'The Arc is definitely in the discussion' - Mishriff connections mull options

Mishriff, who has crept largely under the radar into the pecking order of Europe's top three-year-olds, is set to test exactly how highly he ranks in the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe or Qipco Champion Stakes.

Trained by John Gosden, Mishriff began his 2020 campaign by finishing second in Saudi Arabia in February and then won the Listed Newmarket Stakes in June.

He followed up last month in the Prix du Jockey Club and impressed again in the Prix Guillaume d'Ornano at Deauville under Frankie Dettori last week.

That led some to view him as a dark horse for the Arc, for which he is priced at 14-1 with Sky Bet and William Hill, although Betfred are a more conservative 10-1.

Watch Mishriff win at Newmarket in June

Owner-breeder Prince Faisal's racing manager Ted Voute said: "There's [miler] Palace Pier and Love, who is probably the best three-year-old, but he's up there anyhow.

"He does look pretty handy and has got that great turn of foot, which not every horse has.

"He's not in the Arc, so we'd have to supplement. We've talked about all kinds of scenarios and whether we wait until next year to go for the Arc and work backwards from it, or the Champion Stakes. We'll give ourselves a bit of time to reflect and then see what we do.

"The Arc's definitely in the discussion and Frankie said not to rule it out, while John said he thinks it's worthy of a strong discussion."

Frankie Dettori after winning on Mishriff last weekCredit: Racing Post / Scott Burton

The Saudi Cup, the world's richest race, could also be an aim next year for Mishriff.

"As he's been on the go for such a long time I think we'll either coast into the Arc or Champion," Voute added.

"He won in November and was then still going over the winter of sorts to get to Saudi in February. Each time, apart from Newmarket, he's travelled.

"He's a lovely stamp of a horse, nice and scopey, and looking like he should be in training next year, but, again, that's something else the Prince has to think about. He just wants to enjoy things for a bit before he starts making big stallion decisions.

"It's nice for him to keep the advert [for sire Make Believe] out there. Prince Faisal has bred three generations of the family all the way back to Rafha, Invincible Spirit and Kodiac. Mishriff should make a good stallion as he's got all that speed in his pedigree and is by a sire line that's really coming to the fore."

Thursday's Yorkshire Oaks winner Love is the 9-4 Arc favourite, while Mishriff's stablemate Enable, who won the race in 2017 and 2018 and was heartbreakingly denied a record third triumph last year, is 3-1 – half the price of impressive International Stakes winner Ghaiyyath, who beat Enable in the Eclipse.

More to read:

O'Brien hails Love the finest filly he has trained as she takes Arc favouritism

'All about the Arc' as John Gosden explains decision to bypass York with Enable

Dettori happy to wait out the week in France ahead of Morny bid and quarantine

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