Multiple Group 1 winners Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}) and Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {GB}) are adapting well to Lexington in advance of their Breeders' Cup engagements on Saturday at Keeneland, according to trainer John Gosden. Aiming for the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Turf, the Prince Faisal colourbearer has won three times at the highest level in France, Dubai and the UK. Mishriff enters off a 13th in deep ground in the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. Frankie Dettori was aboard Mishriff, while Hollie Doyle was in the irons for Imad Al Sagar's Nashwa.
John Gosden, who trains with his son Thady, said, “They've travelled well, eaten up and are drinking well and in that sense I couldn't be more pleased. They were playful on the track this morning; they jogged and then had a solid canter.
“Mishriff is a horse that has suffered from the deep, heavy ground that you get at the end of the year. He tried hard in the Arc, but he couldn't go on that ground and it will be different here, because we will have fast going which is what he wants.
“Frankie [Dettori] has been in my ear about coming here all year, as he thinks a mile and a half on an easy track will suit the horse. I am bit concerned what will happen if he is slowly away, should that happen he could pay the price but he has broken well in his last two starts.
“I thought the one race that got away from him was the Eclipse, where if he'd got the rub of the green he would have won. I was happy with his run in the Irish Champion where he was a little adrift of his field, but look he's a tough cookie and a 5-year-old full horse with a good appetite for the game. He loves travelling and he loves new environments, remember he's been to Saudi three times.”
After running third in the G1 Cazoo Oaks in early June, Nashwa secured Classic laurels with a score in the G1 Prix de Diane at Chantilly later that month and also came home first in Goodwood's G1 Nassau S. in July. She ran a very good second after just failing to last in the G1 Prix de l'Opera on Arc Day most recently on Oct. 2. She is one of a dozen fillies and mares signed on for the GI Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf.
“I'm also very happy with Nashwa, with whom we made the decision after the Diane to wait and give her a holiday before the Nassau and then a gap to the Opera, in which she ran a good race from a horrible draw,” he said. “She's in good form, looks great in her coat and has Hollie on board who is the first lady rider to win a [European] Classic and a very talented horsewoman who reminds me of Julie Krone with that massive determination.”
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