Mishriff is reported to be bigger and stronger by joint-trainer Thady Gosden as the star five-year-old prepares to defend his $20m Saudi Cup crown.
Gosden oversaw his preparation for the world’s most valuable race 12 months ago and he officially joined his father John on the training licence soon after the historic defeat of top-class American hope Charlatan.
Mishriff, owned by His Royal Highness Prince A A Faisal, went on to win the Group 1 Juddmonte International at York last summer by an impressive six lengths.
If he wins the Group 1 Saudi Cup – run at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh on Saturday 26 February – he will become the highest-earning horse of all time.
Gosden said: “He’s a year older, he’s done a bit of growing so he’s a little bigger. He’s got a great athletic physique and he’s definitely strengthened a bit from last year.
“He’s a little flamboyant on occasions but he’s very tough. He’s incredibly versatile and he travels very well, he makes it all look quite easy. He’s been training well.”
The defending champion is likely to face another strong American challenge in the shape of Mandaloun and Midnight Bourbon, but Gosden believes the track is well suited to the European raiders.
He said: “The one turn makes a big difference, the longer straight is especially an advantage to the European horses.
“The American horses are used to using a lot of speed to get forward and then having a short straight to get home in.
“The surface is also a bit kinder – the kickback is not as bad. It rides a bit softer, a bit fluffier – it’s a brilliant track.
“The Saudi Cup has obviously become a huge meeting on the international racing circuit. Everything runs very smoothly – the quarantine facilities are top class, the track is top class and we have no concerns with taking any horse out there.
“It’s definitely something that will become a fixture for us if we have the right horses.”
The Gosden father-and-son training partnership could also be represented by Lord North in the Neom Turf Cup presented by Jahez. He could line up for the $1.5million Group 3 contest, run over 2100m, on his first run since landing the Dubai Turf at Meydan in March.
Gosden added: “He had a bit of an issue so, being a horse of his calibre, we gave him all the time he needed. He’s bouncing around the place now and I think he’s pretty determined to get out there.”
Fellow British joint-trainers William Muir and Chris Grassick have opted for the Neom Turf Cup presented by Jahez for their stable star Pyledriver. They had also received an invitation to run in The Saudi Cup.
After watching Pyledriver work around Kempton on Tuesday morning, Muir revealed he thought the 2100m contest would suit the Group 1 Hong Kong Vase runner-up better.
He said: “We brought Pyledriver to Kempton to let him have a blow over the surface, so he’s covering the distance.
“It was just getting him away from home for something different, a change of scenery to perk him up and keep him in good shape.
“Martin (Dwyer) got off him and said he’s been riding horses all winter and to get on one like Pyledriver around there it felt like they broke the track record.
“I’ve got the others in the family and they all get stronger and stronger. He looks a monster now.
“He’s strong and where he should be. I think this horse has everything in front of him – he’s now at his peak so you’ll see him at his best this year.”
The Lambourn-based trainer is expecting last year’s Group 1 Coronation Cup hero to have improved for his Hong Kong experience last December and regular rider Dwyer will fly out to partner him again.
Muir added: “It was his first time out of this country. He never worried about anything but everyone said once he’s done it once he’ll thrive on it.
“It was just a few things we picked up from the boys that do it all the time, the little tips that help.”