Mishriff will get a battle from Adayar in Champion Stakes
A start Saturday at Ascot Racecourse has been an autumn goal for Mishriff since the beginning of his 2021 campaign. For Adayar, this race came into focus less than two weeks ago, but it’s Adayar who could prove the strongest threat to Mishriff in the Group 1, $1.64 million Champion Stakes.
The 1 1/4-mile Champion headlines British Champions Day, and while the Champion itself is an excellent race, the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, featuring Palace Pier and Baaeed, looks equally compelling. Also carded are the Group 1 Fillies and Mares, the Group 1 Sprint, and the Group 2 Long Distance Cup.
“Soft” and “heavy” are the typical designations for European racecourse conditions this time of year, and British Champions Day has been conducted under sodden conditions in recent years, but the Ascot course this year is called “good to soft,” good news for fans of truly run, high-level racing like this but bad news for Addeybb, a good second to Magical in the 2019 Champion and victorious over a boggy course in 2020. Trainer William Haggas readily concedes the going likely won’t be soft enough to hit Addeybb’s sweet spot, but these conditions should suit the two Champion favorites.
Adayar already has defeated Mishriff this year, but the forces propelling that win in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes have shifted for Saturday’s contest.
The July 24 King George was contested over 1 1/2 miles and 3-year-old Adayar got a 10-pound weight break from 4-year-old Mishriff. The spread is down to four on Saturday, and Mishriff probably wasn’t at his very best in the King George, run at a distance Mishriff can handle but perhaps not as favorable for the colt as 1 1/4 miles.
Mishriff started his campaign early, beating Charaltan and Knicks Go among others in the $20 million Saudi Cup at 1 1/8 miles on dirt before capturing the Sheema Classic at Meydan over 1 1/2 miles on grass, a demonstrative show of Mishriff’s class and versatility. Back in England, Mishriff appeared to show the effects of his late-winter and early spring international endeavors when a soundly beaten third July 3 in the 1 1/4-mile Eclipse Stakes, but after taking a step forward in the King George, Mishriff got back to peak performance winning the International Stakes over about 1 5/16 miles at York on Aug. 18 by six lengths over the very capable Alenquer.
Co-trainers John and Thady Gosden eased back on their charge, a son of Make Believe owned by Prince A A Faisal, awaiting what is supposed to be an ambitious fall and winter campaign that begins Saturday at Ascot.
But no one should count out Adayar, hero of the 2021 Derby at Epsom, which he won by 4 1/2 lengths, a minor upset wholly validated by Adayar’s thumping of Mishriff in the King George. A good-feeling Frankel colt trained by Charlie Appleby for Godolphin, Adayar was supposed to prep for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in the Prix Niel but had to miss that start with a very minor physical issue, which turned out to be costly.
Adayar wouldn’t properly settle in the early stages of the Arc, with jockey William Buick allowing Adayar to bull his way to the front after the first 1 1/2 furlongs. Adayar led to midstretch before giving way, the layoff and his early exertions taking their toll over a heavy, demanding course. Adayar should settle better Saturday and goes well over firmer footing but must still show he can run as well over 1 1/4 miles as he has over 1 1/2 miles.
Haggas entered two others, longshot Al Aasy and the dangerous Dubai Honor, unproven in top-level races but a winner of three straight, including a sharp score Oct. 2 in the Prix Dollar.
First post for the Ascot card is 8:25 a.m. Eastern with the Champion set for 10.50. You can get in on all the action at DRFBets. com.
Champions Sprint
If you follow early fixed-odds betting with English bookmakers, you’d have to believe win contenders abound in the 20-runner Champions Sprint over a straight six furlongs.
As of Thursday five horses were priced between 4-1 and 6-1 with the bookies, Dragon Symbol being the tepid favorite at a general 4-1. Three-year-old Dragon Symbol beat the American filly Campanelle over a straight six furlongs in the Commonwealth at Royal Ascot, only to be disqualified for interference. He then was an excellent second of 19, beaten only by the subsequently retired crack older sprinter Starman, in the six-furlong July Cup at Newmarket.
Dragon Symbol since has taken three good losses, but all were five-furlong starts, short of his optimal trip.
The other shorter prices are Art Power, Mizaal, Rohan, and Creative Force. Glen Shiel won the 2019 Sprint over a much softer course and on Thursday was priced at about 15-1 for his try on better ground Saturday.