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Mishriff Training Well for Saudi Cup

French Group 1 winner Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}), who ran second in the 2020 Saudi Derby in Riyadh on Feb. 29, needs a wide draw in the Feb. 20 $20-million Saudi Cup according to trainer John Gosden. The colt rebounded with a win in the Listed Newmarket S. on June 6 and won the G1 Prix du Jockey Club on July 5. His final win of the year was a victory in the G2 Prix Guillaume de Ornano at Deauville on Aug. 15 before an eighth in the G1 QIPCO Champions S. at Ascot in mid-October. The 4-year-old carries the colours of Prince Faisal and will be ridden by his retained jockey David Egan.

“He worked nicely going into it, but first time on the dirt, you never know. He did have the benefit of a wide draw last year and we were thrilled the way he ran,” Gosden told a Saudi Cup press conference. “I think he's a mile-and-a-quarter horse, very much so. He's got a great stride, great tactical speed and a powerful finish. I think that is his perfect trip. Whether we stretch him out to a mile and a half one day, I don't know.”

“This race is run on the dirt and at a very different tempo. You need a wide draw,” he said. “If it was a mile and quarter it would suit us a lot better, but it's very fast. The Americans go hard and it's not a race with any hiding places. He's had a nice down time building up to this. He's a genuine horse, he enjoys his training. He's not a horse who requires a massive amount of work, so to that extent he's the right type to get ready early in the year.”

Frankie Dettori will be aboard Global Giant (GB) (Shamardal) for Gosden in the Middle Distance Turf Cup. They were second in the Bahrain International Trophy last November.

“He came back in great order and breezed nicely this [Wednesday] morning,” Gosden added. “The horse was as frustrated as the jockey and the owner and the trainer, but he got too far back and got there too late. The wire came up a stride and a half too soon, but that's racing. He's fine, he's going for the Middle Distance. It will be a tough race. Distance-wise it's probably the top end of his range. He's got a very good chance and he's in good form right now.”

Gosden will also take another crack at the Saudi Derby and will send G3 Round Tower S. hero New Treasure (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}). The newly gelded chestnut was acquired for 90,000gns by Voute Sales on behalf of Najd Stud out of the Tattersalls Autumn HIT Sale after being sold by breeder/owner/trainer Jim Bolger.

“He was in the horses-in-training sale and Jim was selling, so you have to have a sense of reality about that. He didn't go for a great deal of money,” said Gosden. “The horse came here and the owners wanted to aim him at this race. “He won a Group 3 over six furlongs on soft ground. He's not run over a mile before, but we're hopeful he'll get it. He's on a one-way ticket. He races and stays there to race with the local horses. He's very genuine and is a giver. He's a fun horse to run in the race and it a great way of going down there–a Group 3 winner and going for the Saudi Derby.”

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Ward Duo Target Royal Ascot

Group 1 winner Campanelle (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) and Breeders' Cup victor Golden Pal (Uncle Mo) are both targeting the 2021 Royal Ascot meeting trainer Wesley Ward has announced.

The filly, a Stonestreet Stables colourbearer, will line up for the G1 Commonwealth Cup during the Royal Meeting. In 2020, Campanelle captured the G3 Queen Mary S. and then returned to Europe to add the G1 Prix Morny to her haul later in the summer. Although she has been entered in the G1 1000 Guineas and Irish equivalent, it is more likely that the six furlongs of the Commonwealth Cup holds greater appeal.

“Barbara [Banke, owner of Stonestreet Stables] is really keen on Ascot and I think six furlongs–and that's a stiff six at Ascot for the Commonwealth–with a little weight break for being a filly, that will be our main target,” Ward said via Zoom to the British Horseracing Authorityi's 2-year-old classifications press conference. “I'm kind of working from that race backwards–the Guineas really don't come into play right now unless when she's at the farm, the team gets together and decides to go in another direction.

“Our main goal would be the Commonwealth. Barbara and her whole team are really looking forward to getting back [to Royal Ascot]. She worked last week for the first time at Barbara's farm at Ocala and she looked like she's ready to go, so we're all excited.”

Golden Pal, owned by Ranlow Investments, ran second in the G2 Norfolk S. in just his second start before successful efforts in Saratoga's Skidmore S. on Sept. 21 and the GII Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf at Keeneland on Nov. 6. The plan is the G1 King's Stand S. at Royal Ascot.

“We're really excited about this guy,” said Ward. “He will come back opening day at Keeneland, which is Apr. 1. Every year they have a straight, 3-year-old, $100-$150,000 stakes race over five and a half furlongs and that will crack off the season for him.

“He's doing fantastic–he came out of the Breeders' Cup in great shape and we're going to try the same route we did with Lady Aurelia (Scat Daddy) and go to the King's Stand with him. I think the five should see him right between the ears there. He's grown in height and he's broadening out–he's a really beautiful colt right now. I think he's going to be a tremendous sprinter this year.”

However, the King's Stand S. is not the only overseas goal for the colt. The G1 Nunthorpe S. against elders has been set as a longer-term target for Golden Pal.

“The Nunthorpe has eluded me and that will almost be the main goal for this guy,” Ward continued. “We're going back to the King's Stand [first], but as the summer progresses the 3-year-olds catch up to the 4-year-olds and I'm really looking forward to that race at York.

“This guy [Golden Pal] has proven he can go on all types of ground–he's a very exciting sprinter, one of the best I've ever trained and hopefully could be the best with the accomplishments we've set out for him this spring, summer and hopefully culminating in the fall.

“He's a really, really exciting horse to train, so we're looking forward to it. Battaash (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) is a very worthy opponent. The years are hopefully behind him, but I'm a big fan of his and when you get these good sprinters matched together, it just brings excitement to everyone involved in racing.”

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Saudi Arabian Dirt Likely for Oxted

Group 1 winner Oxted (GB) (Mayson {GB}) is likely for the six-furlong Riyadh Dirt Sprint instead of the 1351 Turf Sprint at Riyadh in Saudi Arabia on Feb. 20. A winner of the G3 Abernant S. last June, the bay gelding added the G1 July Cup at Newmarket one month later. After undergoing wind surgery, Oxted resumed with a fifth in the Oct. 17 QIPCO British Champions Sprint S.

“At the moment we are favouring the dirt really because it's six furlongs,” said trainer Roger Teal, whose son Harry will accompany his stable star to Saudi Arabia, at a Saudi Cup press conference. “Obviously, it's an unknown surface for us but because it's a flat six furlongs I think that is where we are going to go. He's a good-moving horse. He likes the top of the ground and handles all sorts of ground.

“He trains on an all-weather surface every day, so I'm just hoping. The reports are very good about the dirt track in Saudi. That gives me confidence. There's not too much kickback apparently. As long as there wasn't going to be tons of kickback, I think we're going to be happy to run him on it.”

He added, “The timing of the race was good for us. It was enough time to give him a break and then prepare him for the season ahead. We can go to Saudi, come back, maybe go to Dubai for World Cup night if things go to plan. We can then prepare for Ascot and another go at the July Cup. We'll be a little bit wiser after the event. He's pretty straightforward and takes things in his stride, but you don't know until you do it. He should be fine.”

Regularly ridden by Cieren Fallon, Jr., the now 5-year-old gelding would reunite with Fallon in Saudi Arabia.

“He definitely gets on so well with the horse,” said Teal. “Hopefully when Cieren's available he can ride him whenever. This horse has got good gate speed. He travels strong. He's got early pace so I think the pace of the race will suit him fine. The pace beat us at Ascot [on Champions Day] last year. There wasn't enough pace for him.”

“Harry will go with him out there,” he added, but was non-committal on his own attendance. “You can't make any firm plans yet, but we'd like to be there if we can. He's pretty much on track. He's been stepping up weekly. We're very happy. We'll just keep tipping away with what we're doing and get him there in good shape.

“If we're allowed to I'm looking to getting him to Wolverhampton just to have one good sprint round the turn because he's never run round a bend. That's another thing we've got to find out about him. He's in good shape. He had a short break after Ascot. He had a month away and came back looking tremendous. He's really blossomed through the winter.”

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Females Centre Stage at Meydan on Thursday

Meydan's G2 Cape Verdi is the highlight on the Dubai Wold Cup Carnival card on Jan. 28. Of the eight fillies and mares signed on to the one-mile feature, a quintet carry the Godolphin blue and the highest rated at 108 is the Group 3 winner and 'TDN Rising Star' Summer Romance (Ire) (Kingman {GB}). A listed winner at Newmarket as a juvenile, the Charlie Appleby charge won the G3 Princess Elizabeth S. at Epsom on July 4 and was last of six in the G1 Prix Rothschild after making all for most of that contest. Her listed-winning and MGSP stablemate Althiqa (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}) was last seen running second in the G3 Sceptre Fillies' S. in September.

“They are two nice fillies,” said Appleby, who has won the Cape Verdi the past two years. “Althiqa was very consistent in Europe last year, winning a listed race and placing in a Group 3. She looks ideal for this test.

“Summer Romance has wintered really well and has thrived in the sunshine. Her last start in a Group 1 just did not go to plan, but she showed at Epsom that she is a very useful filly.”

Saeed bin Suroor's Dubai Love (GB) (Night of Thunder {Ire}) won the 2020 Listed UAE 1000 Guineas last January and followed up with a distant second in the G3 UAE Oaks on Feb. 20. Third in the Listed Al Bastakiya on Super Saturday in March, the bay was given some time off and returned to England for two mores starts, with her final appearance being a fourth in the G3 Musidora S. in July. She is joined by the three-for-three Aug. 23 Ffos Las handicap heroine Last Look (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) and Stunning Beauty (Ire) (Shamardal), undefeated in a pair of novice stakes at Newmarket and Leicester in July and August, respectively.

“Stunning Beauty is a very talented, but somewhat quirky filly,” Bin Suroor said. “She looks the ideal type for the Cape Verdi and is unbeaten as is Last Look who has been given plenty of time as she is a bit fragile.

“Dubai Love is just a tough, genuine and versatile filly who landed the UAE 1000 Guineas on dirt last year.”

Charlie Fellowes sends out Anthony Oppenheimer homebred Perfect Inch (GB) in her first group test. The roan 4-year-old was second to Roger Varian's GSP Stylistique (GB) (Dansili {GB}) in the Listed Petite Etoile at Deauville on Nov. 24. Black-type winner Quiet Times (Ger) (Reliable Man {GB}) finished second in Deauville's Listed Prix Miss Satamixa on Dec. 19 for trainer Pia Brandt; while Norwegian 1000 Guineas heroine Silent Night (Swe) (Night of Thunder {Ire}), who placed in a listed stake at Meydan last year, enters off a third in the Listed Lanwades Stud S. at Bro Park on Sept. 20.

Thursday's Listed UAE 1000 Guineas Presented by Longines features seven sophomore fillies, with the most accomplished being the three-time winner Soft Whisper (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}). Bearing the royal blue of Godolphin, the Saeed bin Suroor trainee has won her last three starts-breaking her maiden at Salisbury on Aug. 21, a four-length score at Pontefract on Sept. 24 and a 2 1/2-length tally in her Jan. 7 Meydan bow going 1400 metres. She faces several undefeated rivals including a pair from trainer Doug Watson.

Bin Suroor said: “Soft Whisper won twice in Britain last year and did well to win the trial after a slow start. The extra 200m should suit and we are expecting a big run.”

His 96-rated Mnasek (Empire Maker) drew off by 6 3/4 lengths in her lone start going seven panels on Dec. 17, with both the second and third-trainer Nicholas Bachalard's Nayefah (Super Saver) and Watson's Heshmah (Kitten's Joy)-also taking part in the first UAE Classic of the season. Owner Charles Fipke's Super Chianti (Super Saver) duly saluted for Watson when unveiled in a 1200-metre maiden race at Meydan on Nov. 19. For some Swedish flavour, Khatun (GB) (French Navy {GB}), representing the Dina Danekilde yard, breaks from the widest stall in seven after taking a six-furlong turf feature at Jagersro on Nov. 25.

Watson said: “Both are in flying form at home and we are really looking forward to trying them in this better class of race having just won a maiden apiece.”

High End (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) bears the blue cap for Godolphin in the 2000-metres Listed Zabeel Turf Presented by Longines earlier on the card. One of an octet in the race for the royal blue, the Saeed bin Suroor trainee, a three-time winner, played the bridesmaid in the Listed Foundation S. at Goodwood on Sept. 23. Another bin Suroor trainee who appears to be rounding into form is Royal Marine (Ire) (Ravens Pass), who won the G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere at ParisLongchamp in 2018. He returns to action on the back of a runner-up effort in a Sept. 19 Newbury handicap. Charlie Appleby's stakes-placed Bright Melody (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) also takes part.

Satish Seemar's Senority (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) could prevent a Godolphin clean sweep and the 7-year-old gelding was second in the G3 Abu Dhabi Championship at Abu Dhabi last March. He was off the board in a Jan. 14 handicap locally. Majestic Mambo (SAf) (Mambo in Seattle), who ran second in the G1 Daily News 2000 in his native land, is also amongst the opposition and is saddled by Mike de Kock. Although winless in several tries in the desert, the 6-year-old gelding was fifth in the Abu Dhabi Championship in March.

Listed winner Raakib Alhawa (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) makes his Meydan debut for David Simcock and owner Khalifa Dasmal. The 5-year-old gelding, who landed the August S. at Windsor in August of 2019 was last seen running seventh in an Ascot handicap on Oct. 17.

Click here for the group field.

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