MISHRIFF THE MAESTRO
I’ve won the lottery, says Egan after colt’s scintillating triumph
GLOBETROTTING Mishriff has won David Egan around £1million in his winning percentages. But the 22-year-old jockey said landing his first Group One race in Britain on the colt topped everything as the duo turned yesterday’s Juddmonte International Stakes into a procession.
The contest was effectively over in a handful of strides as the colt, trained by John and Thady Gosden, strode into the lead three furlongs out and by the line Mishriff was six lengths clear of runner-up Alenquer.
Victory took the earnings of Mishriff, the 2020 French Derby winner who won the Saudi Cup in February and the Dubai Sheema Classic in March, to over £11million, £570,000 of it from yesterday at York.
Egan said: ‘I’ve won the lottery. This is my best-ever day on a racetrack. The money doesn’t matter, it’s all about the horse and Mishriff doing it on UK soil. He’s proved he can do it elsewhere but some people had doubts whether he could do it over here.
‘He’s a force to be reckoned with. This horse is everything to me and he’s going to make my career, hopefully. I was going so comfortably three out he took me to the front. He’s a real champion.’
After his overseas exploits earlier in the year, Mishriff was beaten by St Mark’s Basilica in the Eclipse Stakes at Sandown and Derby winner Adayar in the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot last month.
His was a collateral boost to the form of the season’s two outstanding three-year-old colts. But John Gosden had been adamant he was training Mishriff to peak again for the International Stakes.
The colt owned by Prince Faisal will be given a break again now before being brought back in the autumn for a programme which could include the Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe, Breeders’ Cup and Japan Cup.
With St Mark’s Basilica absent because an infection, the task for Mishriff was considerably easier.
Runner-up Alenquer ran well, looking like he would be suited by a step back up to a mile and a half, while his William Haggastrained stablemate Mohaafeth lost two places in the last furlong as he finished fourth. Haggas is likely to try dropping him back to a mile.
As for third-placed Love, she was tapped for toe. She is good but there is mounting evidence that she is not the world-beater she looked last season.
Charlie Appleby-trained Irish Derby winner Hurricane Lane is 5-4 favourite for the St Leger next month and there is not much chance of those odds expanding after stablemate Yibir beat The Mediterranean by a length and a quarter to win the Sky Bet Great Voltigeur Stakes, a traditional stepping stone to the final Classic of the Flat season.
Being a gelding, Yibir, who Appleby described as quirky, is ineligible for the Leger and his trainer has his immediate sights set on a trip to Belmont in the US for the Jockey Club Stakes.
Mark Johnston’s Royal Patronage is 25-1 for next year’s 2,000 Guineas after he crushed some big reputations in the Acomb Stakes under Jason Hart.