Mishriff landed his first domestic Group One triumph with a brilliant performance in the Juddmonte International Stakes at York.
Winner of over £10.5million in prize money, mainly due to his wins in the Saudi Cup and the Dubai Sheema Classic, the John and Thady Gosden-trained four-year-old added another £567,000 to the kitty with a blistering six-length success in the extended 10-furlong showpiece.
Mishriff left the opposition standing in the closing stages under a confident ride by David Egan to execute a long-term plan by connections.
Alenquer was smartly away but the Jim Bolger-trained Mac Swiney took up the running once the field settled down with Love third and Mishriff just behind.
There was little change in the order until the long straight where Mishriff (9-4 favourite) cruised into contention.
Once let down by Egan, the Prince Faisal-owned colt drew away, scoring impressively from Alenquer. Aidan O'Brien's Love was half a length adrift in third.
Mishriff had previously finished third in the Eclipse at Sandown and second in the King George at Ascot, but John Gosden felt the colt had his optimum conditions on the Knavesmire.
He said: "His first run back, he'd been freshened since his winter campaign and he was a little full of himself and got tired, blew up if you like, in the last furlong. He ran a great race in the King George, probably stretching his stamina in that race, but it was a lovely race.
"This is his ground, good ground, and I think a mile and a quarter is perfect for him.
"He's had this strange year where he raced in a truncated season last year, then he raced in the winter and we gave him a holiday, now he's run in the middle of summer.
"If I'm going to go deep into the autumn, I've got to take a pull with him, freshen him again through September, then you could look at either the Arc or the Champion Stakes and then you have races like the Breeders' Cup and the Japan Cup.
"He's having to run in sort of segments with holidays in between."
WHAT A HORSE!
— York Racecourse (@yorkracecourse) August 18, 2021
🐎 Mishriff demolishes the opposition to land the Group 1 Juddmonte International Stakes in thrilling style for @DavidEgan99 and John & Thady Gosdon 👏@JuddmonteFarms pic.twitter.com/4bAD432pRQ
David Egan added: "I'm just so privileged to be put in the position to ride for (owner) Prince Faisal and ride a horse like Mishriff for Mr Gosden.
"Winning the Juddmonte International, it's stuff I've dreamt of my whole life.
"The Saudi Cup and the Sheema Classic were fantastic - and to win a Group One in the UK, especially the Juddmonte International with the Saudi Arabian connection for Prince Faisal, it's very, very special.
"This just proves he can do it overseas - and he can do it at home."
YIBIR is back to form, going from last to first to land the Group 2 @SkyBet Great Voltigeur Stakes under @the_doyler for Charlie Appleby and @godolphin 👏 pic.twitter.com/Vmrlyq5ekz
— York Racecourse (@yorkracecourse) August 18, 2021
Elsewher, Yibir bounced back from a disappointing run at Goodwood to land the Sky Bet Great Voltigeur Stakes.
The Dubawi gelding was the second string for Godolphin and trainer Charlie Appleby behind Kemari after finishing unplaced in the Gordon Stakes, but came out on top with an emphatic display in this Group Two over a mile and a half.
The Mediterranean, one of three runners for trainer Aidan O'Brien, set the pace and did not give up the lead without a fight but he finally had to give way to Yibir.
The 6-1 shot, who had won the Bahrain Trophy at Newmarket's July meeting, was produced by James Doyle to hit the front in the final furlong and pull away to score by a length and a quarter. The Mediterranean held on for second by half a length from Youth Spirit, who just held Sir Lucan for third spot.
The Mediterranean was cut to 10-1 from 33-1 for the Cazoo St Leger with Betfair. Yibir is not qualified to run at Doncaster as he is a gelding.
