MSHAWISH (by Medaglia d’Oro) became the first US stakes winner for Sheikh Joaan Al Thani’s Al Shaqab Racing with an impressive display in Gulfstream Park’s El Prado Stakes last Saturday.

“It’s very special,” Al Shaqab USA Racing Advisor Bradley Weisbord commented.

“At this time, the programme isn’t very large yet. I think Sheikh Joaan is doing the right thing by dipping his toe in the American market by having four two-year-olds and three older horses here. I believe that in time the programme will definitely expand. There’s no question that having early success and success in stakes races is what he’s targeting. It’s definitely crucial to get the first stakes win and hopefully the first of many to come for the Al Shaqab team.”

While Mshawish - winner of the Group 2 Zabeel Mile at Meydan in February - had his share of excuses in his first three starts in North America, the dark bay began to put it together since relocating to South Florida this autumn season.

“We were very high on him when he arrived in May,” Weisbord, formerly of Team Valor, explained.

EXPERIENCE

“It seemed like everything went wrong in his first couple of starts here, though. The only thing that I kept saying to the Qatar group and Sheikh Joaan, who has remained very patient, was that with my experience at Team Valor, it sometimes takes these horses from overseas a few months to really adapt, and with this horse, he’s been very rank in his workouts and Todd [Pletcher]’s finally figured him out now. He’s been much better in his breezes.”

If all goes well moving forward, Mshawish will target the Grade 1 Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap in early February and possibly a return trip to Dubai in March. He was fourth in the Group 1 Dubai Duty Free earlier this year.

“We’d love to take him to Dubai and return to the scene of his biggest win and see if he could knock off the Group 1 this time around.”