Mawj recorded a landmark 500th Group/Grade victories for trainer Saeed bin Suroor in the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup at Keeneland on Saturday night.

The three-year-old filly had not been seen since her titanic tussle with Tahiyra in the 1000 Guineas in May, where she came out on top by half-a-length.

Mawj is no stranger to international travel, having recorded two victories in Dubai prior to her Guineas success. Oisin Murphy rode the filly with plenty of confidence, leading from the outset and holding off the late charge of Lindy. 

"Thank God," said trainer Saeed Bin Suroor:

"This is great [for me] to win 500 [Grade and] Group [races] and a Group One with the filly Mawj, a Classic winner. To come to America, to Keeneland, to win is a great result for everybody.

"It looks to me she has plenty of speed as a miler and she made it today nine furlongs. But we'll see. The mile might be the best for her, sure, but I want to decide closer to the race."

Murphy said: "Saeed was delighted with her work at home and he asked me to sit on her last week just before she flew [to America] and she felt brilliant. She felt back to her best.

"We did quite quick sections in the first half of the race, but she is a superstar filly. She found plenty. She's got a great heart and mind.

"I'm delighted to win for Godolphin and Saeed here; it's his 500th Group winner, so for me to ride it for him means the world."