Western Daily Press (Saturday)
Mishriff can deliver
THOSE that keep the faith with Mishriff can be rewarded in the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Qipco Stakes at Ascot.
He banished the memory of a particularly disappointing Saudi Cup run when pushing Vadeni all the way in the Eclipse earlier this month, eventually beaten a neck at the line.
The result does not tell the full story, either, as Mishriff could not find a clear passage when the race began in earnest, with the five-yearold fairly flying home when he got space to finish an unlucky runner-up in the ten-furlong showpiece.
Mishriff moves back up to a mile and a half here, having competed over the trip when finding Derby hero Adayar nearly two lengths too good in this race last year, giving away lumps of weight.
It does appear on first glance as though 12 furlongs is not his best distance, but it should also not be forgotten that he won the 2021 Sheema Classic over the distance, with two excellent Japanese runners filling the places behind him.
Mishriff is the highest-rated horse in the field and, while the likes of Westover and Emily Upjohn have any amount of improvement to come, and will be the ones in receipt of the allowances, John and Thady Gosden’s star older performer should have conditions in his favour and arrives on the back of a much better run than 12 months ago.
James Doyle takes over in the plate this time, which is certainly not a negative, and Mishriff can be relied upon to put up another good effort.
Stablemate Saga narrowly missed out in the Britannia at the Royal meeting and he can make it a double for the Gosden team in the Porsche Handicap, with Benoit De La Sayette taking off a valuable 5lb.
Meanwhile, Dark Shift struck handicap gold at the track last month and can follow up in the Moet & Chandon International Stakes. Charlie Hills’ runner has an excellent Ascot record, winning four of his six starts at the course, with his undoubted highlight the half-length victory he recorded in the Hunt Cup.
The handicapper has put him up 6lb for that victory but he was a cosy winner and looks sure to take even higher rank in due course.
Lezoo can make amends for an unlucky second at Newmarket on her most recent outing in the Princess Margaret Keeneland Stakes, while Novemba can make the most of a dip in class for the Group Three Valiant Stakes.