Mystic Guide confirmed for Dubai World Cup

Mystic Guide, who launched his 4-year-old season in smashing fashion winning the Razorback Handicap on Saturday at Oaklawn, will make his next start March 27 in the $12 million Dubai World Cup if all goes according to plan.

Trainer Mike Stidham said the decision to ship to Dubai was reached Tuesday afternoon during a conference between the trainer and representatives of the colt’s owner and breeder, Godolphin. Mystic Guide, a close second to Happy Saver in the Jockey Club Gold Cup, his final start at age 3, won the Razorback by six lengths as the 121-pound starting highweight, running 1 1/16 miles over a sloppy track in 1:44.33 and earning a career-best 108 Beyer Speed Figure.

Mystic Guide came out of the Razorback in excellent physical condition and since his trainer firmly believes races at nine or 10 furlongs suit him better than the Razorback distance, there’s no compelling reason not to go for the 1 1/4-mile World Cup.

“Our main goals here aren’t until late summer and fall, so we have plenty of time to get him back,” Stidham said.

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The news of Mystic Guide’s participation in the World Cup was followed a few hours later by an announcement that Mishriff, winner of the Saudi Cup, would race in the $5 million Sheema Classic on the World Cup card rather than in the World Cup itself. The Sheema Classic is contested at about 1 1/2 miles on turf, a longer distance than Mishriff, winner of the French Derby over 1 5/16 miles last summer, ever has raced. The decision regarding Mishriff has left Mystic Guide, by Ghostzapper out of Music Note, as the World Cup antepost favorite with British bookmakers.

Two other American horses aimed at the World Cup are Sleepy Eyes Todd, who was fifth last out in the Saudi Cup, and Tacitus, seventh in the same race. Both horses went on to Dubai for the World Cup following their trip to Saudi Arabia. Jesus’ Team, second by 2 3/4 lengths behind Knicks Go in the Pegasus World Cup, his most recent race, is expected to be shipped from his Florida base for the World Cup, while Title Ready, winner of the Louisiana Stakes on Jan. 16 in his last start, will join Mystic Guide on a long journey from Fair Grounds to Meydan Racecourse in Dubai.

Title Ready worked a bullet five furlongs in company with Louisiana Derby hopeful Starrininmydreams on Sunday at Fair Grounds, clocking 1:00 before galloping out six furlongs in 1:13.40, according to Dallas Stewart, who trains the horse for breeder Charles Fipke.

“He’s not a super-fast work horse – he’s just doing really good right now,” Stewart said.

Mystic Guide shipped from Fair Grounds to Oaklawn for the Razorback and returned to Stidham’s barn in New Orleans on Monday. He has yet to go back to the track but on Wednesday was to begin the vaccination program required of horses traveling from the U.S. to Dubai. Mystic Guide and Title Ready fly from New Orleans to Miami on March 15 and then on to Dubai on March 17. His major work will come at Fair Grounds but a blowout over the track at Meydan the week of the race seems likely.

Mystic Guide’s jockey situation for the World Cup is fluid, Stidham said. Luis Saez rode Mystic in the Razorback and would have the mount in Dubai, but he rides 2-year-old champ and Kentucky Derby favorite Essential Quality, another Godolphin homebred. Essential Quality could well start on April 3, the Saturday after the World Cup, and current COVID-19 restrictions on travelers returning from Dubai to America could prevent Saez from taking the mount that day.