Horse Racing

Saudi Cup News: Mishriff will have to be a wide boy in title defence

Planet Sport writerStaff Writer24 February 2022
Saudi Cup trophy

Saudi Cup trophy

The lucrative Saudi Cup is set for Saturday, February 26 and John and Thady Gosden's Mishriff will have to negotiate a wide draw in defence of his crown in Riyadh.

Team Gosden's reigning Saudi Cup champ Mishriff will have to retain his title the hard way by overcoming a wide draw in Riyadh on Saturday.

Thady Gosden, who trains the five-year-old jointly with his father John, pulled out the unideal stall 14 of 14 at a ceremony on Wednesday ahead of the $20million showpiece.

Mishriff did win from stall 12 last year so things are far from lost but this looks like a competitive renewal of the Saudi Cup.

Gosden, accepting the draw wasn't perfect, says his globetrotter is in good nick and ready to add to his staggering prize money collection.

He said: "Obviously it's not ideal but last year he was in 12, so hopefully he will jump well and be able to run down the backstretch.
"He still has the same enthusiasm (at home), he still has a bit of a buck and a play and shows us he's feeling well. He's in good form."

Godolphin and Frankie Dettori team up with once more Real World as the Saeed Bin Suroor entry continues his career arc.

Bin Suroor said: "I think this is the first time I have chosen a good draw! He shows a good turn of foot and he can jump well from the gate.
"Frankie rides him and he knows him well. It would be great to see him run well."

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