skip to main content

Aidan O'Brien's Sun Goddess shines on Newmarket in Cheveley Park Stakes win

NEWMARKET, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 26: Ryan Moore riding Sun Goddess (purple) win The Tattersalls Sceptre Sessions Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket Racecourse on September 26, 2026 in Newmarket, England. (Photo by Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images)

Getty

Ryan Moore aboard Sun Goddess (R) on their way to victory in the Cheveley Park Stakes

Sun Goddess showed her class to give Aidan O'Brien a seventh Tattersalls Sceptre Sessions Cheveley Park Stakes in what was an appropriately red-hot renewal at Newmarket.

Sun Goddess and fellow Group One heroine Senorita Bonita travelled in tandem in midfield as Snowing and Moonrise set a strong pace up the six furlongs of the Rowley Mile.

Senorita Bonita was the first to show her hand, with the smooth-travelling Libertango launching her attack under Billy Loughnane on the far side from the back of the field.

But Sun Goddess found plenty for Ryan Moore on meeting the rising ground, with the 5-6 favourite engaging top gear to win by a going-away length from Libertango, making it her third top-level win of the campaign. Senorita Bonita was only able to finish fifth after not getting home.

O'Brien, who saddled this year’s 1000 Guineas heroine True Love to win this race 12 months ago, said: "That is a massive run after winning over seven furlongs (Moyglare Stud Stakes) on soft ground, it was some change today. It was a massive test and she’s passed it.

"She looks a freak doesn’t she to be doing what she is doing and you have to remember she’s a two-year-old filly racing at the top level every day. It’s incredible and I can’t remember having one that classy, with that speed and distance range before, she looks really unusual.

NEWMARKET, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 26: Aidan O'Brien poses at Newmarket Racecourse on September 26, 2026 in Newmarket, England. (Photo by Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images)
It was yet another Group One success for Team O'Brien

"She’s unique and to have the mental capacity and physical (attributes) to match it. She’s come back there and she’s in no way stressed at all.

"She came off the bridle early which meant she would get into her tempo as we were worried she would travel and then come off the bridle and find everything happening too quickly. But once she came off it early she was always going to be really hard to handle.

"She’s big and doesn’t look like a two-year-old, she’s more like a three-year-old and a massive big specimen. Even if she didn’t change any from now until next year she would be plenty big and would still be considered a big three-year-old. It’s very unusual."

He went on: "The lads got her in Doncaster and it was great she was able to go back and win that (sales) race at York earlier in the summer, it’s a great initiative and a very big pot."

Sun Goddess was made 6-4 favourite for next year’s 1000 Guineas by BOYLE Sports, but before that she could board the plane to Keeneland for the Breeders’ Cup to test her mettle over a mile.

O’Brien added: "We’ll see how she is and the next week or so will tell us how she is and whether this has taken much out of her.

"She is not blowing very hard and when we were tacking up there was no anxiety. She’s as cool as a cucumber and Ryan was over the moon with her."

NEWMARKET, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 26: Rossa Ryan riding Orthodox (L, white) win The Tattersalls Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket Racecourse on September 26, 2026 in Newmarket, England. (Photo by Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images)
Rossa Ryan and Orthodox (L, white) win the Tattersalls Middle Park Stakes

In the Colts division, Orthodox bounced back from his Prix Morny defeat to strike at the highest level for the first time in the Tattersalls Middle Park Stakes.

Force Noir cut out the early running as he set a sharp pace at the head of field, but Rossa Ryan put down his challenge early and asked Norfolk Stakes winner Orthodox for an effort at the three-furlong marker.

The Clive Cox-trained 7-2 chance was pushed all the way to the line by Robson De Aguiar's Force Noir at a big price and just prevailed by a neck, with favourite Inner City Blues never getting into it.


Racing Entries & Results

Read Next