Haydock feature an important stage on Journey's trip to Group 1 glory on Champions Day at Ascot

Journey kicked off a journey of her own into Group 1 company after landing Haydock's Lester Piggott Fillies’ Stakes, when it was known for a day as the 188Bet.com Stakes back in 2016.

Owned and bred by George Strawbridge, Journey had won twice as a three-year-old for John Gosden the previous year but swept all before her at four culminating in a convincing triumph under Frankie Dettori in the Group 1 British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes at Ascot that October.

The daughter of Dubawi was kept in training at five the following year and went close to doubling her Group 1 tally when second in the Prix Vermeille at Longchamp.

Frankie Dettori performs his trademark dismount after winning the Fillies & Mares on Journey on Champions Day at AscotCredit: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)

Journey now resides just a short trip along the A14 from Newmarket at Barton Stud near Bury St Edmunds, where Strawbridge keeps many of his European mares.

Journey has been a regular producer and her best horse to date is the French-trained Inner Space, but connections are currently getting excited about some of her younger offspring.

Tom Goff, who oversees Strawbridge’s stock in Europe, said: “Journey is from a real staying family as her dam Montare herself won the Prix Royal Oak and her sister Mimikyu won the Park Hill. Like many Montjeus they can be live wires 

Journey with her colt foal by Churchill in March 2025

“Her best horse to date is Inner Space who won for the Gosdens on her debut before being switched to France. She then had a filly named Sea Journey who used to light up the gallops in the mornings in Newmarket but not so much in the afternoons. She was unplaced a few times but is now in foal to Auguste Rodin.

“We have high hopes for her two-year-old colt, however, who is by Frankel and is named Set Apart. He has spent time with Malcom Bastard and is shortly to go into training in France with Francis Rohaut.”

Further down the line things are even more promising at Barton Stud. Goff added: “ We're very excited by her yearling filly, also by Frankel and she is the nicest she’s bred. Since then she's had a colt by Churchill and she has recently been scanned in foal to Study Of Man, who is a young stallion on the up, so there’s plenty to look forward to."

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