Crowley confidence in Mostahdaf undiminished ahead of breeders' cup

By Sam Turner
Jim Crowley believes dual Group 1 winner Mostahdaf boasts all the components required to make a glorious swansong at this weekend’s Breeders’ Cup at Santa Anita.
The son of Frankel is among the market leaders along with fellow European hope and Derby winner Auguste Rodin for the Grade 1 Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf and was handed stall nine when the draw for the 2400m feature was made on Monday evening in California.
Trained by John and Thady Gosden, Mostahdaf arrives in the States a fresh horse having not been seen since lifting the Group 1 Juddmonte Stakes at York in August under Frankie Dettori.

Connections wisely bypassed an engagement on Qipco Champions Day because of the worsening ground and Crowley, talking exclusively to Adiyat Racing Plus, believes that decision will have benefited his mount who has only made four calendar starts 
this year.
“He runs very well fresh and Mostahdaf is so straightforward and I think everything about Santa Anita will be perfect for him,” said Crowley, who missed the winning ride on the Knavesmire because of a suspension.
“Santa Anita is very similar to Riyadh when he won easily in Saudi Arabia, and everyone saw how impressive he was that day.”
Victory by seven lengths in the Neom Turf Cup back in February set up a fruitful campaign for the five-year-old who took his travels in his stride to run a blinder behind Equinox in a vintage renewal of the Longines Dubai Sheema Classic on World Cup night at Meydan. “His run in the Sheema Classic was very good,” continued Crowley.
“We have witnessed since the level that Equinox has reached. I think he's the best Japanese horse we have seen over in Dubai in many years. Mostahdaf ran well as he could, but Equinox is something else.”

Something else indeed, as was further showcased by Equinox’s truly dominant defence of his Tenno Sho title in Japan over the weekend, where he destroyed a talented field to win on the bridle.
Thankfully, for those with entries in this weekend’s Turf, there is no Equinox to contend with and Crowley is pleased his mount bypassed the deep ground of Ascot in preference for the sunnier climbs and faster conditions of California.  
“This horse absolutely loves quick ground, he loves to bounce off it,” he added. “I think everything about the race should suit him and I’m very hopeful of a huge run.”