Mishriff (Ire) | Horse Racing Free Tips

Adayar Heads Star Cast of Champions

Godolphin's June 5 G1 Epsom Derby and July 24 G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S. hero Adayar (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) will be one of the 10 starters in Saturday's G1 QIPCO Champion S. at Ascot after Charlie Appleby pushed go on Thursday morning.

Fourth in last Sunday's G1 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at ParisLongchamp, the homebred has given all the right signals in the interim period and adds substance to a renewal robbed of Snowfall (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) who has been re-routed to take the place of the absent Love (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the G1 QIPCO British Champions Fillies & Mares S. Drawn in nine, Adayar is set to re-engage the King George runner-up Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB})–who has stall two–with only Mohamed Obaida's supplemented Aug. 14 G2 Prix Guillaume d'Ornano and Oct. 2 G2 Prix Dollar scorer Dubai Honour (Ire) (Pride of Dubai {Aus}) wider out.

Appleby revealed that connections were buoyed by an impressive piece of work on Wednesday.

“It was an easy piece of work to confirm his wellbeing and he did it so well,” he explained. “We discussed it with His Highness Sheikh Mohammed and the decision was taken to run. We are all looking forward to the rematch with Mishriff, particularly over this trip. Adayar beat Mishriff comfortably in the King George and then Mishriff came out and dominated the Juddmonte International at York over the distance of Saturday's race. We are happy to meet him over the mile and a quarter, which is the trip where we believe Adayar's potential lies next year.”

Aidan O'Brien revealed that Love returned an unsatisfactory blood result on Thursday, leading to the shift of the June 4 G1 Epsom Oaks, July 17 G1 Irish Oaks and Aug. 19 G1 Yorkshire Oaks heroine Snowfall to the Fillies & Mares which has attracted a field of eight. Ballydoyle's May 2 G1 1000 Guineas and Aug. 3 G1 Prix Rothschild heroine Mother Earth (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) will take on Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum's five-times group 1-winning Palace Pier (GB) (Kingman {GB}) and the Sept. 5 G1 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp hero Baaeed (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) in the 10-runner G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. sponsored by QIPCO.

There will be 20 runners in a wide-open renewal of the G1 QIPCO British Champions Sprint S., where Yoshiro Kubota's 'TDN Rising Star' Dragon Symbol (GB) (Cable Bay {Ire}) bids to atone for a series of top-level near-misses, while the opening G2 QIPCO British Champions Long Distance Cup sees the G1 Prix du Cadran one-two Trueshan (Fr) (Planteur {Ire}) and Stradivarius (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) square up again. The latter has been given the green light by the Gosdens and owner-breeder Bjorn Nielsen to attempt to repeat his 2018 win in the race which saw Moyglare Stud's Search For a Song (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) left out of the reckoning by Dermot Weld. Other high-profile absentees alongside her and Love are the Fillies & Mares-targeted La Petite Coco (Ire) (Ruler of the World {Ire}) and Free Wind (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}).

William Haggas has already had a season to savour and the barometer for his stable's health is the fact that he has a trio engaged in the Champion, headed by last year's winner Addeybb (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}). Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum's title-holder is coming back off a 105-day absence, having finished runner-up in the G1 Eclipse S. at Sandown July 3.

“Addeybb's ideal ground is when it passes an inspection on the morning of the race and he sloshes through that,” Haggas said. “This is going to be soft, but I'm not sure it will be soft enough for him. He stays well and his record right-handed is fantastic, but this is a hugely competitive, fantastic race. We weren't able to get a prep into him, but he's taken a lot of graft this year and his record fresh is excellent. We think we've got him pretty ready.”

Shadwell's Al Aasy (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) has suffered three defeats since his impressive wins in the Apr. 18 G3 John Porter S. and May 15 G3 Aston Park S. at Newbury, with a latest fourth in that venue's Sept. 18 G3 Dubai Duty Free Legacy Cup his most deflating. His trainer has long held him in the highest affection and said, “We all know that Al Aasy doesn't find as much under pressure as it looks like he might, so I hope his jockey waits a bit. At Newbury, he went three and a half from home and it exposed him. The horse is much better than that, he should have won there and we'll see what he has to offer as he's a strong stayer at a mile and a quarter. He may not be good enough, but he's talented and he's no mug even in a race of this quality. I love him and he's a very good horse who has been rubbished by everyone, so I'd love to see him run a good race.”

Of Dubai Honour, who is one of six 3-year-olds in the feature, he added, “He won really easily in the Guillaume d'Ornano, but they went really hard there whereas in the Dollar they went slow and he showed a real turn of foot. There's nothing else for him until Hong Kong in December and when I suggested it, the owner nearly bit my hand off. He's an intriguing runner, but Mishriff was awesome at York and I could do without Adayar. He's a bloody good horse and I'd be frightened of him, even over a mile and a quarter. He'll be hard to pass. This year we have nine runners on the day, when we normally have one or two, so we are blessed to have so many nice horses and we've hopefully got them in good shape.”

All bar the retired Wonderful Tonight (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) return to defend their crowns in their respective races this year, with Trueshan and Addeybb joined by the Sprint winner Glen Shiel (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) and Al Asayl France's The Revenant (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), who heads back to the QEII. It is in the latter contest that Haggas saddles what could be his leading contender on the fixture in the unbeaten Baaeed, who could arguably be the most exciting of the eight Group 1 winners in the line-up for what looks the strongest race on the card and the mile championship decider of 2021. Despite his profile, the head of Somerville Lodge is not getting carried away.

“Whilst I've been very impressed with what he's done in such a short space of time, he's got a big task on Saturday,” he said of the Shadwell homebred. “Not only is there Palace Pier, who is a remarkably consistent and tough horse, but there's Alcohol Free, Mother Earth, The Revenant and Benbatl–it's a hell of a strong race with lots of good horses. Without undermining those behind him in the Moulin, we'd had a little hiccup and a rushed preparation for that and I'm pretty sure we didn't see him at his best. The bit none of us know is what he's got left, but Jim [Crowley] is very fond of him and he's a lovely horse to deal with. He's as fit as we want him and ready to go in what is probably the best mile race of the season.”

Nick Smith, Ascot's director of racing and communications, is keen for the 10th Champions Day to play out to an expected crowd of around of 25,000.

“You couldn't have asked for a lot better,” he said after the declarations were made on Thursday morning. “The weather is pretty sound, so it will probably be the best renewal we've had since Excelebration and Frankel kind of bookended the card early on. The final declarations are great. The stayers' race is looking like the race of the year over that trip, which is slightly unexpected after a strong Cadran, but great to see. The Champion S. and the QEII are probably joint highlights with Adayar running now against Mishriff–the King George one and two. You've got to say that now has become the outstanding clash. It's not bad to have Baaeed and Palace Pier as the appetiser, so we're really thrilled. It's going to be a great day.”

On the climax to the close race for the Flat jockeys' championship between Oisin Murphy and William Buick, Smith added, “It will probably go to the wire now. It's an intriguing added dimension, especially if it ended up going to the Balmoral [H]. It's fascinating really. The declarations didn't need another story, but it certainly is another thread. We'll have a crowd of about 25,000 with the weather looking set. It will still seem reasonably comfortable. It will be a tremendous day and a fantastic way to see the season out with a real bang.”

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Mishriff Out On His Own In the International

Gaining the British group 1 his record demanded in devastating style on Wednesday, Prince Faisal's Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}) proved a class apart in one of the finest performances witnessed in the history of York's Juddmonte International. Third to the race's absentee St Mark's Basilica (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) on his European return in Sandown's G1 Eclipse July 3, the high-level worldwide campaigner had moved forward considerably in the subsequent three-week period to be runner-up in the G1 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth S. at Ascot. This represented a further leap, with David Egan able to bask in the moment after launching the homebred on to the lead approaching the two-furlong pole en route to a six-length defeat of Alenquer (Fr) (Adlerflug {Ger}) with Love (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) half a length away in third. “A lot of people had questioned whether he could do it on home soil, so I'm thrilled for the horse and this is really special,” Egan said. “The way he cruises into his races between the three and the two, I really think he'd have put it up to St Mark's Basilica today. I'm just so privileged to be put in the position to ride for Prince Faisal and ride a horse like Mishriff. Winning the Juddmonte International, it's stuff I've dreamt of my whole life.”

Mishriff, whose early career involved a second on dirt in the Saudi Derby in February 2020 and a four-length success in the delayed Listed Newmarket S., had proved himself at this level on his first attempt by capturing Chantilly's G1 Prix du Jockey Club last July. Following up in the G2 Prix Guillaume d'Ornano at Deauville in August, he was only eighth in the G1 QIPCO Champion S. at Ascot in October but was back in the groove returning to Riyadh's dirt to garner the Feb. 20 Saudi Cup. Switching back to turf to take the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic on his first try at a mile and a half Mar. 27, he looked to have run into something special as St Mark's Basilica swept him aside at Sandown. What would have happened in the proposed rematch is conjecture, but John Gosden believes he had him undercooked for that contest and it is debatable whether the Ballydoyle sensation would have been able to live with this version of Mishriff.

Coming out of his tussle with Adayar (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) in the King George in buoyant form, the bay raced evenly in fourth early alongside Love as they tracked Mac Swiney (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}) and Alenquer. Always moving smoothly, Mishriff challenged up the centre of the track as all rivals were flat out and he was soon well beyond reach to recall memories of wide-margin winners of this in Sakhee, Royal Anthem and Assert (Ire) without quite hitting the dizzying heights of Frankel (GB). What he does have over the last three of that quartet is the ability to race with equal prowess on the dirt, which is where comparisons with the highly-talented Sakhee are apt as that Shadwell luminary went so close in the Breeders' Cup Classic 20 years ago. Giant's Causeway was another to lose out in agonising fashion in that monument, while this race's honor roll includes the similarly-versatile duo Singspiel (Ire) and Electrocutionist who managed to win the G1 Dubai World Cup.

“I was in the ideal position, one out and one back and everything worked out perfectly,” Egan said. “He got into a nice rhythm and he stays this flat mile and a quarter really well, so I was inclined to ask him to hit top gear and stretch the opposition. He prob will stay a flat mile and a half really well, so the Arc could suit. I had thought that over a mile and a quarter he had to be ridden prominently, but I couldn't believe how well he cruised into the race. He's a bit of a freak to do what he does on dirt and turf and I can't think of another one.”

John Gosden is looking to give the winner a break now ahead of big end-of-year targets. “I want to freshen him up again, as there's a campaign for him deep into the autumn,” he explained. “There's QIPCO Champions Day and the Arc, but I wouldn't run him on very testing ground. Then the Breeders' Cup Turf and the Japan Cup too. He wouldn't be one for the Breeders' Cup Classic this year. It's a very short straight at Del Mar and that wouldn't suit him at all. He needs a Belmont straight, not a Del Mar one. I think we've seen the finished article. This is the race we've talked about since last December, this has been THE race we've wanted to win with him and make him a stallion.”

Mishriff is currently the last of three foals out of Contradict (GB) (Raven's Pass) alongside the Listed Prix de Saint-Patrick winner Orbaan (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) and Momkin (Ire) (Bated Breath {GB}) who was second in the G3 Craven S. and G3 Supreme S. The G3 Princess Royal S.-winning second dam Acts of Grace (Bahri) is a daughter of the G1 Prix de Diane heroine Rafha (GB) (Kris {GB}), the famed matriarch who produced the stellar Invincible Spirit (Ire) and fellow sire of note Kodiac (GB) as well as the latter's full-sister Massarra (GB) (Danehill) who is in turn responsible for Gustav Klimt (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). This is also the family of the G1 Pretty Polly S. winner Chinese White (Ire) (Dalakhani {Ire}) and the dual group 1-winning young sire Pride of Dubai (Aus).

Wednesday, York, Britain
JUDDMONTE INTERNATIONAL S.-G1, £1,000,000, York, 8-18, 3yo/up, 10f 56yT, 1:59.25, gd.
1–MISHRIFF (IRE), 132, c, 4, by Make Believe (GB)
1st Dam: Contradict (GB), by Raven's Pass
2nd Dam: Acts of Grace, by Bahri
3rd Dam: Rafha (GB), by Kris (GB)
O-Prince A A Faisal; B-Nawara Stud Limited (IRE); T-John & Thady Gosden; J-David Egan. £567,100. Lifetime Record: Hwt. 3yo-Eur, Eng & Fr at 9 1/2-11f, G1SW-UAE & Fr, 13-7-2-2, $15,074,636. *1/2 to Momkin (Ire) (Bated Breath {GB}), MGSP-Eng, $172,676. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Alenquer (Fr), 125, c, 3, Adlerflug (Ger)–Wild Blossom (Ger), by Areion (Ger). (€18,000 Wlg '18 ARQDE; 80,000gns Ylg '19 TATOCT). O-M M Stables; B-Gestut Romerhof (FR); T-William Haggas. £215,000.
3–Love (Ire), 129, f, 4, Galileo (Ire)–Pikaboo (GB), by Pivotal (GB). O-Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Susan Magnier; B-Coolmore (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. £107,600.
Margins: 6, HF, 3/4. Odds: 2.25, 8.00, 2.75.
Also Ran: Mohaafeth (Ire), Mac Swiney (Ire), Alcohol Free (Ire), Juan Elcano (GB). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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Mouthwatering International Clash in Store at York

York's Ebor Festival kicks off today with an opening card headed by an enticing renewal of the £1-million G1 Juddmonte International over an extended 10 furlongs at the Knavesmire venue.

With Ballydoyle's intended number one St Mark's Basilica (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) sidelined due to a late setback, Aidan O'Brien has rerouted this term's G1 Prince of Wales's S. winner and G1 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth S. third Love (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) to take his place in the day one feature. Last term's G1 1000 Guineas, G1 Epsom Oaks and G1 Yorkshire Oaks heroine was initially targetting Sunday's G1 Prix Jean Romanet at Deauville, but will fill the supersub role in a contest for the ages.

“It's four or five days earlier than we'd planned for her–the plan was to go for the Romanet on Sunday–but when St Mark's came out we decided we'd let her run here instead,” the trainer explained. “The King George was a little bit of a mess and we thought it would be an strongly run race, but it probably wasn't. The pace wasn't very fast for her, she likes an even pace and her racing tempo is much higher than they went. She still ran very well and Ryan [Moore] was very happy with her run. We saw all the things that went wrong for her, but she came out of the race well and, ideally, she wants an end-to-end gallop to see the best of her.

“She's in good form and the ground is important to her as she's such a beautiful mover, but we wouldn't like to run her on soft ground. She has a big, long stride and gallops with her head out. Usually, those type of horses can't quicken instantly as they need a big rhythm into the last four of five furlongs to see them at their best.”

Coolmore's homebred 4-year-old faces no easy task with several in opposition holding valid claims. Chief among them is Prince A A Faisal's King George runner-up Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}), who finished 1 3/4 lengths ahead of her in that 12-furlong test having previously run third to St Mark's Basilica in Sandown's G1 Coral-Eclipse. Last term's G1 Prix du Jockey Club hero had previously plundered monster pots in the Feb. 20 Saudi Cup and Mar. 27 G1 Dubai Sheema Classic, and having conceded 11 pounds to the Classic generation at Ascot, is now tasked with a more amenable seven-pound weight-for-age pull.

“One horse isn't going to make a horse race and, even without St Mark's Basilica, it's still a very strong field and we have a lot of good opposition to take on,” said big-race jockey David Egan. “I was really pleased with how he progressed from the Eclipse to the King George and I thought the King George run was a fantastic run, finishing behind an absolute monster in Adayar, giving him so much weight.

“We don't need to give the 3-year-olds as much weight here and I think dropping my lad back to a mile-and-a-quarter will only play to his strengths. If Mishriff can improve as much as he did from the Eclipse to the King George, he's going to be hard to beat.”

Jeff Smith's Arabian Queen (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) caused a 50-1 shock when becoming the first to lower the colours of Golden Horn (GB) (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}) in the 2015 edition of this event and is represented by G1 Cheveley Park S., G1 Coronation S. and G1 Nassau S. heroine Alcohol Free (Ire) (No Nay Never) this time around.

“She came out of Goodwood really well, I'll speak to Jeff and Andrew [Balding], but the key is to try to relax and follow for as long as possible,” said rider Oisin Murphy. “This is a completely different test and I have massive respect for Mishriff and Love.

“The Juddmonte International is often the highest-rated race in the world, this is a good renewal and I'm looking forward to it. I was fortunate to win it on a world champion 3-year-old in Roaring Lion and it would be nice to win it again. The owner is a brilliant sportsman and I'm sure he's very excited, as am I.”

Newmarket conditioner William Haggas is doubly represented and sends forth G2 King Edward VII S. victor Alenquer (Fr) (Adlerflug {Ger}) and G3 Hampton Court S. scorer Mohaafeth (Ire) (Frankel {GB}). Both are coming back off their first defeats of the campaign, with Alenquer returning off a third in the July 14 G1 Grand Prix de Paris and Mohaafeth lining up off a third in the July 24 G2 York S. at this venue.

“The pacemaker went too slow and Jim [Crowley] was too far back,” Haggas said of the latter's latest run. “It was a mess, and you can put a line through it. Angus [Gold] felt that if you ignore that run and concentrated on the good bits he was well worth his chance here. The trip is fine and the ground should be okay too. He's got a bit to find, but he's useful.”

Turning to Alenquer, the trainer added, “The owners felt that as he had already won a Group 2 there was no point running in another one. They want to test him against the best, and he's very well. He's improving and you can put a line through his latest run at Longchamp as he was way too far back and never got into it at all. I don't think he's the soft or heavy ground horse that some have him down as, but he might just want a bit further. He's not a bad horse. It's an ambitious route for both horses, but they'll both run a good race. Whether they are good enough is another matter.”

Jim Bolger's G1 Futurity Trophy winner Mac Swiney (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}) finished off the board in both G1 Epsom Derby and G1 Irish Derby after annexing the Curragh's May 22 G1 Irish 2000 Guineas and tries this intermediate distance for first time since running fourth in the May 9 Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial on seasonal return. Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum's Listed Wolferton S. winner Juan Elcano (GB) (Frankel (GB), who finished one place ahead of the reopposing Mohaafeth when second in the G2 York S., completes the field.

Great Voltigeur a Classic Pointer

Elsewhere on the card, Godolphin's G2 Queen's Vase victor Kemari (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) will seek to dent the G1 St Leger aspirations of most of his seven rivals in the G2 Sky Bet Great Voltigeur S. and will bid to record a second renewal for Charlie Appleby. He is accompanied by stablemate and fellow gelding Yibir (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), who backed up a win in Newmarket's July 8 G3 Bahrain Trophy with a free-running sixth in the July 29 G3 Gordon S. at Goodwood.

Aidan O'Brien outstrips the Appleby representation by one and has nominated a trio of G1 St Leger entries for this £150,000 contest. It is headed by last term's G2 Beresford S. winner High Definition (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who is on a retrieval mission after running third here in the May 13 G2 Dante S. and coming back off a compromised effort when 10th of 11 in the June 26 G1 Irish Derby.

“This will be a nice start back for him and we're looking forward to it,” the trainer said. “I suppose the year has been a bit of a mess for him and everything we've tried to do has gone wrong. He barely made it to the Dante and then we were going to run him in the [G1 Epsom] Derby, but didn't, and that probably broke his rhythm a bit by that happening. We then had to wait for the Curragh and he cut a heel in the race. He nearly went down, which lost his confidence, but we think, and hope, he should leave that run well behind him.

“He looks like a horse that would get a mile-and-a-half well as he was coming home very well in the Dante. He had a break after The Curragh, he's ready to start again and will improve. He's a big, powerful horse and I'd say there is no doubt he is still out of the top drawer. He will be a horse to look forward to next year and we think he has the class to be a top middle-distance horse yet.”

O'Brien has also nominated G1 Grand Prix de Paris fourth The Mediterranean (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and G3 Gordon S. runner-up Sir Lucan (Ire) (Camelot {GB}). “Sir Lucan had a very good run at Goodwood. It was his first run back after a break and Frankie [Dettori] rode him patiently. He came from the back and just got beat and has come out of that race well,” he added.

The Gordon S. reunion also features Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum's G1 Epsom Derby fifth Third Realm (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) and Ahmad Al Shaikh's G1 Epsom Derby eighth Youth Spirit (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) representing Roger Varian and Andrew Balding, respectively.

Quintet of Acomb Contenders

The first pattern race of the week, the £100,000 G3 Tattersalls Acomb S., is a competitive affair albeit with just five contenders set for the seven-furlong test.

Dr. Ali Ridha's Dubawi Legend (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) makes his eagerly awaited return after earning 'TDN Rising Star' status with a five-length rout over this trip at Doncaster last month.

“We're obviously hopeful and he's a horse we've always held in high regard,” said trainer Hugo Palmer. “I'd have been disappointed if he hadn't won the way he did at Doncaster, we were hoping he would do something like that first time and he didn't disappoint. It's a race that is typical of the conditions of the Acomb and it's going to be a question of which maiden winner in the second half of July was the better one.

“His work on watered ground in Newmarket has been very pleasing and I would have thought anywhere between firm and good-to-soft and he'll be fine. It's just the second run of his life and two or three of the others have got more experience, but he hasn't missed a beat since Doncaster and goes there in great nick. Hopefully, he can run a big race.”

Godolphin's Newmarket maiden winner Noble Truth (Fr) (Kingman {GB}) ran third to subsequent G2 July S. victor Lusail (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) in his June 19 debut and sports headgear once more for his third start here.

“Noble Truth progressed from his first start to win his maiden and has done well physically since,” said trainer Charlie Appleby. “This will tell us the level we will be campaigning him at for the rest of the season.”

Opposition also includes Shadwell's 'TDN Rising Star' Ehraz (GB) (Showcasing {GB}), who encountered a race-fit Noble Truth when running on for a two-length second in his July 9 debut tackling seven furlongs at Newmarket.

“He ran very well first time at Newmarket and was impressive at Ascot,” commented racing manager Angus Gold. “He's done everything right so far, [trainer] Richard [Hannon] is very happy with the horse and he's giving him all the right signs at home.

“Obviously, it's a trappy little contest, but I think they feel Ehraz is above average on his home work and, all being well, he's a nice horse in the making. Like always, you've got to see them go and do it on the track.”

The line-up is completed by unbeaten Goodwood maiden scorer Imperial Fighter (Ire) (The Gurkha {Ire}) representing Andrew Balding, and Mark Johnston trainee Royal Patronage (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), who return's off a five-length score at Epsom last month.

Yorkshire Oaks Field Takes Shape

Thursday's G1 Darley Yorkshire Oaks has attracted a select field of seven with a mouthwatering clash of the generations in store on day two of York's Ebor Festival.

Coolmore's Snowfall (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) is set to go postward at short odds and bids to provide trainer Aidan O'Brien with a sixth renewal of the £400,000 contest. She has drawn stall three for her attempt at emulating the G1 Epsom Oaks, G1 Irish Oaks and G1 Yorkshire Oaks treble of Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) and returns to the scene of her May 12 G3 Musidora S. triumph. O'Brien will also oversee outsiders Divinely (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and La Joconde (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), who will break in tandem from boxes five and six.

Rivals also include Christopher Wright's G1 Prix de Royallieu and G1 British Champions Fillies & Mares heroine Wonderful Tonight (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}), who is drawn alongside the likely favourite in gate two.

“Obviously I'm hoping there's a bit more rain, but if the ground is good we'll give it a go,” revealed David Menuisier. “I've been in Deauville for four or five days and I've found that the ground is pretty chopped up. The weather forecast is not that positive for downpours and I'm sure the ground will be better in York than it is in Deauville.”

The trainer had initially booked Olivier Peslier to partner this term's G2 Hardwicke S. and G2 Lillie Langtry S. victrix, but the rider has undergone knee surgery and William Buick continues in the plate.

“William has been riding her and Olivier just had a little operation to get a chip removed in his knee,” he added. “Olivier is sidelined for a week to 10 days and I'm delighted to have William on board on Thursday.”

Kirsten Rausing's Albaflora (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}), the only other 4-year-old in the contest, renews rivalry with Wonderful Tonight in her third visit to the Knavesmire and the Ralph Beckett trainee is allocated stall seven. Lordship Stud's Loving Dream (GB) (Gleneagles {Ire}) and Shadwell's Eshaada (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}) cross swords once more, having finished first and second in Royal Ascot's June 17 G2 Ribblesdale S., and will exit gates four and one, respectively.

Click here for the group fields.

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Love In, St Mark’s Basilica Out Of Juddmonte

Aidan O'Brien has declared Love (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) for Wednesday's G1 Juddmonte International at York after revealing that St Mark's Basilica (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) has suffered a setback in training.

“Yesterday morning he lost a front shoe and it came back and hit his hind leg–his near-hind joint,” the Ballydoyle handler explained on Monday. “We didn't think a lot of it, but this morning there was a little bit of swelling in it and when we took bloods off him, his bloods came back and it was a little bit infected. We were a bit taken aback when we saw it this morning, but when we did the bloods then we didn't have any choice as he needs to go on antibiotics and the antibiotics that he's going to go on obviously he couldn't run on. Hopefully we'll be back on target towards the end of this week and if we are, we'll be able to train him for the Irish Champion.”

Of Love, O'Brien added, “It's four or five days earlier than we'd planned for her–the plan was to go for the [G1 Prix Jean] Romanet on Sunday. When St Mark's came out, we decided we'd let her run here instead.”

Seven will go to post for the extended 10-furlong feature, with dual Group 1 winner Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}) for John and Thady Gosden, Andrew Balding trainee Alcohol Free (Ire) (No Nay Never), who won the July 28 G1 Sussex S., and G1 Irish 2000 Guineas scorer Mac Swiney (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}) for Jim Bolger three other star names. The field is rounded out by William Haggas's pair of G2 King Edward VII S. winner and G1 Grand Prix de Paris third Alenquer (Fr) (Adlerflug {Ger}) and G3 Hampton Court S. victor Mohaafeth (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), as well as stakes winner Juan Elcano (GB) (Frankel {GB}), who was second in the July 24 G2 York S. for trainer Kevin Ryan.

Mishriff's jockey David Egan reacted to the news of the withdrawal of his mount's G1 Eclipse S. conqueror later on Monday. “St Mark's Basilica has been outstanding this season. It's unfortunate what's happened–nobody wants that,” he said. “We want the best horses going for these big races. One horse isn't going to make a horse race. Even without St Mark's Basilica, it's still a very strong field and we have a lot of good opposition to take on.”

Mishriff may have come up short behind St Mark's Basilica when third in the July 3 Sandown feature, but he has subsequently run second to Adayar (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), with Love 1 3/4 lengths in arrears, in Ascot's G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Qipco S. July 24. That gives Prince Faisal's homebred G1 Prix du Jockey Club and G1 Dubai Sheema Classic hero the edge on form, but Egan is taking nothing for granted.

“Love is a very special filly. Although she did finish third last time, her previous form is not to be overlooked,” he added. “She was an unbelievable filly at three and looked like a real superstar and I still think she is. She possibly underperformed in the King George and we have to give a weight allowance to a filly that's very, very good, which is not going to be easy. We saw with Enable how strong these top-class fillies can be against the colts. Love is definitely going to bounce back and give us a good race.”

“Everything has gone smoothly–his preparation has been good,” Egan continued. “I was really pleased with how he progressed from the Eclipse to the King George. I thought the King George run was a fantastic run, finishing behind an absolute monster in Adayar, giving him so much weight. We don't need to give the 3-year-olds as much weight in the Juddmonte and I think dropping my lad back to a mile and a quarter will only play to his strengths. If Mishriff can improve as much as he did from the Eclipse to the King George, he's going to be hard to beat.”

The post Love In, St Mark’s Basilica Out Of Juddmonte appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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