FRANKIE’S MISH-ION
Mishriff set to give Dettori and Gosden third Champion Stakes win in four years
MISHRIFF (nap) has plenty going for him as he bids to deny Magical back-to-back victories in the QIPCO Champion Stakes (3.40) on British Champions Day at Ascot.
After a return-to-action second in the Saudi Derby at Riyadh in February, the John Gosden-trained son of Make Believe lifted the Listed Newmarket Stakes at the rescheduled Guineas Festival at the start of June.
The top-level Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly the following month represented a big step up in class, but Mishriff proved up to the job with a length-and-threequarter call over The Summit.
Last time out, Frankie Dettori’s mount proved he can produce his best on heavy ground with a widemargin score in the Group 2 Prix Guil laume d’Ornano at Deauville.
Mishriff still has untapped potential to draw upon, and can give Gosden and Dettori a third Champion Stakes in the last four years.
July Cup hero OXTED is the value alternative to favourite Dream Of Dreams in the Group 1 British Champions Sprint Stakes (1.55).
The son of Mayson gave Roger Teal and Cieren Fallon the biggest win of their careers so far when holding off the ill-fated Sceptical by a length and a quarter on the July Festival 14 weeks ago.
Teal pulled Oxted (below) out of Haydock’s Sprint Cup after a lacklustre workout.
But the Lambourn trainer reports his stable star back in rude health after a routine operation to remove a throat ulcer and Oxted’s soft-ground pedigree suggests the prevailing conditions will be a help rather than a hindrance.
The rain- softened terrain represents a definite plus for WONDERFUL TONIGHT, who seeks to give trainer David Menuisier a first British Group 1 triumph in the British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes (2.30).
Will Buick’s mount finished behind this afternoon’s rivals Dame Mal liot ( third) and Laburnum ( fourth) when fifth in the Group 1 Prix Vermeille at Longchamp in mid-September.
But Wonderful Tonight found a personal best to capture the toptier Prix de Royallieu a fortnight ago and has more to offer.
Stradivarius heads the market for the British Champions Long Distance Cup ( 1.20), but the preference is for SEARCH FOR A SONG, who has won the past two runnings in the Irish St Leger.
And the way Search For A Song powered clear of Fujaira Prince by two lengths at the Curragh for the latter success makes her a prime candidate to shine now that she tackles two miles for the first time.
After a luckless fifth behind Matthew Flinders at Doncaster’s St Leger meeting on his most recent start, KING OTTOKAR gets the vote for the concluding Balmoral Handicap (4.15).
Give underfoot holds no terrors for the son of Motivator, and the handicapper has chipped in by dropping the Charlie Fellowes trainee 2lb to a mark of 100.