Next Race Assignments Set for Palace Pier, Mishriff
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Photo: Edward Whitaker/Racing Post
Palace Pier wins the Queen Anne Stakes at Ascot Racecourse
Britain's highest-rated horse in training Palace Pier is reported to be in top order for his bid to win back-to-back runnings of the Prix Jacques le Marois (G1) at Deauville Aug. 15.
John and Thady Gosden's leading miler will be tackling the classic generation for the first time in France having been forced to miss last month's Qatar Sussex Stakes (G1) at Goodwood with a blood disorder.
Palace Pier, who is unbeaten in three outings in 2021, is the 5-6 favorite to emulate French colt Spinning World, who was the last horse to win the straight-mile contest twice back in 1996-97.
Last weekend, Frankie Dettori partnered the son of Kingman for the first time in many weeks in an impressive workout on the Al Bahathri Polytrack in Newmarket where he looked as good as ever when coming clear of a decent lead horse.
Thady Gosden said: "Obviously it was frustrating to miss the Sussex Stakes with Palace Pier but he seems to have come back to himself and Frankie was very happy with him when he worked him last Saturday. He's on course for the Jacques le Marois rather than heading to York but it looks a competitive race with the likes of Poetic Flare in there."
A year ago, Palace Pier accounted for Alpine Star and Circus Maximus on heavy ground in France but conditions may be less demanding this weekend.
The joint-trainer added: "Palace Pier is pretty versatile (with regard to) ground and we just hope he can run well again to set him up for the autumn."
Mishriff is led to the winner's circle after the Dubai Sheema Classic at Meydan Racecourse
In Palace Pier's absence, the Gosdens are to rely on Mishriff in the Aug. 18 Juddmonte International (G1), in which he will face a rematch with St Mark's Basilica , behind whom he finished third in the Coral-Eclipse Stakes (G1) at Sandown last month.
A 3-1 chance for York, Mishriff has since chased home Adayar in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth QIPCO Stakes (G1) at Ascot and is back down in trip.
Thady Gosden said: "Mishriff has come out of Ascot in good shape and is pretty versatile as regards trip and ground so the plan is for him to take his chance."