Mishriff goes last to first in Sheema Classic

On dirt or turf, Mishriff has been unbeatable in the Middle East this year.

After winning the $20 million Saudi Cup at 1 1/8 miles on dirt in Saudi Arabia on Feb. 20, Mishriff won the second Group 1 race of his career on turf in Saturday’s $5 million Sheema Classic at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai.

Mishriff (who paid a surprising $14.70 in American pools) edged 3-2 favorite Chrono Genesis by a neck, with 19-1 Loves Only You finishing third in the field of nine. Loves Only You finished a half-length behind Mishriff.

Channel Maker, the Eclipse Award winner as the champion turf male of 2020 in the United States, set the pace, but faded to finish eighth.

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Mishriff, who started from the outside post, closed from last with a wide rally to reach contention in the stretch under jockey David Egan. Mishriff, Chrono Genesis and Loves Only You were separated by about a half-length with a quarter-mile remaining and by about a neck at the eighth-pole.

“The draw wasn’t ideal,” Egan said. “I was always going to take my time.”

Chrono Genesis and Loves Only You are both from Japan and were the only mares in the Sheema Classic field. They had every chance to pass Mishriff in the final furlong.

The Sheema Classic was the first start for Chrono Genesis since a win in the Grade 1 Arima Kinen at Nakayama Racecourse in December, a $5.5 million race at 1 9/16 miles that annually brings together one of the toughest fields of the year in Japan.

Mishriff won the longest race of his career in the Sheema Classic at 1 1/2 miles and gave Egan his first career win in a Group 1 race. Trained by John Gosden for Prince Abdul Rahman Al Faisal of Saudi Arabia, Mishriff won the Group 1 French Derby at 1 5/16 miles at Chantilly Racecourse last July when ridden by Ioritz Mendizabal.

Egan rides frequently for Faisal, but could not make the trip from England to France for the French Derby because of pandemic restrictions.

Egan rode Mishriff to a maiden race win at Nottingham Racecourse in England in November 2019 and to a second in the $1 million Saudi Derby on the 2020 Saudi Cup program

The win in the Sheema Classic left the 21-year-old Egan hopeful that Mishriff can win the leading turf marathon races in Europe this year.

“He’s the horse that will make my career,” Egan said.

“This is icing on the cake. After he won that mile-and-a-half race, hopefully we’ll have an exciting summer campaign in Europe.”

A 4-year-old Irish-bred colt by the Makfi stallion Make Believe, Mishriff has won 6 of 10 starts and has earned $13,947,445. He has earned $12,900,003 in the Saudi Cup and Sheema Classic wins.