Royal Ascot Hero Missed The Cut Joins American Trainer John Sadler

The lure of winning top-level dirt races in America has prompted the owners of Missed The Cut (Quality Road) to transfer the Royal Ascot winner from Newmarket trainer George Boughey to John Sadler's California-based barn.

Missed The Cut propelled Boughey onto the big stage when landing the Golden Gates S. Handicap at the royal meeting last year but disappointed as a 13-8 favorite when only managing fourth behind Mostahdaf (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) in the G3 Neom Turf Cup in Saudi Arabia when last seen. 

A decision was made shortly after that Riyadh effort to transfer Missed The Cut to America, where he will now be trained with a dirt campaign in mind, according to Bill Farish of Lane's End Farm, part-owners in the horse. 

“He's joined John Sadler and he is excited to get him,” Farish told TDN Europe on Friday. “Missed The Cut looks wonderful and travelled over well. He's gone through his quarantine and now he's in John's barn. George Boughey did a great job with him and had him in great shape for the trip. It's exciting to get him over here and he doesn't have a lot of miles under him.”

Sam Haggas of Hurworth Bloodstock and Boughey bought Missed The Cut for just 40,000gns from Shadwell at the Tattersalls February Sale in 2022. 

It proved a shrewd investment with Missed The Cut winning three of his first four races, including that Royal Ascot triumph, after which Lane's End bought into the colt. 

On future plans, Farish said, “We're hopeful for Missed The Cut. He trained on the dirt in Saudi Arabia and looked like he really liked it–moved really well on it. We're hopeful that he can be as good or better on the dirt.”

He added, “The idea is to angle him for Grade I races on the dirt if he shows an affinity for it. We have a good ownership group that is hopeful that we can have some fun with him. If not, we can always go back to the turf with him.

“We're just going to see how he gets on. He obviously likes racing over a mile-and-a-quarter and there are a lot of great races over here on the dirt over that distance.”

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Al Dasim Giving Boughey ‘Quoz’ For Optimism

DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES — From the very beginning, young trainer George Boughey has made one thing quite clear–when the opportunity presents, he wants to travel horses to play the game on the international stage at the very highest level.

At this time last year, Sheikh Abdullah Almalek Alsabah's Al Dasim (Ire) (Harry Angel {Ire}) was about a month away from making an early-season debut; twelve months on from that somewhat disappointing fifth when favoured in a five-furlong maiden at Leicester, the chestnut colt will be one of the choices to give Boughey a victory at one of the world's greatest and richest race meetings in Saturday's $1.5-million G1 Al Quoz Sprint at Meydan.

“It's great. I've been pretty outspoken about the fact that this is what we want to be doing,” Boughey said. “The UK is very much our base, but if we want to be running horses, we'll span the world when we can. I've got a super team of guys who take the horses wherever they go. The horse makes the job very easy, but to have runners around the world, you have to have enormous trust in your staff for doing the job that you asked them to do. And I have that so I'm hugely grateful for that.”

Boughey Steps In

Boughey is at least equally thankful that he was given the chance to take over the training of Al Dasim, bred by Skymarc Farm and a £50,000 purchase by Sheikh Abdullah from the draft of Tony O'Reilly's Hollyhill Stud at the 2021 Goffs UK Premier & Silver Yearlings Sale.

The chestnut, whose third calendar birthday doesn't come until Apr. 11, was runner-up in a Salisbury novice event in two starts for Clive Cox and graduated a couple of runs later in a Windsor maiden after being transferred to Kevin Philippart de Foy. He was turned over to Boughey after finishing unplaced in the Listed Prix de la Vallee d'Auge at Deauville last August.

“I'd trained for Sheikh Abdullah before and we were lucky enough to be the recipient of a handful of horses and he was one of them,” said the conditioner, who has about 10 horses for Sheikh Abdullah. “[Sheikh Abdullah]'s got a string of horses out in Saudi Arabia at the moment, obviously not far away from his local Kuwait.”

Runner-up in a nursery handicap at Haydock in his first appearance for Boughey last September, Al Dasim took a pair of starts back-to-back over the Wolverhampton all-weather, including a November novice with a whopping 144 pounds on his back, and the stage was set to broaden his horizons.

“It's been a plan for [Sheikh Abdullah] for a long time to try and have some horses in Dubai,” Boughey said. “When he came to me, for me, I thought he was a fast-ground horse. He'd been tried on slower ground before and I was pretty keen that if he did show enough ability, that we'd take him to Dubai. So it was later on in the year, but he needed to prove to me that he was good enough to be a horse who was going to be competitive. I wasn't going to take him unless he was. And he's very good. He won under a double penalty at Wolverhampton. I just wanted to go and see him carry a big weight and try and win well and he did exactly that. Just before that race, [Dubai] was the plan, and then obviously it came to fruition when he won.”

Hitting The Road

Dubai is not for every horse, but Al Dasim has actually come on for his time in the Emirates, Boughey suggests.

“Yeah, he's done very well,” he said. “Ryan King, my sort of head man out there, he's been in charge of him and he's been riding him every day. He's a horse who was a little bit fractious when we first got him, and he seems to be relaxing each week. I thought at the time that we had him in a good mental state and that he'd be able to handle training on the track. And actually, I think, having seen him train out there, I think he's almost thrived for it. He's actually done a lot of work on the dirt, and I'm not saying he's going to run on the dirt immediately, but it would be no surprise if he did end up in Dubai next year. Then we might try him on the dirt as well as the turf.”

For now, it's been the lush Meydan grass where Al Dasim has made a name for himself. Taking full advantage of the opportunity to face his peers early during the Dubai World Cup Carnival, he ran strong times in winning conditions events in January and February over the straight six furlongs, which came as little surprise to his connections.

“On just official ratings alone, he looked liked he was clear of certainly the colts out there in the sprint division,” said Boughey. “So as long as we could have him in good condition as well, then I thought he'd be a horse who'd be very hard to beat out there, having seen the pool of horses he was going to run against. But I didn't really ever…you know, obviously the programme is Super Saturday and the Al Quoz was obviously there. But he's certainly had to go and prove his merit to be in the race and he certainly did that.”

A Super Saturday Star

It is one thing to go and beat up on your peers, it's an entirely different ball of wax stepping a 3-year-old up to tackle older rivals as early as March. But Al Dasim did just that last time in the G3 Nad Al Sheba Turf Sprint. Drawn low on the oft-disadvantageous far side, he nevertheless raced prominently, took over from pacesetting Miqyaas (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB})–previously winner of the G2 Blue Point Sprint S. over the minimum trip–and went on to score by 2 1/4 lengths beneath Mickael Barzalona.

“I think the speed that they go in the older races is very different,” said Boughey. “The tempo of race is different to what he's ever encountered before. And as a horse whose traveled very well against his own age and I did hope that he would step up, and it was nice to see him do it. But he was taking on some 6-, 7-,8-year-old sprinters who are hardened, good performers. Obviously it will be a massive step up again on World Cup night, but I've got no reason to suggest that he's out of place and he goes there in great shape.”

Boughey is taking it race-by-race with Al Dasim, but has a plan in mind for the near to mid-term, with the G1 Commonwealth Cup back against 3-year-olds at Royal Ascot in June the likeliest target.

“He'll probably get an entry in the [G1] King's Stand [S.] as well, being open to 3-year-olds, whereas the [G1] Platinum Jubilee S. isn't,” the trainer said. “Ascot I think is almost tailor-made for him, you know? It's a faster track on the flat track than at Meydan. I think that stiff finish will suit him well and you can ride him for a turn of foot. He's entered in the [G1 2000] Guineas at Newmarket, but at this stage I'd be very surprised if he's stepping up to the mile. He's showing a lot of pace from the get-go, he's an old-school winner over the minimum trip of five furlongs and being by Harry Angel, I don't see any reason to stretch him at this stage.”

George Boughey is clearly excited about the challenge that awaits around a quarter past five local time Saturday.

“I'm looking forward to it and it's a pretty special place, Meydan. I'm looking forward to seeing it full of people,” he said.

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Boughey’s Al Dasim To Put Unbeaten Meydan Record On Line In Al Quoz Sprint

George Boughey has identified the Al Quoz Sprint on Dubai World Cup night as the next port of call for Al Dasim (Ire), who will be putting his unbeaten record at Meydan on the line after making it three wins from as many outings at that track in a Group 3 contest on Super Saturday. 

A tilt at Royal Ascot will also come under consideration for the Harry Angel (Ire) colt later this summer with Boughey reporting the three-year-old to be thriving in the gulf at present. 

The trainer said, “He's just gone from strength to strength out there really. He was quite a raw, immature horse when he left and they can kind of go one way or the other but he has just improved.

“I've never been so relaxed before a high grade race as I was the other day, just because he's so relaxed and he also stays very well for a sprinter, which is helpful at Meydan and will also be a huge asset for him when he gets back home.

“He's come out of the race in great shape. Ryan King, who is my head man out there to ride him, has done a great job with him. I actually haven't seen him since he ran as I was on the night flight out of there, but he's sent me pictures and videos and he looks better than he's ever looked really.”

Al Dasim holds an entry in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket on May 6 but Boughey admits the chances of him lining out in that race are  “very unlikely”. Instead, the Newmarket handler is considering races at the royal meeting.

“He'd be very unlikely to run in the Guineas. He's had a busy enough winter and if he does go to the Al Quoz, he'll have a good break and probably go first up at Royal Ascot.”

Boughey added, “He could have a prep run, but he's going to have penalties now and rather than carrying a penalty in a trial it might be worth just going straight to the Royal meeting.

“He'll get an entry in the Commonwealth Cup and will probably get an entry in the King's Stand as well because it doesn't look a very good division this year and a stiff five or six furlongs at Ascot could be right up his street.”

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Al Dasim Secures Five-Timer in G3 Turf Sprint

The hugely progressive 3-year-old Al Dasim (Ire) (Harry Angel {Ire}) extended his winning streak to five with his first black-type success in the $250,000 G3 Nad Al Sheba Turf Sprint Sponsored By Emirates Holidays.

Racing just behind the pace on the far side of the straight under Mickael Barzalona, the George Boughey-trained colt stalked leader Miqyaas (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) before gradually reeling him in two out and taking the lead inside the final furlong.

Miqyaas held on to take second for Rashid Boursely, finishing more than two lengths behind the winner, and holding off a tightly-bunched pack which included third-placed Thunder Of Niagara (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) and Equilateral (GB) (Equiano {Fr}) in fourth.

With three trainers to his name already in his young life, Al Dasim won a Windsor maiden over the minimum trip last July for Kevin Philippart de Foy and, once switched to Boughey, claimed another two victories on the Wolverhampton Polytrack. He is now unbeaten in his three starts at Meydan, all over six furlongs, and is likely to head next to the G1 Al Quoz Sprint on the Dubai World Cup card.

“He has just kept improving,” Boughey said. “I had hoped for a better draw but he was very tenacious through the race. Mickael Barzalona has galloped him out here every week and he has just really got him to relax. He has matured and is now a very straightforward ride. My assistant Ryan King has done a great job with him out here.”

Asked about Al Dasim's likely participation in the Al Quoz, the trainer added, “I think it has to be [his next race]. It's obviously a big step up. Dare I say it, he's a very sound and sound-minded horse so we'll see how he comes out of this and look at taking them on.”

 

Pedigree Notes

Al Dasim becomes the first group winner from the first crop of Harry Angel. Bred by Lady O'Reilly's Skymarc Farm, his dam Dance Hall Girl (Ire) (GB) raced and won in the breeder's colours and is the dam of seven winners, including the Listed Flying Scotsman S. winner and Dewhurst fourth Tashweeq (Ire) (Big Bad Bob {Ire}). Dance Hall Girl is in turn out of Dawn Raid (Ire), a Docksider half-sister to the dual Guineas winner Bachir (Ire) (Desert Style {Ire}). Now 16, the mare's youngest offspring is a juvenile filly by Ten Sovereigns (Ire). She was covered last year by Magna Grecia (Ire).

Saturday, Meydan, Middle East
NAD AL SHEBA TURF SPRINT (SPONSORED BY EMIRATES HOLIDAYS)-G3, $250,000, Meydan, 3-4, NH3yo/up & SH3yo/up, 1200mT, 1:09.08, gd.
1–AL DASIM (IRE), 121, c, 3, by Harry Angel (Ire)
1st Dam: Dance Hall Girl (Ire), by Dansili (GB)
2nd Dam: Dawn Raid (Ire), by Docksider
3rd Dam: Morning Welcome (Ire), by Be My Guest
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. 1ST GROUP WIN.(£50,000 ylg '21
GOFAUG). O-Sheikh Abdullah Almalek Alsabah; B-Skymarc
Farm (IRE); T-George Boughey; J-Mickael Barzalona. $150,000.
Lifetime Record: 11-6-3-0, $271,347. *Half to Tashweeq (Ire)
(Big Bad Bob {Ire}), SW-Eng, $142,034. Click for the
   free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Miqyaas (GB), 131, g, 8, Oasis Dream (GB)–Fawaayed (Ire),
by Singspiel (Ire). (£1,500 HRA '18 GOFAUG). O-Bouresly
Racing Syndicate; B-Shadwell Estate Company Ltd (GB);
T-Rashed Bouresly. $50,000.
3–Thunder Of Niagara (Ire), 131, g, 5, Night Of Thunder (Ire)–
Cairncross (Ire), by Cape Cross (Ire). 1ST GROUP BLACK-TYPE.
O-Mohammed Mubarak & Hamad Mubarak bin Shafya;
B-Rabbah Bloodstock Ltd (IRE); T-Ahmad bin Harmash.
$25,000.
Margins: 2 1/4, SHD, NK.
Also Ran: Equilateral (GB), Spirit Of Light (Ire), City Walk (Ire), Could Be King (GB), Motafaawit (Ire), Meishar (Arg), Acklam Express (Ire), Coachello (Fr), Batwan (Fr), Khaadem (Ire), Ventura Rebel (GB), Erasmo (GB). Scratched: Lord Tennyson (GB). VIDEO.

 

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