Breeders’ Cup considered for high-class Mawj

Potential participation in the Breeders' Cup is being considered for Mawj, the English 1000 Guineas winner, but only if she sufficiently recovers from the health issue that prevented her from competing at Royal Ascot.

Trained by Saeed bin Suroor, Mawj triumphed at Newmarket by narrowly defeating Tahiyra in May. Following her victory, Dermot Weld's filly went on to claim the Irish equivalent in her subsequent race, setting the stage for a highly anticipated clash between the two Classic winners in the Coronation Stakes during the Royal meeting.

However, an unsatisfactory scope revealed an infection in the filly's chest, leading to her withdrawal from the final lineup. Bin Suroor later disclosed the presence of an infection as the cause.

Currently, the three-year-old filly is undergoing a period of rest and recovery, with a potential comeback later in the racing season. If she shows positive signs of returning to full health, a journey to Santa Anita in early November for the Breeders' Cup is serious consideration.

Bin Suroor said: “She’s still in treatment for coughing. She was coughing just before Ascot when she was ready to run.

“She had mucus and we scrubbed her and she didn’t look great so now we are giving her a break because we have scrubbed her a few times. We will allow her to get better slowly and we have no plan for her.

“Maybe the plan if she is doing well and is happy will be to have one more race here and then take her to the Breeders’ Cup. Maybe she will have one more race here, but only if she is ready.”

Bin Suroor was speaking after White Moonlight gave the Godolphin handler back-to-back victories in the Champagne Collet Queen Charlotte Fillies’ Stakes at Chelmsford.

The six-year-old was the beneficiary of a fine front-running ride from jockey Kieran Shoemark in the Listed seven-furlong event and will now step up to Group Three level at the Qatar Goodwood Festival, for the Whispering Angel Oak Tree Stakes on August 2.

“She’s done well and has been in good form,” said the trainer of the 9-2 winner.

“Seven furlongs suits her as we’ve tried before and I said to the jockey you have to be there in front, you have to lead. She was in front all the way and she won it well. Kieran is a good jockey and he did really well.

“In the morning when she works she’s very honest and always works well. She’s a tough filly and now we go to the Oak Tree at Goodwood early next month.”