ABSENCE SINCE OCTOBER NOT NEGATIVE FOR GOSDEN CONTENDER

Shadwell homebred Mostahdaf, a 5yo entire son of Frankel, will run in the Group 3 Neom Turf Cup, worth $1.5 million over an extended 1m2f on Saturday, 25 February. Mostahdaf has enjoyed a break since finishing last in the 1m4f Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at ParisLongchamp in France when the testing ground did not suit.

He had earlier recorded his third victory at Group Three level when successful in the September Stakes on Kempton’s all-weather track. Joint trainer Thady Gosden said: “Mostahdaf ran well throughout last year. He won the September Stakes at Kempton and the ground was very deep at Longchamp for the Arc de Triomphe. It rained a huge amount and he wasn’t in love with the ground at all.

'DROP IN TRIP SHOULD SUIT'

“This is a drop back down in distance and this race should suit him. He’s in good order. He always has a positive attitude and he’s been training well. “He always runs wells fresh, so going there without a prep run isn’t something you’d worry about.” The Gosdens, Thady and father John, have enjoyed great success at the Saudi Cup meeting.

Mishriff finished runner-up in the 2020 Saudi Derby in the event’s inaugural year and then returned 12 months later to win the $20 million Saudi Cup itself. Thady, then assistant to his father, was heavily involved in overseeing Mishriff’s preparation at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh. He was impressed with everything he saw in Saudi Arabia.

Gosden revealed: “The track is world class, as are the quarantine facilities. “The event has improved year on year. I was out there in the inaugural year with Mishriff running in the Saudi Derby and it was fantastic, but it’s improved even more since then. There’s a great atmosphere at the track and there’s a lot of culture to see in Saudi, it’s always very interesting.

“It’s obviously a meeting everyone wants to have runners at. The prize money is exceptional and it fits into the calendar very well with the major racing in Dubai the following month. “For horses coming from Britain it’s not the most straightforward preparation as it’s obviously winter here. We can’t train the horses on the grass, it’s all on the all-weather gallops, so it’s not simple but it can be done.”