Mishriff | Horse Racing Free Tips

Vadeni Camp Full Of Confidence Ahead Of Eclipse Bid

One of the most exciting horses in France, Vadeni (Fr) (Churchill {Ire}) is set to take his chance in the G1 Coral-Eclipse at Sandown on Saturday, and connections are expecting a massive performance.

Vadeni, trained by Jean-Claude Rouget, was supplemented at a cost of £50,000 for the race on Monday. A hugely impressive winner of the G1 Qatar Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly when last seen, the French raider is a general 2-1 favourite to follow up on that success at Sandown.

Georges Rimaud, the Aga Khan's racing manager, said, “We liked Vadeni's performance in the French Derby, when he showed a very decisive turn of foot. Personally, that did not surprise me because I knew he had that gear change based on his prior race in the G3 Prix Fontainebleau over a mile where his acceleration drew the best sectional times.”

Vadeni will be bidding to bridge a gap that extends back to 1959 to the last French-trained winner of the Eclipse, Alec Head's Prince Aly Khan-owned Saint Crespin III (GB), however, not many have tried since.

Rimaud thinks that Vadeni could be up to the task and added, “Obviously, when you have a horse winning the Prix du Jockey Club by a record five lengths it's very satisfying. Going in against the older horses is a task, but it's an interesting one –it's time for him to show us what he can do.

“We'll know more on Saturday evening about his autumn campaign, but it's the only race at the distance at this time which is a Group 1. It will be a challenge, but it's one we are ready to take on.”

Vadeni was put through his paces at Deauville on Monday morning and is reported to be in rude health ahead of his trip to Britain.

Rimaud said, “I sent a message after seeing the horse work on Monday that all the lights were green. He wasn't asked to do very much, but he did work well and showed a nice action on ground that we would call good, so we decided to go ahead and supplement him as planned.”

He added, “There seemed to be an assumption after Chantilly that we were perhaps going to go for the G2 Prix Guillaume d'Ornano as a route to the Arc, but we don't know if he's made for 1m4f. He has a lot of speed, so we're sticking to just short of that.”

“Sandown is a different profile of track and we don't know if he will manage it, but we certainly expect him to handle it as he's a very well-balanced horse. He has always had a lovely action and doesn't get concerned by the ground being soft or fast. There is a 10-metre rise from the home turn to the winning post at Chantilly, so hopefully that will help.”

Group 1 winners Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}) and Alenquer (Fr) (Adlerflug {Ger}), along with this year's G1 Irish 2000 Guineas scorer Native Trail (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}), are also on course for what promises to be a mouth-watering renewal.

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Walter Rodriguez Rides First Winner at Laurel

Walter Rodriguez, a 24-year-old native of El Salvador, rode the first winner of his career when he guided Rationalmillennial (Orb)–owned and trained by Jose Corrales–to victory in the sixth race at Laurel Park Sunday.

“I kept looking at the right side to make sure nobody else was coming because I wanted to go around the horse in front of me, and after that I knew I had it,” Rodriguez said. “It's very, very exciting. It's been a lot of hard work and a lot of help from all my friends.”

It was the third lifetime race for the Rodriguez, who rides with a 10-pound weight allowance and had no racing experience when he sought out Corrales more than two years ago.

“He came one day to the track and he said to me, 'I want to be a jockey.' I asked him what he was doing and he told me he was delivering refrigerators,” Corrales said. “Then I asked him if he had ever walked a horse, and he said no. That's where we started.

“In El Salvador, they don't even have a racetrack there,” Corrales added. “I said, 'You have to know how to walk horses. You have to learn everything, how to muck stalls and brush horses and be here early every day,' and he said, 'I'll do whatever it takes.' He worked his way along to where he was jogging horses for me and after that he started galloping horses, and at one time he was galloping all my best horses, my stakes horses. When all his paperwork came through, I took him to get his jockey's license. I told him, 'I'm going to make you famous.'”

Rodriguez made his professional debut June 17 at Laurel, finishing sixth aboard Manklin Creek (Bandbox), co-owned and trained by Corrales.

Corrales won 1,031 races as a jockey between 1981 and 1993 before becoming a trainer, but has continued to mentor prospective riders such as his nephew, Gerardo Corrales, currently tied for ninth in the standings at Churchill Downs, and David Egan. England's champion apprentice of 2017, Egan registered his first North American victory at age 19 on the Corrales-trained Bobby G Mar. 1, 2019 at Laurel. Two years later, Egan captured both the G1 Saudi Cup and G1 Dubai Sheema Classic aboard Mishriff.

“I've been teaching for the last 40 years and that's my passion. That's what I like to do. I love it,” Corrales said. “This kid deserves everything he gets. He learned everything by never giving up. He's a good listener and I'm glad I got him. I think he's going to have great things. He's got a good heart and he takes cares of his grandmother and everything like that. I see a lot of future in this kid.”

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Royal Ascot Likely Next Test For Mishriff

Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}), a Group 1 winner in three different countries, has Royal Ascot pencilled in for his European comeback following a lacklustre performance when attempting to defend his crown in the G1 Saudi Cup in February.

“Everything seems good and he's had a good rest following his Saudi Cup run. All things seem to be pointing to Royal Ascot at the moment,” said Ted Voute, racing manager to the 5-year-old's owner/breeder Prince Faisal.

“He hasn't had the best of luck [at Ascot], but two of his runs have been on Champions Day when he hasn't had the right ground to suit him.”

Voute indicated that Mishriff, trained by John and Thady Gosden, will also be given entries for the G1 Coral-Eclipse, in which he was third last year, ahead of an attempt for back-to-back wins in the G1 Juddmonte International at York in August.

He added, “The plan has been to wait till Ascot, but they can change with him, because he can become quite keen to get back to the racecourse and John suddenly says we have to find him something, but the plan so far is to head to Ascot and see how we get on.”

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Mishriff and Mandaloun Duel In The Desert

By Emma Berry and Kelsey Riley

A line-up worthy of its new Group 1 status, the Saudi Cup has attracted runners from seven nations, with Classic winners from two continents likely to be the leading players in the field of 14.

The major fly in the ointment for defending champion Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}) appears to be his draw in stall 14, but he wasn't much closer to the rail last year when winning from gate 12. He has really impressed in mornings this week, appearing relaxed and looking terrific, but his main rival Mandaloun (Into Mischief) will be no pushover. His presence in Riyadh in the week he was finally awarded the 2021 Kentucky Derby sets up a potentially thrilling clash of runners owned by two outstanding Saudi breeders, Prince AA Faisal and the late Prince Khalid Abdullah.

If Midnight Bourbon (Tiznow) can live up to his trainer Steve Asmussen's immense faith in him, he too could play a key role, and it would be folly to overlook the chances of the Japanese dirt champion T O Keynes (Jpn) (Sinister Minister), whose most recent victory came over the same trip in the G1 Champions Cup at Chukyo.

Two horses who lit up the autumn season in Britain and America, G1 Champion S. winner Sealiway (Fr) (Galiway {GB}) and GI Breeders' Cup Distaff heroine Marche Lorraine (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}), give the field proper strength in depth.

Authority Kick Starts Big Day For Japan

The Saudi Cup card kicks off with the G3 Neom Turf Cup, which understandably has attracted a strong European challenge, with half the field trained in either England or France. The likely favourite, however, is Japanese. The 5-year-old Authority (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}) was last seen finishing runner-up to the outstanding Triple Crown winner Contrail (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in the G1 Japan Cup and superstar hoop Christophe Lemaire is in town to ride him.

The hugely likeable G1 Coronation Cup winner Pyledriver (GB) (Harbour Watch {Ire}) has looked a relaxed individual in the morning on his second overseas trip for the absent William Muir, and his temporary training companion Solid Stone (Ire) (Shamardal), the winner of his last two Group 3 starts, could well kick off the 2022 campaign in style for his revered trainer Sir Michael Stoute.

The G2 Prix Corrida victrix Ebaiyra (Distorted Humor) is a rare older mare in training for her breeder the Aga Khan, and the 5-year-old will be making her first start for Francis Graffard since the retirement of her former trainer Alain de Royer Dupre.

Grocer Jack (Ger) (Oasis Dream {GB}), whose two Group 3 victories have come in Germany and Italy, is also running for a new trainer for the first time, having switched from Waldemar Hickst in Germany to William Haggas in the UK after topping the Tattersalls Horses-in-Training Sale at 700,000gns. This is an important start on the home turf of his new owner HRH Prince Faisal Bin Khaled.

Champions Go Head To Head

The longest race on the Saudi Cup card is also the second-most valuable staying race in the world, the $2.5 million G3 Red Sea Turf Handicap. Ireland launches a three-pronged attack with the Ebor winner Sonnyboyliston (Ire) (Power {GB}) favoured over GII Belmont Gold Cup victor Baron Samedi (GB) (Harbour Watch {Ire}), and the G1 Prix du Cadran heroine Princess Zoe (Ger) (Jukebox Jury {Ire}) completing the trio. All three are trained by former champion jockeys: Johnny Murtagh, Joseph O'Brien and Tony Mullins, respectively.

Having made the short trip from Dubai, Godolphin's Siskany (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) comes into the race in good form, having proven his staying power in listed company at Meydan on Jan. 28, while the dependable Skazino (Fr) (Kendargent {Fr}), representing the same connections of Saudi Cup contender Sealiway and with a new trainer in Richard Chotard, should not be overlooked. His compatriot Glycon (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) enjoyed a fruitful second half of his 2021 campaign and his breeder Andreas Putsch of Haras de Saint Pair has been keeping a close eye on his 6-year-old during training this week.

Passing The Crown

Twelve months ago, trainer Charlie Appleby saw a long-term plan come to fruition when he plundered the 1351 Turf Sprint on the Saudi Cup card with a son of Dubawi (Ire), Space Blues (GB). That Group 1-winning chestnut went on to add G1 Prix de la Foret and GI Breeders' Cup Mile before year's end, and while he is now ensconced in the stud barn at Kildangan Stud, Appleby returns with another highly regarded son of Dubawi, Naval Crown (GB), that he has long targeted this newly upgraded Group 3 with. The 4-year-old was good enough to finish fourth in last year's G1 2000 Guineas, and he has subsequently proven that performance wasn't a fluke with a second-place finish in the G3 Jersey S. at Royal Ascot and a win in the G2 Al Fahidi Fort at Meydan on Jan. 21. Appleby said last week, “We deliberately finished his season early last year to get ready for this. He was a model of consistency as a 3-year-old and he has come back in great form. It was a nice performance to win the Al Fahidi Fort and he has come forward for that run.”

Aside from Charlie Appleby's three-win Breeders' Cup, another key international takeaway from Del Mar last year was Japan's first two wins at the meeting. The nation brings a sizable, quality squad to Riyadh, and among those is the 4-year-old filly Songline (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}), who defeated colts to win the G2 Fuji S. in October. She was also a nose second in last year's G1 NHK Mile Cup against males. Bill Mott brings his 2021 GI Jaipur S. winner Casa Creed (Jimmy Creed), who rallied mildly to finish 3 3/4 lengths behind Space Blues at the Breeders' Cup. Richard Hannon's filly Happy Romance (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}) rarely runs a bad race, while Rohaan (Ire) (Mayson {GB}) and Thunder Moon (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) are both talented runners looking to rebound to their best.

Baffert Targets Another Derby

Trainer Bob Baffert has a typically loaded stable of exciting 3-year-olds, and though he is currently ineligible to participate in this year's Kentucky Derby, he sends forward Pinehurst (Twirling Candy) for another Derby and the first seven-figure prize for his generation this season in the $1.5-million G3 Saudi Derby.

Pinehurst broke his maiden at first asking in August and won the GI Del Mar Futurity by 4 1/2 lengths next out, but he has something to prove having been beaten in his two most recent starts, when fifth behind stablemate Corniche (Quality Road) in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile and when second in the GII San Vicente S. on Jan. 29.

Godolphin brings a stiff three-pronged challenge against the favourite, all of whom are trying the dirt for the first time, with Noble Truth (Fr) (Kingman {GB}) set to carry Frankie Dettori and the blue cap, as William Buick has been stood down after a positive covid test. The bay won Doncaster's Listed Flying Scotsman S. in September and was second in the G1 Prix Jean Luc Lagardere before finishing fourth in the G3 Horris Hill S. Sovereign Prince (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) has won three straight races including the Listed Jumeirah Classic last out, while Island Falcon (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}) has won his last two.

Japan is a perfect two-for-two in the Saudi Derby, having taken the first two runnings of the race with Full Flat (Speightstown) and Pink Kamehameha (Jpn) (Leontes {Jpn}), and this time around they bring the Listed Hyogo Junior Grand Prix winner Sekifu (Jpn) (Henny Hughes) and the Cattleya S. winner Consigliere (Jpn) (Drefong). Nick Bradley Racing's filly Oscula (Ire) (Galileo Gold {Ire}) ran an admirable 10 times last year and rarely had an off day. She won the G3 Prix Six Perfections and was placed four times in pattern company including the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac.

Copano Back To Defend Sprint Title

Copano Kicking (Spring At Last) was the least fancied of three Japanese-trained runners in last year's Riyadh Dirt Sprint and had to overcome a wide barrier, but neither of those things prevented him from hitting the line first, and Akira Murayama's charge is back 12 months later to defend his title under David Egan, who is deputising for the ill Buick. Those joining Copano Kicking on the flight from Japan included Dancing Prince (Jpn) (Pas De Trois {Jpn}), a Group 3 winner in his native country, going six furlongs. Prince Faisal's Faz Zae (KSA) (Mizzen Mast), an eye-catching third here last year after racing detached from the pack early, likewise returns for another go.

RRR Racing and trainer Bhupat Seemar bring the one-two from the Jan. 1 Listed Al Garhoud Sprint, Switzerland (Speightstown)-who was fourth in this last year–and Gladiator King (Curlin). Abdulla Al Mansoori's Good Effort (Ire) (Shamardal) has lived up to his name as of late, winning the Listed Golden Rose S. going six furlongs on the all-weather at Lingfield on Nov. 13 and placing in a Newcastle conditions race and Lingfield's Listed Kachy S. most recently.

Click here for the group fields.

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