Sovereignty to Stay in Training for 2026, Fueling Hopes of Another Standout Campaign

The Godolphin champion will remain in training following a season of full confirmation, with sights set on renewing his role among the sport’s elite

The imposing presence of Sovereignty will once again carve a path on the racetrack / ADAM COGLIANESE / NYRA

The news many had been waiting for is now official: Sovereignty will return to the races in 2026. The announcement, made Saturday by Michael Banahan during an interview on FanDuel TV, put an end to any speculation about an early retirement and confirmed that Godolphin’s star will enjoy another season on the track—further fueling global racing anticipation.

“He’s doing very well. Right now he’s in Kentucky, at Keeneland, training, galloping, and progressing exactly as we’d hoped,” Banahan said, making it clear that the son of Into Mischief is enjoying an active break. The immediate plan calls for a move early in the new year to Payson Park, where he will resume full preparation under the careful eye of Bill Mott, the architect of a campaign that has already earned a place in the history books.

Sovereignty’s continuation is far from a minor footnote. A leading contender for Horse of the Year honors, the bay put together one of the most admired and authoritative seasons in recent memory in 2025. After opening the year with a runner-up finish to Tappan Street (Into Mischief) in the Florida Derby, the Godolphin runner did not taste defeat again. What followed was a four-race Grade I and II streak at the very highest level: the Kentucky Derby, the Belmont Stakes, the Jim Dandy Stakes, and a crowning performance in the Travers Stakes.

That classic and demanding run underscored not only his athletic brilliance, but also his versatility and mental toughness—qualities that help explain why Sheikh Mohammed’s operation opted to keep him in training. “Hopefully we can have another year as good as the last one,” Banahan added, a simple line that neatly captures the ambition surrounding the project.

The lone blemish on an otherwise flawless season came late in the year, when a timely bout of fever forced Sovereignty to be scratched in the hours leading up to the Breeders' Cup Classic, a race for which he had been preparing without issue. That absence left a sense of unfinished business—one that could become a defining target in 2026, depending on how the calendar and the horse’s development align.

Keeping Sovereignty in training also sends a powerful message at a time when elite performers are often retired early to stud. Blessed with blue-chip genetics and a résumé that already places him among the best of his generation, his continued racing career reflects both sporting conviction and belief that there is more to achieve.

This year marks the 30th running of the Dubai World Cup at Meydan Racecourse, and many believe Sheikh Mohammed may set his sights on lifting that iconic trophy once again. Who better than Sovereignty to mount such a challenge? Whether the timing and preparation allow him to peak for that objective remains to be seen.

For now, as he enjoys a quiet spell while ticking over in the winter chill of Kentucky, the racing world is already sketching out scenarios for the champion—classic targets, a Breeders’ Cup return, generational clashes, and the chance to further cement his status at the top of the game. Sovereignty has already done a great deal, but those closest to him are convinced there is more to come. And that belief, in itself, is welcome news for the sport.