March, 2021 | Horse Racing Free Tips

David Egan ‘Very Excited’ To Reunite With Saudi Cup Winner Mishriff For Dubai Sheema Classic

Fresh from enjoying the biggest success in his still very young career, 2021 Saudi Cup-winning jockey David Egan is now hoping to add the Group 1 $5m Longines Dubai Sheema Classic to his growing record when he reunites with the John Gosden-trained Mishriff on Saturday.

Some racing fans were surprised that the 4-year-old son of Make Believe would line up at the start of the 2400m (1 1/2 miles) showdown, which is run on turf, rather than in the Dubai World Cup itself, but Egan explained: “The dirt in Dubai is not the same as the dirt in Saudi and I think the mile and a half will give him a pre-test run for the upcoming season.

“Whether they are aiming him at the top mile and a half races or whether they are thinking about dropping back for the remainder of the season. I think that he will stay and the Sheema Classic should be an exciting race.”

The 2021 season looks very promising for the 21-year-old jockey, who despite being the retained rider to Prince A A Faisal since 2020 was not on board Mishriff when he lifted the Prix du Jockey Club, also known as the French Derby, at Chantilly last year. Neither was he in Deauville when he won the Prix Guillaume d'Ornano, nor when he ran disappointingly in the Champion Stakes at Ascot.

“I won a Listed race with him at Newmarket and after that he was going for the French Derby, but by the time we knew he was going to France, I couldn't quarantine anymore,” the jockey who spent most of the winter in Bahrain explained. “The following time, I got a four-day suspension, and I couldn't move one of the days so I could definitely not ride him when Frankie rode him in Deauville. And the time after that, in the Champion Stakes, the Prince and Mr. Gosden decided that they wanted Frankie to ride him. He got beat and ran a bit disappointingly and then Prince Faisal requested me not long after that to ride him in the Saudi Cup.”

It couldn't have been easy to see other jockeys win on a horse that means the world to him but despite his young age, Egan is quite philosophical when he adds: “Whatever I was to do wouldn't change the fact that I wasn't going to be riding him. It was obviously fate that I wasn't meant to ride him on the other occasions. I'm not superstitious, but I believe the fact that I didn't ride him in the other races could have been a factor that I did ride him in the Saudi Cup and that we won the race. Maybe, if I had ridden him before and he got beat and ran bad, things might have gone differently for Mishriff and he might not have won the Saudi Cup. Things happen for a reason.”

Mishriff is not the only ride he will have on Dubai World Cup night, as he is also booked to ride the Ed Dunlop-trained Red Verdon in the Dubai Gold Cup Sponsored by Al Tayer Motors, the Simon Crisford-trained Court House in the Dubai Turf Sponsored by DP World, as well as Jane Chapple-Hyam's Ambassadorial in the Godolphin Mile Sponsored by Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum City – District One.

“I'm very excited,” he concluded. “And if I win the Sheema Classic, I won't be complaining about the 10 days I will have to spend in quarantine in a hotel in England, will I?”

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Americans In Dubai: Bigger, Badder Wildman Jack Takes On Top Dirt Sprinters

In 2020, Wildman Jack was riding high off an outstanding Dubai World Cup Carnival season, topped by a crushing of the 1200m (six-furlong) turf track record in the Group 3 Nad Al Sheba Turf Sprint.

Heading into last year's course and distance Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint as one of the main contenders, the joy ride came to an abrupt halt when the Dubai World Cup was cancelled. Fast-forward through 12 months of pandemic pandemonium and the horse is back in the UAE with a second chance at a first Dubai World Cup night impression.

This time, the Doug O'Neill trainee arrives as a newly discovered multi-surface star, having dominated a key prep for the Group 1 Dubai Golden Shaheen sponsored by Gulf News, the Grade 3 Palos Verdes at Santa Anita on the dirt.

Nine Palos Verdes winners have gone on to Dubai's top dirt sprint, including winners Big Jag and Kinsale King, runner-ups Men's Exclusive, Avanzado, Friendly Island and Euroears and third-place finisher Roy H.

“It's so nice being back,” said Leandro Mora, longtime O'Neill assistant. “I love being back here and loved spending last winter here. It's pure gold for us.

“We ran him two times on dirt back in the States and he won the last time and ran a really nice race, so that's what made the decision to run here (in the Dubai Golden Shaheen in lieu of the Al Quoz Sprint).

“When he was training on dirt here (last year), we thought he could handle it really well because his workouts were sizzling fast.”

Despite being a keen horse, full of energy, the Glenn Sorgenstein-owned son of Goldencents is reportedly quite content being back in Dubai.

“Any horse who lands on the other side of the world who eats well, sleeps well and trains happy, that means the horse likes the environment,” Mora continued. “He's a much better horse than last year when we brought him over here. He was a young horse last year and he has matured and now takes everything in stride. He's about 50kgs heavier than he was last year.”

Post positions will be drawn on Wednesday for the 1200m (six-furlong) dirt dash. A victory would give O'Neill his first Shaheen, but Leandro his second, as he was the assistant to Tim Pinfield when Big Jag won in 2000 with a spectacular performance at Nad Al Sheba. O'Neill won the 2007 Godolphin Mile with Spring At Last and has been second twice in this race, with the aforementioned Avanzado and champion American sprinter Thor's Echo.

“Big Jag was an amazing horse and I love coming here for these races,” Mora explained. “I hope Jack runs well. He's doing great and the post does not matter with him. He can be inside or outside.

“Like any Californian or American sprinter, we love to be outside, but I don't think it will be a factor for him if he's inside. I haven't checked much about the competition, really, but you have to respect the winner of the local prep (Canvassed). Any horse who has runs that fast at Meydan is going to keep on running fast. That would be the one I would worry about. Otherwise, I think we have a very good chance with Wildman Jack.”

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OBS Spring Sale Catalog Now Available Online

The catalog for the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's 2021 Spring Sale of Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training is now available via the OBS website at obssales.com.

A total of 1,214 juveniles have been cataloged for the four-day sale, now set for Tuesday through Friday, April 20 – April 23. All sessions will begin at 10:30 a.m.

Hip No. 1 – 304 will sell Tuesday, April 20.
Hip No. 305 – 608 will be sold Wednesday, April 21.
Hip No. 609 – 912 will sell Thursday, April 22.
Hip No. 913 – 1217 will be sold Friday, April 23.

The Under Tack Show will be divided into seven sessions, set for Sunday through Saturday, April 11 – April 17, all beginning at 8 a.m.

Sunday, April 11: Hip # 1 – 174
Monday, April 12^:Hip # 175 – 348
Tuesday, April 13: Hip # 349 – 522
Wednesday, April 14: Hip # 523 – 696
Thursday, April 15: Hip # 697 – 870
Friday, April 16: Hip # 871 – 1044
Saturday, April 17: Hip # 1045 – 1217

The catalog covers display a string of major stakes winning OBS Spring Sale graduates, winners of major stakes from coast to coast, in Japan and in Dubai.

The online catalog's main page contains a link to a sortable master index providing searchable pedigree and consignor information as well as access to pedigree updates occurring since the catalog was printed. Advanced search and filter capability has been added to allow shortlist creation. A link to instructions for using the new features can be found in the index header and a step by step tutorial is available in the index as well.

To view the online catalog, click here.

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International Group 1 Winner Mogul A Strong Lone Entry For Coolmore On Dubai World Cup Night

Ballydoyle's blue-blooded multiple Group 1 winner Mogul comes into this Saturday's Group 1, $5 million Longines Dubai Sheema Classic in top form, but it seems no matter his success, expectations persist. A $4.6 million yearling purchase, the Aidan O'Brien-trained half-brother to top-level performers Secret Gesture and Japan has a pair of prestigious wins of his own, but a lingering debate of whether there is more potential in him is a common query. Such could be put to rest come Saturday at Meydan Racecourse.

The son of Galileo comes to Dubai a the lone runner for the powerful Coolmore operation, as well as the global powerhouse's sole nomination to the meeting. A Group 2-winning 2-year-old of 2019, winning the Champions Juvenile (G2) at Leopardstown before a fourth to Kameko in the Vertem Futurity Trophy (G1), he entered his sophomore season as obvious Derby material, but a sole prep at Royal Ascot—fourth as the favorite in the King Edward VII (G2)—did not provide enough bottom for him to stand up to the challenges of Epsom.

Stepping up his game with fitness, Mogul went on to win three of his next five races against some of the world's best, including Grand Prix de Paris (G1) and Hong Kong Vase (G1). Wedged between was a good fifth in Tarnawa's Breeders' Cup Turf (G1). The Hong Kong Vase, in mid-December, gives him a 15-week break coming to Dubai.

“We're happy with everything he's done,” O'Brien said. “He had a little break after Hong Kong and then he got going again and seems to be in good form. He's a horse who takes his racing very well and we think he's ready to start back again.

“I suppose it is his first run of the season, but he ran in December and that's hopefully an advantage,” he continued. “He wouldn't have had as long a break as he would have had last year, so we're hoping he's well enough and fit enough to do himself justice, really.”

Progress from three to four is expected from the well-built sort, but such was also the case for Japan, whose 2020 4-year-old campaign was a bit underwhelming. A winner of Group 1s, including the Juddmonte International and Grand Prix de Paris, in 2019, Japan could manage only a pair of thirds from five tries last year.

“Mentally they're a bit the same, but physically they're different,” O'Brien explained. “Mogul is probably a stronger, more powerful type of horse than Japan. Japan looks like a mile and a quarter, mile and a half horse, physically, whereas this horse looks more like a sprinter-miler. I suppose, physically they're different, but mentally, they're the same. They're relaxed horses who sleep and eat well.

“He's a big, strong, powerful horse and there's a lot of Danehill in him, so he carries plenty of condition. Even though he is fit and has done plenty of work, he still looks round and strong and looks more like a horse who will improve with the run, but that's the way he always looks.”

While O'Brien only has one win in the race–with the brilliant St Nicholas Abbey in 2013–his horses have often given strong accounts of themselves in a race that is arguably the toughest of the card. St Nicholas Abbey was second in 2012 and talented filly Seventh Heaven took up the same spot in 2017. In 2020, before the cancellation, he held a strong entry with Derby winner Anthony Van Dyck. One thing all those had in common was an affection for firm ground, which is likely at Meydan on its expansive 12-furlong course this Saturday.

“The quicker the ground the better,” O'Brien concluded. “The flat track will suit him and a nice even pace will suit him. He likes to take his time and he comes home well. He's flying out on Monday and we will be on the track as soon as we can.”

After a 48-hour quarantine, Mogul will make his first appearance to the public, post-Hong Kong-conquering, at morning track work on Thursday.

The current best-price $5 million Dubai Sheema Classic (G1) market:

5/2 CHRONO GENESIS
11/4 MISHRIFF
6/1 MOGUL
7/1 WALTON STREET
8/1 CHANNEL MAKER
16/1 STAR SAFARI
20/1 LOVES ONLY YOU
25/1 BERKSHIRE ROCCO
50/1 SIMSIR

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