
Beyond the racing, E1’s return to Saudi Arabia reflects the Kingdom’s growing role in shaping the future of electric sport and sustainable mobility. The championship serves as a living laboratory for electric propulsion systems, accelerating innovation that can influence marine transport while also supporting broader conversations around ocean protection.
As part of its partnership with E1, Formula E’s Driving Force Presented by PIF E360 is hosting its educational program in Jeddah this week. The initiative aims to inspire students aged 8 to 18 to explore science, technology, engineering and mathematics, as well as sustainability, through the lens of electric racing.
The program reached more than 60,000 students globally in 2025 alone, with a further 50,000 targeted this year, taking its reach to over 100,000 young people worldwide.
On the sporting side, PIF’s commitment to excellence will again be recognized through the PIF Pilot of the Day award, presented after finals day to honor standout skill and performance over the race weekend.
Alejandro Agag, founder and chairman of E1, said: “Starting our 2026 season in Jeddah is a powerful statement for E1. The region represents ambition, innovation and a clear vision for the future, and the Red Sea provides the perfect environment as our largest grid yet of 10 teams begin their battle to be crowned 2026 Champions of the Water.”
The Jeddah race is set to deliver high-intensity competition, renewed rivalries and an early glimpse into the future of high-performance racing on water.
