Mishriff bids to become all-time leading prize-money earner in $20m Saudi Cup

Saturday: 5.35 Riyadh
Saudi Cup (Group 1) | 1m1f | 4yo+ | RTV/Sky

History awaits Mishriff in the third running of the $20 million Saudi Cup, where victory would make him the sport's leading prize-money earner of all time.

With a cool $10m (£7.5m/€9m) to the winner, a repeat Saudi Cup win would take him clear of global giants Winx, Arrogate and Almond Eye at the top of the money list and cement his legacy among Flat racing's greats.

While he may lack the sheer volume of Group 1 wins horses like Winx and Almond Eye accumulated during their racing careers, Mishriff has a rare versatility not commonly witnessed within a thoroughbred.

His three Group 1 wins have been achieved in three different countries, and last year's success in the Saudi Cup proved he can handle a dirt surface as well as turf. He has also won races from 1m½f to a mile and half.

Such was the strength of last year's Saudi Cup, this year's race becomes the first globally recognised Group 1 to ever take place in the Kingdom, and while Mishriff is trained in Newmarket by John and Thady Gosden, he races in the colours of Prince AA Faisal and is treated as one of their own in Saudi Arabia.

Standing in his way is a formidable line-up of some of the the world's best Flat horses, including US heavyweights Mandaloun, Art Collector, Midnight Bourbon and Country Grammer, Japanese duo TO Keynes and Marche Lorraine, Mishriff's Champion Stakes conqueror Sealiway and Godolphin's Real World in a field that would not look out of place at any major Flat racing carnival across the world.

Mishriff, who already has career earnings of £11m/€13m, will have to overcome stall 14 of 14 if he is to cement his legacy, but conquering adversity is something he is well versed in.

"The draw isn't ideal but last year he overcame stall 12 and hopefully he’ll jump well and get into a good place in the back stretch," said Thady Gosden. "He's still got all the same enthusiasm and comes here in good form. It's a very tough field and an improvement from last year in terms of quality, but he's proven over 1m1f on dirt to 1m4f on turf and his versatility is pretty uncommon."

Sealiway beat Mishriff by three and a quarter lengths on good to soft ground in the Champion Stakes at Ascot in October, but has never lined up on dirt before.

Trainer Francis Graffard, set to saddle Sealiway for the first time on Saturday, said: "He's moving well, which is exactly what I want to see. Stall 11 is not a bad draw and we have very good horses around us. It’s [jockey] Ryan Moore who will need to figure out what to do."

Few horses in the field are improving as rapidly as Real World, who has climbed the ranks from handicapper to Group 2 winner and steps up to the highest level for the first time in the Saudi Cup.

Delighted after drawing stall four for Real World, trainer Saeed bin Suroor said: "It's the first time I've chosen a good draw. I hope he can show his good turn of foot and I think he'll get the distance well."

2021 Kentucky Derby winner Mandaloun exercises at King Abdulaziz racetrack in RiyadhCredit: Edward Whitaker

Leading the US challenge is Mandaloun, who earlier this week was officially awarded the 2021 Kentucky Derby after the disqualification of first-past-the-post Medina Spirit. Like Mishriff, he has impressed with his appearance during morning trackwork this week and trainer Brad Cox appears confident of going three places better than former stable star Knicks Go achieved in the race last year.

"We've not been thinking too much about the Kentucky Derby and our focus right now is the Saudi Cup," said Cox. "The horse has settled in well and I really like what I see. He seems to be on it.

"We got a run into him five weeks ago, which was probably a better run than we expected, and he looks like he's taken a move forward."

On a card worth $31.5m (£23.5m/€28m) in prize-money there is no shortage of European interest, including Coronation Cup winner Pyledriver in the Group 3 Neom Turf Cup (12.45), Wokingham victor Rohaan in the Group 3 Turf Sprint (1.25) and top-level scorers Sonnyboyliston and Princess Zoe in the Longines Red Sea Turf Handicap (2.05).

More than 30 individual broadcasters will show the Saudi Cup meeting, distributing coverage to some 150 territories worldwide. Sky Sports Racing and Racing TV will provide coverage in Britain and Ireland, while broadcasters across Europe, North and South America, Africa and Asia will also screen the event.

Saudi Cup (5.35)

William Hill: 2 Mishriff, 10-3 Mandaloun, 11-2 TO Keynes, 13-2 Art Collector, 8 Midnight Bourbon, 10 Real World, Magny Cours, Country Grammar, 12 bar

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