Juddmonte International Stakes (Group 1)

THE International Stakes is a relative newcomer to the racing calendar, being run first as the Benson & Hedges Gold Cup in 1972, but from the moment of its instigation, it has made an enormous impact in seeing champions crowned – and sometimes dethroned.

That first running, which saw Braulio Baeza and Roberto inflict the only defeat in the career of Brigadier Gerard, sent shockwaves through the sport which are still remembered today.

The 50th running of the International may have lacked that sensation, but it once again allowed a great racehorse to express his talent in full as 9/4 favourite Mishriff (John & Thady Gosden/David Egan) put defeats in the Eclipse and King George behind him by slamming his rivals by six lengths and more.

Alenquer (William Haggas/Tom Marquand) edged into second late on, denying Love (Aidan O’Brien/Ryan Moore) that spot by half a length. Just over two lengths separated second from sixth, but the winner was simply a class apart.

Given he is owned by Saudi Arabia’s Prince Faisal, it has been important that Mishriff has graced the country’s new King Abdulaziz racecourse in each of the last two seasons, but preparing him for a crack at the Saudi Derby in 2020 and the richly endowed Saudi Cup in February this year has given Gosden senior a real headache.

Peaking in February is not the way to ensure a profitable summer campaign, and Gosden has had to plan a campaign for his star which has enabled him to retain his form for the season’s big targets.

Short of fitness

As a result, the senior trainer blames himself for producing Mishriff short of fitness for the Eclipse in early July, and his performances since that disappointment have confirmed him to be even better than he looked a three-year-old.

Mishriff was beaten by a superior Derby winner in Adayar when contesting the King George, but he found the stiff mile and a half stretching his stamina there, and the evidence points to him being an even more potent force at 10 furlongs.

He comfortably held Love at Ascot, and increased his margin of superiority here, putting Aidan O’Brien’s dual classic winner in a limbo of sorts for now, while Alenquer’s excellent run in second merely underlines the strength of the current classic crop. His defeat of Adayar, Yibir and Lone Eagle in the Sandown Classic Trial is looking more and more significant as the season draws on. To think it left most of us scratching our heads at the time!

Enjoying his biggest win, jockey David Egan said afterwards: “I couldn’t believe how well I was travelling approaching the three-pole. I had it in the back of my mind how well he stays the mile and a quarter on a flat track. I got him in a nice rhythm, relaxed, that was the key and we were in the exact spot we wanted to be.

“He’s a real champion and I think he’s only getting better this season. To do what he has done is phenomenal and he’s a force to be reckoned with.

“This is my best day on the racetrack. The money doesn’t matter, it’s all about the horse and I’m delighted for him.”

The obvious next target for the winner of this race would be the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown, but John Gosden was keen to scotch that notion, explaining that Mishriff’s lengthy campaign means that he will again need to be let down after this, and brought to a peak for an autumn campaign which is likely to see him head to Del Mar for the Breeders’ Cup Turf.

It’s rather a shame that Gosden considers the Del Mar dirt track to be unsuitably sharp for Mishriff, as he is by far the most suitable candidate for the Breeders’ Cup Classic that Britain has produced over the years, being a proven dirt performer already.

It should be remembered that the current favourite for the Classic is Knicks Go, who was handed an eight-and-a-half-length drubbing when fourth behind Mishriff in the Saudi Cup, and Mishriff would be a warm order for the main prize, even in the US markets.