Dubai World Cup Hero Mystic Guide Returns to Track

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 11/21/2021 - 13:10
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Dubai World Cup Hero Mystic Guide Returns to Track
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Photo: Dubai Racing Club/Mathea Kelley
Mystic Guide trains in March ahead of his Dubai World Cup win at Meydan Racecourse

Dubai World Cup Sponsored by Emirates Airline (G1) hero Mystic Guide  has returned to the track for training four months after undergoing surgery to remove a chip from the colt's right knee. After a second-place finish in the July 3 Suburban Handicap (G2) at Belmont Park to Max Player , the chip was discovered and Mystic Guide was sent to Dr. Larry Bramlage of Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington for the procedure.

The morning of Nov. 21 Stidham Racing posted a video on Twitter with trainer Michael Stidham observing a happy and healthy Mystic Guide jogging alongside his pony at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.

Stidham said via text to BloodHorse on Sunday that Mystic Guide has "just returned to the track so we are a few weeks from his first official work and we will see how he's coming along before picking his first race back."

Back in October, Stidham told to BloodHorse that: "If everything goes perfectly, maybe we can get a race into him, and then maybe think about the World Cup again. It will all depend on him and how fast he gets himself fit and ready to run again."

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Mystic Guide made only three starts this year before his surgery, beginning with a win in the Razorback Handicap (G3) at Oaklawn Park as a springboard for his overseas venture to Dubai. At Meydan, the Godolphin homebred turned in the best performance of his career with a dominating 3 3/4-length victory.

The 4-year-old son of Ghostzapper   touts a record of 4-3-2 from nine starts and earnings of $7,593,200. As a 3-year-old, he earned his first graded stakes win in the Jim Dandy Stakes (G2) at Saratoga Race Course.