Saudi Cup Winner Mishriff Captures Sheema Classic

How good is Mishriff? And what's his best surface? Best distance?

The 4-year-old son of Make Believeanswered the first question emphatically March 27 in the $5 million Longines Dubai Sheema Classic (G1), rallying from last through the Meydan stretch to win what was accurately billed as the best turf race of the year—so far.

As to the other questions, it appears it doesn't make much difference. And that opens up a world of possibilities for his owner, Prince Faisal, trainers John and Thady Gosden, and jockey David Egan.

Mishriff likely would have been one of the most fancied had his connections opted to send him to the Dubai World Cup Sponsored by Emirates Airline (G1) after his impressive victory five weeks earlier in the $20 million Saudi Cup on the dirt. Instead, they returned the colt to the turf and extended him from the 1 1/8 miles of the Saudi test to 2,410 meters (about 1 1/2 miles).

No matter. On the King Abdulaziz Racecourse dirt, he ran down America's best, Charlatan, for the victory. At Meydan, he got by Japan's best, Chrono Genesis and Loves Only You, for the win.

Egan got Mishriff off to a clean start and was unhurried early as the U.S. hope, Channel Maker, showed the way, followed by Bahrain's Simsir and Godolphin runner Walton Street.

As the early contenders shortened stride around the final bend, multiple grade I victor Chrono Genesis and progressive 2019 Japanese Oaks (G1) winner Loves Only You took the front. Those two battled side by side for the final 200 meters with Egan bringing Mishriff along outside of them. That trio then raced side-by-side to the wire with Mishriff grinding out victory by a pair of necks.

Godolphin horses filled the next three slots with Channel Maker fading to finish eighth and Simsir last of nine. The big disappointment was Mogul, who finished seventh while making his first start since winning the Longines Hong Kong Vase (G1) last December, sparking Coolmore hopes for a big season as a 4-year-old.

Egan said he had nothing but faith in the colt despite the new challenges facing him.

"The draw wasn't ideal," Egan said, "but I was always going to take my time a little bit. Mr. Gosden gave me free rein and let me ride the horse whichever way he jumped."

"A lot of people were questioning why Mr. Gosden and Prince Faisal were running him on the turf over a mile and a half," Egan added. "Some said it was the wrong decision not going for the World Cup, which he might have been favorite for. But this was the right decision."

Mishriff's emergence is no particular surprise. He finished second in the 2020 Saudi Derby, then reeled off three straight victories through the early and mid season, including the Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby-G1) at Chantilly in July. His only misfire came in the Qipco Champions Stakes (G1) where he reported eighth while tackling very unsuitable ground at Ascot.

The Saudi Cup was his first start of the 2021 campaign with British bookmakers already listing him at short odds for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1) at the end of the campaign. There will be plenty of other opportunities at the top level before that.

This season, young though it is, also has seen the emergence of 21-year-old Egan, scion of a legendary racing family and 2017 British champion apprentice rider, and Thady Gosden, who recently received his trainer's license and now is listed with his father.

"He brought me to that next level by winning the Saudi Cup," Egan said of Mishriff, "and this is icing on the cake. Hopefully after winning over a mile and a half here, he can have an exciting summer campaign in Europe."

Lord North Takes Dubai Turf

Mishriff's triumph completed a back-to-back sweep of the evening's top two turf races for the Gosdens. Lord North, making his first start since a third-place finish in the Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T) last November at Keeneland, rolled to a comfortable victory in the $4 million Dubai Turf Sponsored by DP World (G1), easily seeing out the 1,800 meters (about 1 1/8 miles) under Frankie Dettori.

After relaxing through the early furlongs, Dettori got the 5-year-old Dubawi gelding out toward the middle of the course and he easily picked things up, drawing off to win by 3 lengths in 1:46.46. Vin de Garde was second and Felix edged Epic Hero for third.

The local favorite, 8-year-old gray Lord Glitters, a confirmed closer, was badly blocked early in the stretch run and could never reach contention.

"It was a nice pace," Dettori said. "I had plenty of horse. I know he stays well so I kicked early and he flew. I didn't do much after that. He did the rest."



Lord North won the Prince of Wales's Stakes (G1) at Royal Ascot in 2020 and finished third in the Juddmonte International (G1) at York. He slogged home 10th in the Qipco Champion Stakes (G1) over sodden ground at Ascot before the Breeders' Cup run.

Asked if he has potential to improve further, Dettori said, "He's a horse to go in all the big races this year. I'm sure Mr. Gosden will have a plan."

Felix, an all-weather course performer in England, opened some eyes with his first win on the grass for trainer Marco Botti. "The rider was very happy," reported assistant trainer Lucie Botti. "He said he was quite surprised how well he ran."

Subjectivist Lands Dubai Gold Cup

The $750,000 Dubai Gold Cup Sponsored by Al Tayer Motors (G2) turned into a tour de force for Subjectivist, a British-trained youngster who picked up right where he left off in 2020 with a victory in the Prix Royal Oak (G1) at Longchamp.

With Joe Fanning at the controls, Subjectivist tracked the early leader in the 3,200-meter (about two miles) Gold Cup, took the advantage on the turn and quickly put matters to rest. He won by 5 3/4 lengths in course-record time of 3:17.77 with Walderbe second and Away He Goes third. The favorite, Secret Advisor, was fourth. 

"We haven't won here on World Cup Day since 1999," said Subjectivist's trainer, Mark Johnston. "We start to think we're doing something wrong… I'm thinking almost throughout the race, 'I'm very happy where we are here.' I wouldn't have wanted to be anywhere else in the field."

"But frankly, we hadn't been bringing the right horses. We came here today thinking surely he was the one to beat. He was a group 1 winner on his last outing. He didn't have to improve. He just had to run up to his best."

Johnston said he can't see dropping the 4-year-old son of Teofilo down in class so races like the Ascot Gold Cup (G1) would be the mid-season targets.