Mishriff stepped up to Group 1 level with a strong win in Sunday’s Prix du Jockey-Club (2100m) at Chantilly.
Racing close to the lead in a moderately run race, Ioritz Mendizabal had to manoeuvre Mishriff into clear room halfway up the run in and the John Gosden-trained colt ran on well to defeat The Summit by a widening 1-3/4 lengths with Victor Ludorum a neck away third after a wide passage throughout.
A first-crop son of Poule d’Essai des Poulains winner Make Believe, Mishriff, named after famous Saudi horseman, Mishref bin Mutlaq, finished second in February’s Saudi Derby before proving best in a Listed contest at Newmarket over Victor Ludorum last time out.
Stewards posted an enquiry however, the result stood and Mendizabal was a relieved jockey.
“To put the race away in two strides like that, he must be a real star,” Mendizabal told the Racing Post.
“That’s a second Jockey Club after Vision D’Etat in 2008 and I must thank Prince Faisal and John Gosden for placing their trust in me. That is a big plus for a jockey and when I read Mr Gosden’s comments this morning that made me more confident.
“I was told and I saw on the videos of his races that he carries his head quite low and I just needed to gather him together halfway up the home straight. But when he picked up, he had it won in two strides.”