Stidham Hoping Mystic Guide Can Return to Dubai

Godolphin's Mystic Guide  is back under tack and is expected to rejoin trainer Michael Stidham's barn shortly after the Breeders' Cup in early November to begin preparing for a 2022 campaign that could include a bid for back-to-back victories in the Dubai World Cup Sponsored by Emirates Airline (G1).

"Monday morning I was at the Godolphin training barn at Keeneland and Mystic Guide is under tack and looks fantastic," Stidham said. "It was exciting to see him looking so good."

Stidham plans to bring homebred Mystic Guide with him to Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots later this year with the hope of mirroring 2021 when the 4-year-old son of Ghostzapper   won the Razorback Handicap (G3) at Oaklawn Park in February and used that as a springboard to a 3 3/4-length victory March 27 in the $12 million Dubai World Cup at Meydan Racecourse.

"If everything goes perfectly, maybe we can get a race into him, and then maybe think about the World Cup again," Stidham said. "It will all depend on him and how fast he gets himself fit and ready to run again. We'd be happy to follow last year's schedule of running in the Razorback and the Dubai World Cup."

Mystic Guide raced only three times in 2021 before a chip in his front right knee brought his year to an end following a second to Max Player  in the July 3 Suburban Stakes (G2) at Belmont Park. 

"Dr. (Larry) Bramlage did the surgery and Mystic Guide seems to be making a full recovery," Stidham said.

Out of the multiple grade 1-winning Music Note (A.P. Indy), Mystic Guide has earned $7,593,200 through four wins in nine career starts with three seconds and two thirds.

While prior to the injury Stidham had hoped to run Mystic Guide in the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1), his lone hopeful for the World Championships is now Susan and John Moore's Princess Grace , a 4-year-old Karakontie   filly who was scratched out of the Oct. 9 First Lady Stakes Presented by UK HealthCare (G1T) due to the moisture in the turf course at Keeneland.

Stidham plans to ship Princess Grace, a winner of six of seven starts, to Del Mar with the intention of running her either against males in the $2 million FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile Presented by PDJF (G1T) or the $300,000 Goldikova Stakes (G2T) at a mile on turf for fillies and mares. Both races are scheduled for Nov. 6 at Del Mar.

Depending on how Princess Grace fares in her next start, Stidham would be open to keeping her on the West Coast to run in the Nov. 28 $400,000 Matriarch Stakes (G1T) for fillies and mares at Del Mar. The Matriarch is also a mile turf stakes.

Earlier this year, Princess Grace captured the Yellow Ribbon Handicap (G2T) at Del Mar.

"She's only lost once," Stidham said about Princess Grace. "It's been a great run with her and we have some very nice options with her."