Saudi Cup News: Mishriff motoring to retain his title
Mishriff was an excellent second in the King George
Mishriff has been a star international performer for the Gosdens as well as bringing in huge prize money. He is all set to try and retain his Saudi Cup crown on February 26.
International racing superstar Mishriff is ready to regain his Saudi Cup crown for Prince Faisal and John and Thady Gosden.
Mishriff made light work of the Saudi Cup challenge 12 months ago, fending off some of the best dirt performers in the world in Charlatan and Knicks Go.
The five-year-old's globetrotting antics also saw a win in Dubai, before adding the Juddmonte International back in Europe.
The net gain has been susbantial too and should Mishriff win the Saudi Cup again, he will become the highest-earning racehorse in history with a further $20m up for grabs.
"We had been drawn a little bit wide and up the stretch Charlatan had a huge amount of speed, but we were able to wear him down in the last half a furlong," said Thady Gosden, who feels the layout of the track and the surface itself suits the European style of racing.
"It's brilliant the American horses are coming back again and they are obviously top-class ones.
"Going into last year were respected the Americans and the other horses, but the fact there's only one turn and the long stretch is an advantage to the European horses.
"I was watching the Pegasus Cup last week and that's a very short stretch. They have to use a lot of speed to get forward and then it's just a short stretch so it definitely suits us out there.
"I think the surface out there is also a bit kinder to our horses, the kickback isn't as bad and there's woodchips in it, it's a very good track. It's less coarse than other dirt surfaces, which helps us."
Saudi owner Prince Faisal holds Mishriff's achievements as his most welcomed in his long involvement in the sport.
"He's been breeding horses for decades and even owned Mishriff's sire, Make Believe, so to achieve that is pretty spectacular," Gosden went on.
"He's a year older and a little bigger, but he's been training well up the race so far so let's hope it continues like that.
"It's more of a challenge being the middle of winter over here. We've been lucky to avoid the snow so far, but it has been cold and frosty. It's more straightforward in a warmer climate, but we're lucky it hasn't been too cold here.
"We'll get the Saudi hurdle out of the way and then there are two possible races on World Cup night (in Dubai), the Sheema Classic and the World Cup itself and I'm sure Prince Faisal will know which he'd like to go for.
"Then we've got a long season here so there's a few bridges to cross before we start thinking of the Breeders' Cup."
