Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}), the globetrotting winner of this year's G1 Juddmonte International, G1 Dubai Sheema Classic and Saudi Cup, will put a pause on his travels and miss the Breeders' Cup at Del Mar. Trainer John Gosden told Daily Racing Form that the world's joint highest-rated horse needed “a little bit of a rest” after finishing fourth in last weekend's G1 Champion S. at Ascot.
“You need to be 100% happy that you're doing the right thing,” Gosden told that publication. “He's been a pretty busy boy.”
The 4-year-old Mishriff races as a homebred for Prince Faisal. He also won last year's G1 Prix du Jockey Club. Ted Voute, Prince Faisal's racing manager, said that Mishriff is likely to stay in training for a 5-year-old campaign, with a repeat in the Saudi Cup the first key target.
“The Prince has said that unless a huge offer comes in for him to go to stud–and I think the likelihood of that is pretty slim at this stage of the year with all the marketing that's required–then he will be back next year. In fairness to John, up until he won the Juddmonte, he was always of the opinion that Del Mar might be a bit sharp for a big horse like him. He thinks we should follow the same route as last year by freshening him up after the Champion before heading back to the Saudi Cup; that's the target. Although he's had a bit of time between his races this season, he has been on the go since February. John said we'll aim for the same races in Europe again, although whether he ends up in the Champion S. or the Arc, we'll have to see.”
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