Mishriff Thrills Egan With Six-Length International Win

What a way to bring up your half-century, like Liam Livingstone smashing the bowler for six down the road at Headingley.

Except this was not the new-fangled Hundred but the long-established Juddmonte International (G1) and it was a phenomenal six lengths rather than six runs that Mishriff  thumped his rivals by.

Fifty runnings of a race officially rated the best run anywhere in the world last year have thrown up plenty of classy winners, from Roberto to Ghaiyyath , and the 50th looked as good as most.

Beforehand, the John and Thady Gosden-trained Mishriff was something of an enigma to British racegoers, the winner of huge prizes in Saudi Arabia and Dubai this year, but beaten in the Coral-Eclipse (G1) and King George VI and Queen Elizabeth QIPCO Stakes (G1) back home this summer.

Yet there was no doubting his class afterwards, as he cruised through the race from the off and looked still to be full of running when he hit the front inside the final three furlongs. Nor were looks deceptive as he pulled comfortably clear in the final quarter of a mile and was actually eased in the final strides yet was still six lengths too good for runner-up Alenquer  at the line, the win taking his astonishing career earnings past the £11 million mark (US$15,074,636).

It was much the biggest British success for jockey David Egan, who has been on board Mishriff throughout this campaign. He said: "This horse means everything to me; he's going to make my career, hopefully.

"I'm so thrilled for the horse to be able to do it on UK soil. He's proved he can do it elsewhere and some people had doubts whether he could do it here, but it's fantastic to get it done for Prince Faisal in a race like the Juddmonte International. It feels like I've won the lottery."

Asked how this compared with Mishriff's earlier jackpot victories, Egan, 22, said: "This is my best day on the racetrack. The money doesn't matter, it's all about the horse, and I'm delighted for him."

Not that the rider had to be at his strongest to land the prize, as he reflected: "I couldn't believe how well I was traveling approaching the three (furlong) pole. I had it in the back of my mind how well he stays the mile and a quarter on a flat track. I got him in a nice rhythm, relaxed, that was the key, and we were in the exact spot we wanted to be. 

"It couldn't have gone better and I was in awe how far clear he was passing the line. He's a real champion and I think he's only getting better this season. To do what he has done is phenomenal and he's a force to be reckoned with."

Mishriff was a second International winner in three years for the Gosdens, the success catapulting the yard into third place in the trainers' championship.

John Gosden had not been at all discouraged by those two earlier defeats for a colt who had been given a break after returning from his two lucrative trips to the Middle East.

"He had a holiday and he was fresh and blew up in the Eclipse with a furlong to go having cruised up there," the trainer said.

"He ran a blinder last time. The mile and a half at Ascot up that hill was too great a demand on his stamina, but he ran a super race behind a proper (Cazoo) Derby (G1) winner (Adayar ) getting 11 pounds. He's come here over a mile and a quarter, and that's his game."

Another break is now on the cards, as Gosden added: "I want to freshen him again because there are races deep into the autumn if he's in good order. Namely the Arc (G1) or Champions Day, ground dependent. Then you have a mile and a half at Del Mar (for the Longines Breeders' Cup Turf, G1T) and the Japan Cup (G1)."

The International victory provided Mishriff a fees-paid berth in the Nov. 6 Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) at Del Mar. The Classic will be run on a dirt track, the same type of surface that Mishriff won the $20 million Saudi Cup on in February.

The Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe is a potential target for King Edward VII Stakes (G2) winner Alenquer, who thrilled William Haggas with such a bold effort over a trip reckoned to be short of his best.

"Alenquer ran a very good race and wants further," the trainer said. "You can't criticize a run like that in a group 1 race and he should develop into a very nice 4-year-old. 

"We'll talk to the owners regarding plans, but I suspect the Arc will be well in the mix. He's very genuine and stays a mile and a half."

Stablemate Mohaafeth  finished fourth, and Haggas added: "I was pleased with him—it didn't look like he quite got home. 

"He looked like he was going to be second, but was weak in the final furlong. We'll look at dropping him back in trip." 

The Haggas pair sandwiched third-placed Love , who could find no extra in the final furlong.

Coolmore spokesperson Kevin Buckley said: "We're happy with Love's run, she's a fantastic filly, a dual classic winner, and put in another good performance. 

"Mishriff was a worthy winner and was impressive; he was the horse to beat in a top-class race."