Daily Racing Form National Digital Edition
Mishriff will take a pass on trip for Breeeders’ Cup
Mishriff, winner of three Group 1 races in Europe and the Middle East this year, will not start in the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Del Mar on Nov. 6. Trainer John Gosden said on Thursday that Mishriff is in need “of a little bit of a rest.”
“You need to be 100 percent happy that you’re doing the right thing,” Gosden said. “He’s been a pretty busy boy.”
Mishriff was rated as a leading contender for the BC Turf at 1 1/2 miles, a role that now firmly belongs to Tarnawa, who won the 2020 BC Turf at Keeneland. Tarnawa was second in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp Racecourse in Paris on Oct. 3.
Gosden said Mishriff may stay in training in 2022 with the Breeders’ Cup Classic on dirt at Keeneland next fall as a longrange goal.
Owned by Abdul Rahman al Faisal, Mishriff won 3 of 6 starts this year. The wins were in Group 1 races, including the $20 million Saudi Cup on dirt in February, the $5 million Sheema Classic on turf in Dubai in March, and the $1.37 million Juddmonte International Stakes at York Racecourse in England in August.
In his final start of 2021, Mishriff, 4, was fourth in the Group 1 Champion Stakes at Ascot Racecourse in England on Oct. 16. Gosden said earlier this week that Mishriff was not suited to the good-to-soft turf conditions at Ascot.
Godolphin streaks into BC
Led by three recent North American stakes winners, Sheikh Mohammed’s Godolphin Racing plans to send six horses to Breeders’ Cup races on Nov. 5-6 at Del Mar. Trainer Charlie Appleby said Thursday that Godolphin will be represented with two runners in the BC Turf, Juvenile Turf, and Mile.
Yibir, winner of the Jockey Club Derby on Sept. 18 at Belmont Park in his U.S. debut, and Walton Street, who won the Grade 1 Canadian International on Sept. 18 at Woodbine in his first start on this continent, will run in the BC Turf at 1 1/2 miles.
Albahr, winner of the Grade 1 Summer Stakes on Sept. 19 at Woodbine, and Modern Games, winner of the Group 3 Somerville Stakes at Newmarket Racecourse in England, give Godolphin two recent stakes winners for the Juvenile Turf.
Space Blues is rated as the leading contender for the Mile on the basis of a win in the Group 1 Prix de la Foret at seven furlongs at Longchamp Racecourse in Paris on Oct. 3. Master of The Seas, second by a nose in the Group 1 English 2000 Guineas at Newmarket in May on good-to-firm turf, will get firm conditions at Del Mar. Master of The Seas was seventh in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at a mile on goodto-soft turf on Oct. 16 at Ascot.
The powerful stable does not plan to send the 2-year-old filly Wild Beauty for the Juvenile Fillies Turf. Wild Beauty won the Grade 1 Natalma Stakes on Sept. 19 at Woodbine.
Yibir earned a fees-paid berth with his win at Belmont Park, the gelding’s fifth win in 11 starts. Yibir won the Group 2 Great Voltigeur Stakes at 1 1/2 miles for 3-yearolds on Aug. 18 at York Racecourse in his most recent start in England.
Appleby said the trip to New York was invaluable experience for Yibir.
“He’s traveled and he has some good form in Europe and what he did at Belmont,” Appleby said.
Walton Street, 7, has won 7 of 19 starts and is in the midst of his best year, having won 3 of 5 starts. In the Canadian International, Walton Street stalked the pace and pulled clear to win by 5 3/4 lengths as the 4-5 favorite. He earned a 110 Beyer Speed
Figure, the top number on turf in North America this year.
“He’s doing well,” Appleby said. “We’re not expecting to find a lot of improvement at his age. He sees the trip well.
Godolphin Racing had a successful Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar in 2017. Appleby won the Filly and Mare Turf with Wuheida, while Talismanic won the BC Turf for French trainer Andre Fabre.
Kiss Today Goodbye nears return
Kiss Today Goodbye, winner of the Grade 2 San Antonio Stakes at Santa Anita last December but winless in three starts this year, is nearing a comeback.
Trainer Eric Kruljac said the 4-year-old Kiss Today Goodbye is a candidate for the Grade 3 Native Diver Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on Nov. 20 at Del Mar. Kiss Today Goodbye has not raced since he finished last of eight in the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap at 1 1/16 miles at Del Mar in July.
In recent weeks, Kiss Today Goodbye has shown a steady record of workouts in the infield training track at Del Mar. Owned by John Sondereker, Kiss Today Goodbye is a closer but one who needs to run wide.
“He has to have a perfect trip,” Kruljac said. “He won’t run into kick back. When things go his way, he fits.”