Breeders' Cup could be next big target for Dubai World Cup winner Mystic Guide

Godolphin colt stormed to an impressive triumph in $12m Meydan flagship

Luis Saez celebrates his Dubai World Cup win on Mystic Guide. Pawan Singh / The National

Luis Saez celebrates his Dubai World Cup win on Mystic Guide. Pawan Singh / The National

Mystic Guide ridden by Luis Saez in action during the 4:50 Dubai World Cup. REUTERS

Mystic Guide ridden by Luis Saez in action during the 4:50 Dubai World Cup. REUTERS

Luis Saez celebrates winning the Dubai World Cup on Mystic Guide. REUTERS

Jockey David Egan on Mishriff from Ireland (L) on their way winning the Longines Dubai Sheema Classic race at the Dubai World Cup in Dubai. EPA

Mishriff, ridden by David Egan, won the Longines Dubai Sheema Classic. Pawan Singh / The National

Mishriff, ridden by David Egan, won the Longines Dubai Sheema Classic. Pawan Singh / The National

Lord North, ridden by Frankie Dettori, won the Dubai Turf. Pawan Singh / The National

Lord North, ridden by Frankie Dettori, won the Dubai Turf. Pawan Singh / The National

Rebel's Romance, ridden by William Buick, won the Dubai Turf. Pawan Singh / The National

Frankie Dettori riding Lord North wins the Dubai Turf during Dubai World Cup at the Meydan Racecourse in Dubai, United Arab Emirates .Getty Images

Lord North ridden by Frankie Dettori in action during the Dubai Turf. Reuters

Zenden ridden by Antonio Fresu in action during the Dubai Golden Shaheen. Reuters

Antonio Fresu dismounts Zenden after ridding in the Dubai Golden Shaheen. Reuters

Jockey Antonio Fresu on Zenden from the USA (R) win the Dubai Golden Shaheen race at the Dubai World Cup in Dubai. EPA

Ryan Moore riding Extravagant Kid wins the Al Quoz Sprint during Dubai World Cup at the Meydan Racecourse in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

Extravagant Kid ridden by Ryan Moore in action in Al Quoz Sprint. Reuters

Ryan Moore riding Extravagant Kid wins the Al Quoz Sprint during Dubai World Cup at the Meydan Racecourse in Dubai. Getty

Jockey Joseph Fanning (R) on Subjectivist from Great Britain on their way winning the Dubai Gold Cup race at the Dubai World Cup in Dubai. EPA

Jockey Joseph Fanning (R) on Subjectivist from Great Britain on their way winning the Dubai Gold Cup race at the Dubai World Cup in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

Jockey Tadhg O'Shea on Secret Ambition celebrates after winning the Godolphin Mile at the Dubai World Cup. EPA

Tadhg O'Shea on his way to victory on Secret Ambition in the Godolphin Mile. Getty

Deryan, ridden by Loritz Mendizabal, wins the Dubai Kahayla Classic during the Dubai World Cup at Meydan Racecourse. Pawan Singh / The National

Loritz Mendizabal after guiding Deryan to victory at the Dubai World Cup. Pawan Singh / The National

Action from the Dubai Kahayla Classic. Getty

Runners and riders in the Dubai Kahayla Classic. Reuters

The Dubai World Cup trophy is brought out at Meydan Racecourse on the big day. Chris Whiteoak / The National

The trophy for the Godolphin Mile at the Dubai World Cup at Meydan Racecourse. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Racegoers arrive at the Dubai World Cup at Meydan Racecourse. Chris Whiteoak / The National

The Breeders' Cup in November and a Dubai World Cup defence may be on the agenda for Mystic Guide, the prolific winner of the silver jubilee edition of the flagship race at Meydan.

The lightly raced colt from Godolphin's American operation started the $12 million contest as the favourite and lived up to top billing by coming home a convincing winner on Saturday.

It was also the first Group 1 success for the Michael Stidham-trained runner under Luis Saez, taking his record to four wins in eight starts, and either second or third in the other four.

“We don’t have any race picked out yet but there will be many opportunities in New York and Saratoga, but hopefully, if he’s doing well the Breeders' Cup at the end of the year,” Stidham said.

“If he’s doing well, we will be very keen, we would love it,” he said when asked if Mystic Guide would return to defend his crown in 12 months' time. “I’ll know the lay of the land a little better next time."

Godolphin's Thunder Snow. trained by Saeed bin Suroor. is the only horse to win the Dubai World Cup twice when he landed the prize in 2018 and 2019. Mystic Guide can emulate that feat for a four-year-old if he stays in good health for the 2022 edition of the race.

“I really thought it was finally my turn to step-up to the big time and I really wanted it to happen,” Stidham said of his first international winner in a career spanning four decades as a trainer.

“Everything we do here is exactly the opposite of what we do in America,” he said of the horse’s lead-up to the big night.

“In America we have a 30-foot walk to the track and back. He’s comfortably back in the stalls in a hour but here it’s almost a hour walking back and forth to the barn.

“It’s totally different and I was concerned about that. It was a little bit too much for him. We schooled him. That was a two-hour process. The next day I gave him a day-off. It worked out.”

Stidham, who trains 18 Godolphin horses, gave Mystic Guide time to develop as a three-year-old by not aiming at races like the Preakness, Belmont and the Derby.

“We always thought he was one step behind from where he needed to be campaigned in those kind of races,” he added.

“We gave him time to let him develop, and we did it, and here we are. The sky is the limit for him."

The victory took Godolphin’s record to nine Dubai World Cups since Dubai Millennium carried the royal blues to their first success in the race in 2000.