Group 1 winner Sibelius rolled to a four-length victory in the $125,000 Mr. Prospector S. (G3) on Dec. 23 at Gulfstream Park, his second straight win in the seven-furlong contest.

A 5-year-old son of Not This Time, Sibelius closed out an excellent 2023 campaign that also included a dramatic victory in the $2 million Golden Shaheen S. (G1) in Dubai.

Sibelius broke well from his outside post in the field of nine and battled with Long Range Toddy and Hurricane J for the lead down the backstretch. Sibelius shook clear going into the turn to post a swift half-mile in :45 seconds flat. Despite the fast fractions, he had plenty of run left and widened through the stretch to win handily in 1:23.16 on the fast track.

“[Winning rider] Junior [Alvarado] had great faith in him,” trainer Jeremiah O’Dwyer said. “He breezed him his final breeze last week and he said to me, ‘Jerry, I believe this horse is as good as he was last year.’ That was good enough for me.”

Owned by Jun Park and Delia Nash, Sibelius now sports a record of 8-3-3 from 23 starts and has earned $1,744.751. He was bred in Kentucky by Taylor Brothers Properties LLC, Pollock Farms, Patrick Payne, et al.

O’Dwyer indicated Sibelius would likely be pointed to a repeat effort in Dubai with a stop at Tampa Bay for the Pelican S. in February, which he also won last year.

Sibelius is one of Not This Time’s three millionaires, along with fellow Grade 1 winners Up to the Mark and Epicenter. Not This Time leads the 2023 Fourth-Crop Sire list in several categories, and his $12.9 million in progeny earnings rank in the top 10 nationally on the General Sire list.