Shadwell's Mostahdaf (IRE) looks to end a superb season in proper fashion in Saturday's $4 million Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1), a renewal that can hold its own with any in the storied history of the race.
The beautifully made 5-year-old son of Frankel (GB) has won three from four starts in 2023, including a 7-length crushing of the $1.5 million Neom Turf Cup (G2) on Saudi Cup Day (Feb. 25), a 4-length thrashing of Prince of Wales's Stakes (G1) at Royal Ascot (June 21) and an eye-catching 1-length score over Nashwa (GB) and Paddington (GB) (seven Group 1 wins between them] in the Juddmonte International (G1) at the Yorkshire Ebor Festival (Aug. 23). His lone loss came in the 12-furlong Dubai Sheema Classic (G1), in which he finished fourth, 7 lengths behind the world's top-rated horse, Equinox (JPN).
“He shipped fine and it was quite a long haul,” trainer John Gosden said Tuesday morning after the 10-time winner from 16 starts had cantered an easy lap of the turf course. “Horses came from France into England, where we were picked up, then the plane went on to Ireland and we headed off. They've settled in well, he and Inspiral, and cleared quarantine at 6 p.m. local yesterday, so this was their first opportunity to see the track.”
Bypassing the Champion Stakes (G1) at Ascot because of soft ground, he will get his ideal conditions at Santa Anita, but must step up to 12 furlongs for the first time since winning Kempton's September Stakes (G3) over Polytrack last year.
“It was soft on Champions Day and we decided to skip that,” Gosden said. “We've come here and he's been training a long time, racing in February in Saudi Arabia and raced in the Arc de Triomphe the autumn before on bottomless ground, so he's a horse whose races have been spaced a certain way because that's how they came up. He's in good form and he seems happy to be here. He's handled all this well so far and he's quite a character, this guy. He's got a lot of vibrancy about him.
“He's stepping up in trip, like Inspiral, but it's quick ground and you're downhill the first part of the race with tight turns on the oval. I found when I trained here that when horses can go a distance in Europe, they can go farther here.”
Jim Crowley, aboard for his Ascot, Saudi and Kempton victories, rides from post 9.
The post ‘They Can Go Farther Here’: Distance No Concern For Breeders’ Cup Turf Contender Mostahdaf appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
