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Godolphin’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner due to resume in mid February

Godolphin homebred Essential Quality (Tapit) is working well towards his first start as a three-year-old, with the Southwest Stakes (Gr 3, 8.5f) at Oaklawn on February 15 or the Risen Star Stakes (Gr 2, 9f) at Fair Grounds on February 13 under consideration for the colt. 

Trained by Brad Cox, Essential Quality was unbeaten as a juvenile and was last seen taking out the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (Gr 1, 8.5f) at Keeneland on November 6. He worked his last five furlongs in a time of 1:01.4 at Fair Grounds on Monday. 

“I think Brad will probably keep his options open, as you must in this day and age at all times, but all things being equal, reading between the linked, I think the Southwest will make the most sense primarily because of the distance of a mile and sixteenth,” said Jimmy Bell, president and racing manager for Godolphin. 

Essential Quality is currently the early second favourite for the Kentucky Derby (Gr 1, 9f) behind Life Is Good (Into Mischief). 

By leading US sire Tapit (Pulpit), Essential Quality is out of the Listed placed Elusive Quality (Gone West) mare Delightful Quality who is a half-sister to Champion 2YO Filly Folklore (Tiznow) who is the grandma of Japanese multiple Grade 1 winner Contrail (Deep Impact). 

Tapit’s sire son Frosted has made a good start to his stallion career in Australia having sired two winners to date including Maribyrnong Trial Stakes (Listed, 1000m) winner Ingratiating. He is currently fourth in the leading first season sires table in Australia by earnings with that table headed by Shalaa (Invincible Spirit).