Mishriff in good shape but will miss return trip to Dubai after Saudi Cup defeat

Saudi Cup disappointment Mishriff was back trotting at John and Thady Gosden's yard in Newmarket on Wednesday showing no physical reasons for his poor showing in last Saturday's $20 million showpiece.

The five-year-old was drawn widest of all in stall 14 when attempting to land successive victories in the race, but was a spent force turning for home and allowed to come home in his own time a long way behind local runner Emblem Road.

Together with the rest of the British contingent, Mishriff arrived back from Saudi Arabia on Monday and has since been checked over, but one factor against him in last Saturday's race may well have been a harder early pace than a year ago.

John Gosden: 'Mishriff got a mouthful of dirt turning for home and it was game over'Credit: Edward Whitaker

John Gosden said: "They went so hard early in the race on Saturday that I think some of the jockeys thought the winning post was down the back straight.

"It didn't help that Mishriff got a mouthful of dirt turning for home and it was game over for him. He seems fresh and well this morning and will be back to fight another day."

A year ago, Mishriff used the Saudi Cup as a springboard to further glory in the Group 1 Dubai Sheema Classic at Meydan on World Cup night, but he will miss the $6m contest this year.

Gosden said: "I'd be less inclined to take Mishriff back out to Dubai in a few weeks' time after his performance at the weekend and it may be better to wait with him."

Also in Riyadh at the weekend was Ted Voute, racing manager for Mishriff's owner Prince Faisal.

He said of the Saudi Cup defeat: "Mishriff just didn't run his race but the dirt surface did look different this year.

"Last year a lot of European horses performed well on that track, but not a single one of them ran any good on it this year.

"It definitely seemed different and the kickback was definitely different. Whether there was more sand in it I don't know, but the jockeys were coming back plastered in it, which I don't remember happening last year."

Read more international news:

'What dreams are made of' – Burrows eyes emotional Sheema Classic win with Hukum

'We'll definitely go there' – Barberot keen on Newcastle foray for Fast Raaj

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