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The John Gosden trained Mishriff went one better than his second place finish in last year’s Saudi Derby when he caught Charlatan in the final 100m to win the $20 million Saudi Cup, the world’s most valuable race.
Ridden by the 21-year-old Irish jockey David Egan, he beat the Bob Baffert trained Charlatan by a length, with Great Scot finishing a further six-and-a-half lengths back in third.
Drawn wide, the four-year-old son of Make Believe got himself into a good position behind the leading pair of Charlatan and Knicks Go, who set a good pace. Launched in the final bend, Mishriff picked up the grey Knicks Go, who would eventually finish in fourth position, fairly easily and then went after Charlatan.
Big-race rider Mike Smith was hard at work on Charlatan but could do nothing against a determined Mishriff, who covered the 1,800m on the King Abdulaziz dirt track in 1:49.59.
Egan, who is the retained jockey of Prince Faisal, had not been able to partner the colt when he lifted the Prix du Jockey Club – the French Derby – in June last year, because of travel restrictions due to Covid-19 and was obviously delighted to win this important race. His father John Egan, himself an accomplished Group 1 winning jockey, was there to witness his son’s greatest success.
“Unbelievable. I’ve been dreaming all my life of winning a race like this. Obviously it is the highest thing I will win for a while now; the Saudi Cup is the richest race in the world. I’d like to thank Prince Faisal, Mr Gosden, all of his team, and Mishriff most of all. He’s the champion,” said David Egan.
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