Star horse Mostahdaf set Breeders' Cup alternative with Irish Champion mission ruled out
Only in the event of an exceptionally dry autumn would Juddmonte International winner Mostahdaf run again in Europe this year, according to racing manager Angus Gold
Mostahdaf, who put an end to Paddington's winning run in the Juddmonte International, may have run his last race in Europe this year and could be heading to the Breeders’ Cup.
The five-year-old has been ruled out of the Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes, a week on Saturday, and would only line up in the Qipco Champion Stakes at Ascot in the event of an unexpectedly dry autumn.
The Breeders’ Cup Turf, over a mile and a half, might be the best alternative option with Group 2 winner Alflaila set to represent the Shadwell operation at Leopardstown next weekend in place of Mostahdaf, according to racing manager Angus Gold.
“Mostahdaf is not going to go to the Irish Champion,” he said. “The race is too soon.
“The only option here is the Champion Stakes if we happen to get an Indian summer and a dry autumn, which is highly unlikely.
“If that’s the case I would imagine if we are going anywhere it would be the Breeders’ Cup Turf.”
Under a masterful frontrunning ride from Frankie Dettori, Mostahdaf beat stablemate Nashwa by a length with Paddington a neck back in third at York.
Gold went on, “I haven’t discussed anything with John Gosden since the race but as has been well documented we think he is a horse who is better fresh.
“He had a hard race the other day, he had to to win it, and that would have been rushing him back to get him to Ireland. Hopefully we are going to supplement Alflaila.
“He won well the other day and if we hadn’t had Mostafdaf we would probably have run him in the Juddmonte, but obviously there was no point taking on the one with the other.
“We’ve saved him and as long as they are happy with the horse and Sheikha Hissa is happy, we will supplement him for Ireland.”
Alflaila, who won the Sky Bet York Stakes last time out, is an 8-1 chance in Coral's Irish Champion Stakes betting which is headed by Derby winner Auguste Rodin on 11-4.
Shadwell still have much to look forward to this year with King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes winner Hukum among the favourites for the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.
However the Owen Burrrows' stable’s other Group 1 winner Anmaat, who had to be scratched from the Eclipse Stakes due to a setback, is out for the rest of the year.
