Mishriff Bests Charlatan In Saudi Cup; Knicks Go Fourth

The $20-million Saudi Cup had been billed as a showdown between the brilliant American Grade I winners Charlatan (Speightstown) and Knicks Go (Paynter), but when the dust settled on the world's richest horse race it was the John Gosden-trained, Prince Faisal homebred Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}) who stole the show to a raucous reception in his owner/breeders homeland.

Breaking smartly from gate 12 under 21-year-old jockey David Egan, the G1 Prix du Jockey Club winner Mishriff-who also ventured to Riyadh to finish second in the Saudi Derby on this card last year-was encouraged to keep in contact with the pace as Charlatan and Knicks Go locked horns. It was the GI Malibu S. winner Charlatan under Mike Smith who came out best in the early skirmishes, but the GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile and GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational victor Knicks Go under Joel Rosario refused to let his rival have things his own way, keeping close tabs on Charlatan's inside while Mishriff and Extra Elusive (GB) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) waited in the second flight of runners on the outside with Tacitus (Tapit) on the rail. Knicks Go cut the corner and put his head in front rounding the turn, but that lead was short lived with Charlatan re-rallying at the quarter pole. It was at that stage that Knicks Go cried enough, but Charlatan's uncontested advantage was short lived as Mishriff had broken away from the pack and was rapidly gaining ground. Charlatan was game enough to hold off Mishriff until the 100 metre mark, but at last the chestnut gave way to the dark bay, and Mishriff hit the wire a length the best. It was a great result for the Saudis with the locally trained longshot Great Scot (GB) (Requinto {Ire}) getting up for third, with Knicks Go settling for fourth.

“Unbelievable,” said Egan after putting in a ride beyond his years. “I've been dreaming all my life of winning a race like this. Last year Mishriff was always a horse who seemed to jump slow; maybe it was just through immaturity. Last year in the Saudi Derby he jumped slow behind the Japanese horse to finish second–I thought to myself that if he had jumped on terms he nearly would have won last year. But he's matured throughout the year and Mr Gosden had him primed for today. He looks a million dollars–well, 10 million dollars.

“He jumped very well today, as good as the two American horses. I squeezed him on for the first 50 yards and I was actually surprised how well he went, through the back straight I was on Mike Smith's heels and he was really taking me into it. I got pressed on the rail when we started turning and that was the only worrying sign I had, when they started quickening whether I was going to get back rolling again.

“Once he ran second here last year I am sure it was on the Prince and Mr Gosden's minds to come here; he had such a good season in Europe last year and this is in Prince Faisal's back garden, it's where he lives, so it was a no-brainer. He's taken on top-class horses from all round the world and proven how good he is.

“My dad [John Egan] is helping out with the Bahrain horses and riding for Fawzi Nass in the mornings, so it is very special to have him here. If it wasn't for him I wouldn't be the rider or the person I am today. He's done everything he can to help me in my career, pushed me and trained me hard. This one's for him.”

Speaking via Zoom from Newmarket, Gosden said, “Full marks to my team. I'm here in Newmarket. His owner/breeder always wanted him to come back for the Saudi Cup. He ran well here last year and through the year except for at Ascot on bottomless ground–he didn't like that ground. Otherwise he has a superb record. The team here did a very good job with him through the winter and then Thady [Gosden, son and assistant trainer] and the team did a great job out there.”

Mishriff made three starts at two, finishing fourth and third in novice races at Yarmouth and Newbury before graduating by 10 lengths at Nottingham when stepped up to 1700 metres and partnered by Egan, Prince Faisal's retained rider, for the first time. Egan was again in the saddle next out when Mishriff finished second in the Saudi Derby, and again when the colt won the Listed Newmarket S. by four lengths. Covid restrictions, however, meant that Egan couldn't travel to France for Mishriff's summer assignments, and he was replaced by Ioritz Mendizabal and Frankie Dettori, respectively, for Mishriff's victories in the Prix du Jockey Club and the G2 Prix Guillaume d'Ornano. Dettori was once again in the saddle when Mishriff checked in eighth of 10 over the soft going when last seen in the G1 Qipco Champion S. on Oct. 17.

Gosden continued, “I think there are very few horses that can switch surfaces like that. I would have to say enormous thanks to the whole of the Saudi Jockey Club for putting on such an amazing day's racing. The turf track is superb–I was blown away by how good it was when it had only been laid down a few months before when I was there last year. And I have always been told by the top American jockeys and by Frankie Dettori that this is the best main dirt sand track in the world, and I think that is very much proven today that a turf horse can actually switch to it. So many of the tracks are too loose with horrible kickback, but this is a very good test for the Thoroughbred.”

Asked whether Mishriff will be stretched out to 2400 metres this summer in Europe, Gosden added, “He will stay. I think in the end he nailed them because he could go the pace and then see it out to the end, and that was a hard-run mile and an eighth. We'll see. Thady will come back with his reports and we will discuss it all with Prince Faisal and take it a step at a time after a flight like that and training through the winter. We'll see how he is when he gets back before we make any grand plans.”

Charlatan's connections reflected on their colt's performance after, for the first time in his career, he failed to cross the finish line first. Jockey Mike Smith said, “He's just so lightly raced this year and the way the racetrack was playing all day, I got a little concerned because speed wasn't holding all day long. He's only ran once [this season] and it was a seven-eighths race. He got really tired. If he'd had two races, I think he'd win.

Trainer Bob Baffert added, “I was very proud of his effort. Going in, we thought he would run his race. Turning for home, we knew they were going pretty fast early. He's a fast horse, but that stretch–I'm glad we don't have any stretches like that in America.”

Pedigree Notes

Prince Faisal, a close relative of Prince Bandar bin Khalid al Faisal, the chairman of the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia, has done a massive service to the European breeding industry through his Nawara Stud in producing Invincible Spirit (Ire) and Kodiac (GB) from his G1 Prix de Diane winner Rafha (GB) (Kris {GB}), and it is from that mare that Mishriff descends, she being his third dam. Mishriff's second dam Acts Of Grace (Bahri) is one of three stakes winners out of Rafha, and Acts Of Grace is now best known as the dam of Massarra (GB) (Danehill), who was bought by Coolmore for 600,000gns in 2009 and whose five stakes winners include the G1 Gran Criterium winner and stakes producer Nayarra (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}), G2 Superlative S. winner and young Coolmore sire Gustav Klimt (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), and G3 Silver Flash S. scorer Wonderfully (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}).

Mishriff's dam is the winning Raven's Pass mare Contradict (GB), who has thus far outdone herself in the breeding shed with her first three foals being stakes horses. Her first was the Listed Prix de Saint-Patrick victor Orbaan (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), and her second the G3 Craven S. and G3 Supreme S. second and G3 Thoroughbred S. third Momkin (Ire) (Bated Breath {GB}), who is now trained locally in Saudi and was sixth in Saturday's stc 1351 Turf Sprint. Mishriff is Contradict's last reported foal.

Another branch of the family includes the G1 Pretty Polly S. winner Chinese White (Ire) (Dalakhani {Ire}), who is out of a half-sister to Rafha, and the dual Australian Group 1-winning 2-year-old Pride Of Dubai (Aus) (Street Cry {Ire}), who has gotten off to such a good start with his first crops in both hemispheres.

Mishriff is from the first crop of the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains and G1 Prix de la Foret winner Make Believe (GB) (Makfi {GB}), who stands at Ballylinch Stud for €15,000. Mishriff is Make Believe's lone Group 1 winner and one of five stakes winners for the sire.

 

WATCH: Mishriff upsets the Americans in the Saudi Cup

 

Saturday, King Abdulaziz, Saudi Arabia
SAUDI CUP (Cond.), $20,000,000, King Abdulaziz, 2-20, 4yo/up, 1800m, 1:49.59, ft.
1–MISHRIFF (IRE), 126, 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; T-John Gosden; J-David Egan; $10,000,000. Lifetime Record: Hwt. 3yo-Eur, Eng & Fr at 9.5-11f, G1SW-Fr, SW-Eng, 9-5-1-1, $11,047,442. *1/2 to Orbaan (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), SW-Fr; and Momkin (Ire) (Bated Breath {GB}), MGSP-Eng, $131,343.
2–Charlatan, 126, c, 4, Speightstown–Authenticity, by Quiet American. ($700,000 Ylg '18 KEESEP). 'TDN Rising Star' O-SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, Stonestreet Stables LLC, Fred Hertrich III, John D Fielding & Golconda Stables; B-Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC (KY); T-Bob Baffert; J-Mike Smith; $3,500,000.
3–Great Scot (GB), 126, g, 5, Requinto (Ire)–La Rosiere, by Mr. Greeley. (€2,500 RNA Ylg '17 TATNOV). O-Prince Faisal Bin Khalid Bin Abdulaziz; B-Clyne Mound Thompson; T-Abdullah Mushriff; J-Adel Alfouraidi; $2,000,000.
Margins: 1, 6HF, 1.
Also Ran: Knicks Go, Sleepy Eyes Todd, Military Law (GB), Tacitus, Bangkok (Ire), Chuwa Wizard (Jpn), Derevo (GB), Max Player, Global Giant (GB), Extra Elusive (GB), Simsir (Ire).

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Classic Hero Mishriff Returns To Riyadh

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia—The world is a much different place 12 months on from the inaugural Saudi Cup meeting when the full horror of the Coronavirus crisis was only beginning to become apparent. So many of racing's key events have been disrupted since then and, with many countries still in lockdown or under severe travel restrictions, it is no small wonder that this year's meeting is able to proceed, even though the attendance will be markedly reduced from last year.

Eschewing the obvious travel complications, a posse of 27 European-trained horses has descended on the Arabian desert ahead of the second running of the Saudi Cup at Riyadh's King Abdulaziz Racecourse. Along with a team of local runners, they have been joined by strong contingents from America and Bahrain, and five horses from Japan. A further eight runners from the Godolphin battalions currently wintering in Dubai will ship into town on Wednesday and the scene will be set for round two of the newest major international race meeting on the circuit.

The European raiders feature a Classic winner among them—last year's Prix du Jockey Club victor Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}), who is in Riyadh for the second time, having been runner-up in last year's Saudi Derby. His presence will no doubt delight his Saudi owner/breeder, Prince A A Faisal, whose contribution to European racing is immense, not least as breeder of the perennially popular stallions and half-brothers Kodiac (GB) and Invincible Spirit (Ire). Their dam, another French Classic-winning homebred, Rafha (GB) (Kris {GB}), also appears as the third dam of Mishriff, who is by the Prince's Poule d'Essai des Poulains winner Make Believe. Mishriff's half-brother Momkin (Ire) (Bated Breath {GB}) is also set to race in the stc 1351 Turf Sprint on Saturday's undercard for Saudi trainer Abdullah Mushrif.

Mishriff's trainer John Gosden is represented in Riyadh by his son Thady, who said after watching the colt exercise with the stable's fellow Saudi Cup runner Global Giant (GB) (Shamardal), “It's wonderful for Prince Faisal to have a runner in the Saudi Cup. He puts a huge amount into the sport and takes a lot of time over his horses and cares about them deeply. He's very passionate and it's brilliant for him to have a horse who is a Classic winner and is now coming back to his home country to hopefully run well in the big race.”

He continued, “It was bottomless ground on Champions Day for Mishriff's final run of last year but he had a little break and has been training well since he started back. He's in good form. He knows his way around here a bit and he handles the dirt well. It's a brilliant track here—obviously Mishriff is a turf horse but he handles it well.”

Isa Salman Al Khalifa's Global Giant comes into the Saudi Cup from his second-place finish in the Bahrain Trophy and he will reoppose the winner of that race, Simsir (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}). The latter is trained by Fawzi Nass, who was successful at last year's meeting with Port Lions (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}).

Gosden added, “Global Giant went over to Bahrain and ran very well there. The race didn't quite go to plan as he broke a little bit slowly and was finishing well late on but wasn't quite able to peg back the leader. He's in good form, too. He had a little break over the winter but seems very well in himself.”

The Gosden stable's runner in this year's Al Rajhi Bank Saudi Derby, run over a mile, is New Treasure (Ire). The Jim Bolger-bred son of New Approach (Ire) won last year's G3 Heider Family Stables Round Tower S. before being sold to Saudi-based Nads Stud at Tattersalls for 90,000gns and transferred to Newmarket. 

The $1 million Saudi Derby has also drawn an international line-up. New Treasure's fellow Newmarket trainee Albadri (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}) races for Australian-born Jane Chapple-Hyam, while Charlie Appleby and Saeed Bin Suroor field the unbeaten Rebel's Romance (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and wide-margin UAE 1000 Guineas winner Soft Whisper (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) for Godolphin. Francis Graffard has sent recent Chantilly winner Homeryan (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) from France, and Japan, America and the UAE are also represented.

When Oxted (GB) emulated his sire Mayson (GB) by winning last year's G1 Darley July Cup it proved to be one of the most popular results of the disrupted season. The 5-year-old has run just once since then, when fifth in the QIPCO British Champions Sprint, and he enters new territory on Saturday in the Saudi Arabian Airlines Riyadh Dirt Sprint.

Oxted's trainer Roger Teal and his wife Sue stepped off a Saudi Arabian Airlines flight at 3.45am on Tuesday and, after completing the Covid tests obligatory within the Saudi Cup 'event bubble', came straight to the track to see their stable star canter under their son Harry.

“It's his first try on dirt and his first time round a bend so that's lots of firsts. Hopefully there will be another first come Saturday,” said Teal, who said he was delighted with the way Oxted had coped with his debut international flight. “He travelled really well on the plane and that was really good to hear as he's not even been overnight racing at home so it's a lot to take in.”

Former jockey Harry Teal, who now assists his father at their Lambourn stable, was also having his first spin on a dirt track and gave his mount the thumbs-up. He said,”Oxted had his first morning out on the track and he loved it. He felt great, moved really well on the dirt and handled the bend well. It was like a carpet out there.”

Chasemore Farm's Brad The Brief (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}), trained by Tom Dascombe, and Harry's Bar (GB) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}), one of two runners at the meeting for Ireland's Adrian McGuinness, will also be tested on the dirt for the first time in the 1,200-metre contest. 

Following a year when many of the world's most valuable prizes suffered cuts in purse money while so much of the action was conducted behind closed doors, the already well endowed Saudi Cup meeting has increased in value from $29.2 million to €30.5 million. It is preceded on Friday by the International Jockeys' Challenge with a 14-strong line-up of top riders that includes last season's first-time Group 1 winners Hollie Doyle and Jessica Marcialis.

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Mishriff Targeting Saudi Cup

Last year’s G1 Prix du Jockey Club victor Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}) is being prepared for next month’s $20-million Saudi Cup, said Ted Voute, racing manager to the colt’s owner/breeder Prince Faisal.

Trained by John Gosden, Mishriff was second in last February’s Saudi Derby on the same card before stringing together a hat trick of black-type victories over the summer, beginning with the Listed Newmarket S. prior to the French Derby and culminating in a 4 1/2-length score in the G2 Prix Guillaume d’Ornano. He was last seen beating two home over the soft ground in the G1 Champion S. at Ascot on Oct. 17.

“John’s preparing him for the race,” Voute confirmed. “The Prince and him discussed it in late December and the Prince lives in Riyadh. It’s on a dirt track which he handled last year when he came second. We’re going back a furlong, but we hope it won’t inconvenience him.”

“It’s something to look forward to,” Voute added. “There’s not a lot for him at home until probably June. Last year he went out there and [then] won the French Derby which was the same sort of timing. It gives him a few months off after he comes back.”

Frankie Dettori was in the saddle for Mishriff’s last two starts, but David Egan will take the ride in the Saudi Cup.

“He’s in Bahrain at the moment so he’s nice and close,” Voute said. “We’ve contacted him already and he says he’ll be delighted to ride him. He’s retained by us, but for one reason or another he didn’t get back on him last year [after Newmarket].”

There are 17 Grade or Group 1 winners entered for the Saudi Cup, including Mishriff’s Champion S. conqueror Addeybb (GB) (Pivotal {GB}). Other European representation could come from the Roger Charlton-trained Extra Elusive (GB) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}), Saeed bin Suroor’s Military March (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) and Charlie Hills’s Tilsit (First Defence).

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Mishriff on Track for Champion

French Derby winner Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}) remains on course for the Oct. 17 G1 Qipco Champion S. at Ascot. The 3-year-old’s connections opted not to supplement the G1 Prix du Jockey Club winner for the G1 Qatar Pix de l’Arc de Triomphe in favor of Ascot’s 10-furlong feature. In his latest start, Mishriff won the Aug. 15 G2 Prix Guillaume D’Ornano at Deauville.

“He’s bouncing, he’s going well and he’s waiting for his date at Ascot,” said Ted Voute, racing manager to owner Prince Faisal. [Trainer] John [Gosden] and the Prince made a decision and that’s where we’re going. We’ve just got to find out what we’re racing against.”

Voute added, “At the moment he’s showing a nice turn of foot which they are not always blessed with. Let’s hope he can keep doing that when it’s needed.”

Voute also offered an update on Prince Faisal 2-year-old Third Kingdom (GB) (Make Believe {GB}). The colt has finished third in two career starts, including his latest when finishing behind subsequent Listed Solario S. winner Etonian (Ire) (Olympic Glory {Ire}) at Sandown on July 23 .

“He was down to go to Chelmsford the other day and just had a bit of heat in a joint and they elected not to go,” explained Voute. “It has since been looked at and is nothing serious. He should be out soon.”

He added, “The form of that second race of his has come out quite nicely, so it was a shame he couldn’t go to Chelmsford as it looked like his for the taking, but we’re waiting for John [Gosden] to give him an entry and see how good he is.”

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