Sovereignty and East Avenue to lead Godolphin charge at Kentucky Derby

Sovereignty and East Avenue provide two strong chances for Godolphin to secure an elusive first Gl Kentucky Derby victory at Churchill Downs, US, on Saturday.

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A total of 12 colts in the royal blue silks have previously contested the Run for the Roses, with Champion Two-Year-Old and subsequent Belmont Stakes hero Essential Quality faring best as he was promoted to third in 2021.

Both 2025 contenders come into the race on the back of strong efforts in defeat, with Sovereignty having closed well to go down by a length and a quarter to Tappan Street in last month's Gl Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park.

Sovereignty scored on his three-year-old return at the Florida track, swooping late to edge out River Thames in the G2 Fountain Of Youth Stakes.

The Bill Mott-trained son of Into Mischief shed his maiden tag at Churchill Downs in late October, decisively winning the G3 Street Sense Stakes by five lengths.

East Avenue enjoyed a spectacular start to his career for Brendan Walsh, scoring by eight lengths on his debut at Ellis Park before an equally emphatic victory in Keeneland's Gl Breeders' Futurity.