Stick or twist? Al Shaikh ponders Dubai Mile sale after Criterium success

When you've just seen your horse land your first Group 1 success at the end of a tooth-and-nail battle, there must be many conflicting thoughts that go through your head.

Dubai Mile is that horse for Ahmad Al Shaikh and, for a man who has made a happy habit of unearthing Derby contenders, surely victory in the Group 1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud launched a thousand more dreams of Epsom glory.

Only Al Shaikh is a realist and a dreamer in equal measure and afterwards he was happy to play openly with a much more pressing set of decisions.

Criterium de Saint-Cloud result

"My dream is to win the Derby which is why, over the last three years, I've only bought stayers, horses like Dubai Mile that will get a mile and a quarter and above," said Al Shaikh. "He will go to the Derby next year if he is not sold.

"He is in the [horses in training] sale on Tuesday and he will also be entered in the Breeders' Cup on Monday. If we get a good offer I will sell him."

A first Group 1 winner as sire for the late Roaring Lion, Dubai Mile became locked in a desperate embrace with Arrest throughout the final two furlongs and prevailed by a head.

Al Shaikh added: "This is the first Group 1 winner of my career and among the 20 horses I have, I thought there were some better than him. And he is the cheapest, so you never know."

Ahmad Al Shaikh with his Criterium de Saint-Cloud winner Dubai MileCredit: Racing Post / Scott Burton

Both Khalifa Sat and Hoo Ya Mal have made the frame in the Derby at huge prices for Al Shaikh, who in the case of the latter, then sent him to the Goffs London Sale on the eve of Royal Ascot.

Johnston paid tribute to Daniel Muscutt for keeping cool when Mickael Barzalona struck for home a full five furlongs out.

"In his previous runs he's always led and always found more when challenged," said Johnston. "I think everybody felt it was important to get to the stands' rail and Daniel said they just suddenly swooped past him.

"He thought it would have been wrong to panic and get after him and I think it was a fantastic ride."

Stepping up from a novice success at Ffos Las, Arrest emerged with plenty of credit.

Joint-trainer Thady Gosden said: "He's run a good race; he is a lovely big colt and one for next year. When the ground is this deep not many of them love it, but he seemed to handle it well enough."

Proud And Regal strikes for Donnacha O'Brien

Donnacha O'Brien (left) and Gavin Ryan after Proud And Regal's success in the Group 1 Criterium de Saint-CloudCredit: Racing Post / Scott Burton

Earlier it was Gavin Ryan who won the battle for the rail and that may also have been the winning of the Criterium International as Proud And Regal came out on top against Espionage in another very tight duel.

The proven Group 1 performer in the line-up, having chased home Al Riffa in the National Stakes, Proud And Regal provided a first top-level success for Ryan.

"He's a horse we've always liked and he showed a real good attitude winning the Tyros Stakes, while the last day he bumped into one but still didn't go down without a fight," said Ryan.

"The one thing we knew about him was that he's tough and he's genuine, and that's what you needed here today."

Coral cut Proud And Regal to 16-1 from 25 for both the Qipco 2,000 Guineas and the Derby and his trainer expects to see the best of him over a trip.

"He's by Galileo and they improve at three," said Donnacha O'Brien. "He stays well and I think he'll even get a mile and a half next year."

O'Brien added: "Gavin is a huge part of our team and it's great for him to get his first Group 1."

Donnacha's older brother Joseph also got on the scoresheet as Tranquil Lady and Dylan Browne McMonagle landed the Group 3 Prix de Flore.

Results, replays and analysis

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