Kildare jockey David Egan wins richest race in the world



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Kildare rider David Egan took part in Mishriff’s journey to victory in the world’s most valuable race, the 20 million Saudi Cup in Riyadh.

The John Gosden-trained colt, owned by Prince Faisal, made his stamina noted throughout the nine stadiums after the two US heavyweights Charlatan and Knicks Go went head-to-head in the early stages.

Egan was able to stay on his heels as the large couple headed home.

Knicks Go walked away, leaving Mishriff to gradually reduce Charlatan’s lead and rise up in the final stages. Great Scotsman finished third.

Speaking after the race, Egan delightedly said: “I can’t believe it. He’s an absolute champion. He’s amazing.”

From his base in Newmarket, Gosden said: “It was a wonderful performance. He showed a lot of determination and courage and was able to keep up with the American horses. It was great.”

Now proven on both dirt and turf, having won the French Derby last year, Mishriff seems to have all the biggest races in the world open to him.

But Gosden was willing not to get carried away by future plans, adding: “One race at a time.”

Previously in Riyadh, Willie Mullins True to be broke the hearts of the Americans when Hollie Doyle made a tremendous late race to take the Neom Turf Cup.

The record-breaking British jockey produced True Self to bring longtime leader Channel Maker close to home and lift the £ 437,956 top prize.

Hollie Doyle after riding True Self to win the Neom Turf Cup during the 2021 Saudi Cup at King Abdulaziz Racecourse

Bill Mott’s Channel Maker, a close third on the Breeders’ Cup turf, looked like he had the race in the bag as he slid onto the field at the top of the straight after long outscoring the leader For The Top.

However, jockey Joel Rosario had not taken into account True Self’s abundant stamina, and the eight-year-old began to bridge the gap.

With Doyle on full blast, True Self turned away from Channel Maker to score by a length and a quarter. The pair were four and three-quarters behind Emirates Knight in third place.

The well-imagined Tilsit, trained by Charlie Hills, had a good starting position but was beaten away from home.

Blues space returned to action with victory after a six-month break with a narrow victory in the stc Turf Sprint.

Winner of four of his four summer starts, culminating in a first Group One success at the Prix Maurice de Gheest, the look of a five-year-old trained by Charlie Appleby is set for another lucrative campaign.

Krispen made the race early and was pressured by former Richard Hannon-trained Urban Icon, who set sail home on the straight.

Space Blues shrugged off his stablemate Glorious Journey, but he had to work hard for William Buick to catch Urban Icon and last year’s winner, Dark Power.

He managed it in the shadow of the post to score a comfortable shadow at the end of Dark Power, ridden by Frankie Dettori, with Urban Icon just behind in third place.



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