New Gosden partnership chases success in Doncaster and Dubai
Halfway through his first weekend on the nameplate above Clarehaven Stables, Thady Gosden, who has joined his father John as a joint licence holder, could well have a Group One and heritage handicap on his curriculum vitae. Nothing like starting as you mean to go on.
There is no greater harbinger of spring than the start of the British Turf season at Doncaster and the Unibet Lincoln Handicap, in which Gosden and Son run Haqeeqy, winner of three of his four starts last season.
The gelding’s big advantage appears to be the 7lb claim of Benoit De La Sayette, the apprentice find of the winter. But, in the international world racing now inhabits, Doncaster comes a pretty poor third to Meydan, where untold riches are on offer on Dubai World Cup night, and Sydney, where in the early hours the William Haggas-trained, Tom Marquand-ridden Addeybb was trying to win the Ranvet Stakes, worth £226,000 to the winner, at Rosehill for the second year running.
When Enable retired to the paddocks, the Gosdens might have wondered what would replace her and French Derby winner Mishriff has already done that, certainly from a financial point of view, by winning the Saudi Cup on dirt. Today he could take his earnings to almost £10million should he win the Dubai Sheema Classic.
He has already proved himself versatile with regard to the surface and today, over a mile and a half, he must prove a degree of flexibility in distance; it is his first attempt at the trip. But he gets a mile and a quarter well in testing ground and should have the stamina to see off Japanese runner Chrono Genesis and Aidan O’brien’s Mogul.
The Dubai World Cup, worth £5.25 million to the winner, does not boast too much British interest other than the Saeed bin Suroortrained Gifts Of Gold. Frankie Dettori rides the Saudi-trained Great Scot. William Buick may have the best chance on Andre Fabre’s Magny Cours. Godolphin’s Us-trained Mystic Guide is likely to start favourite.