Horse Racing Superstar Mishriff Favorite for Saturday’s Eclipse
Author:
Megan Butler
Mishriff, last seen in action when winning the ￡2.2 million Longines Dubai Sheema Classic, has just three rivals to beat in Saturday’s Coral Eclipse Stakes at Sandown Park. However, he is only a marginal favourite for the one-mile two-furlong contest as two of his opponents were impressive Group 1 winners on their most recent start.
Mishriff (left) won the Sheema Classic in Dubai ?Dubai Racing Club/Erika Rasmussen
Can the ￡10 Million Winner Be Eclipsed?
There may be only four runners, but Saturday’s Group 1 Coral Eclipse Stakes is a fascinating contest. Success in February’s Saudi Cup boosted Mishriff’s already impressive career earnings by an incredible ￡7.3 million meaning he is Europe’s all-time highest earning racehorse.
“We’ve been happy with him,” said Mishriff’s trainer John Gosden on Thursday. “He trained nicely into the Saudi Cup and then flew home. He had to train again for Sheema Classic. He showed his versatility having to do a mile and an eighth on the dirt and a mile and a half on the turf.
“The idea was to freshen him up and give him every possible chance to come back for our summer program. We are starting him off here in the Coral-Eclipse which had been our plan for a long time. I’ve been very happy with his preparation. He is not a horse I’ve taken away for a racecourse gallop as he has had enough travelling this year already.
You Can Expect Drama from All Four Runners
In 2020 Mishriff landed the French Derby by a length-and-three-quarters which is an identical winning margin to St Mark’s Basilica successful distance in the corresponding race this year. The Irish-trained St Mark’s Basilica is one of the trio lining up in opposition to Mishriff at the weekend.
As he is aged three, St Mark’s Basilica will receive a ten-pound weight advantage on Saturday which makes him an attractive betting proposition at Boylesports industry top-price of 7/4. However, form students will point out this four-time winner has only ever scored on soft going.
If the clash of French Derby winners from different generations is not mouth-watering enough, trainer William Haggas has allowed his Addeybb to take his chance in the ten-furlong race. This seven-year-old gelding was last seen in action in Australia where he took the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick for a second time.
Placed first or second in his last 11 starts, Addeybb won his first domestic Group 1 at Ascot in October and despite his advancing years, he still looks to be improving. The bookmakers agree, at 7/2 Betway offers the best odds on this contender.
The fourth and final entrant, El Drama, was 23 lengths behind St Mark’s Basilica in the French Derby. On that form, he has little chance, and the bookmakers agree making him a 25/1 shot. But his trainer, Roger Varian, rarely confuses his ducks for swans and this race has thrown up some big-priced winners in the past.
Red Letter Day for Haggas?
Coral sponsor all the races on Saturday’s eight-race Sandown Park card. Four contests are broadcast on ITV and all races will be streamed live on the best betting sites.
As well as Addeybb in the feature Coral Eclipse, trainer William Haggas has five other runners at the meeting. Judged by their prices, it would be a surprise if he did not have at least one winner.
Hurricane Ivor is the first Haggas runner of the day. He goes in the 1.15pm contest, the Coral ‘Beaten-By-A-Length’ Free Bet Handicap. The race is named in reference to the bookmaker’s popular concession. Montatahm is the narrow favourite for the trainer in the 2.15pm.
Aunty Bridy and Ready to Venture are both towards the top of the betting for Haggas in the 3pm. Wink Of An Eye, owned by HM Queen, is the final runner of the day for the Haggas stable. This three-year-old has won his last two starts.
With a 2021 strike rate of 25 per cent and a level-stake win unit on all Haggas trained three-year-old horses showing a 26-point profit, he might well be the trainer to follow on Saturday.
