Aero Trem (BRZ) – Antonio Cintra's runner had a serious breeze in Dubai late last week and was travelling to Saudi Arabia.
Art Collector (USA) – Schooled in the parade ring under assistant trainer and head travelling lad Neil Poznansky before cantering a circuit of the 2000m dirt track at 7am.
“Today we schooled both horses in the paddock and then they galloped and stood in the gate afterwards,” Poznansky said, also mentioning The 1351 Turf Sprint presented by stc contender Casa Creed.
“All went well. There is a strong possibility that they're going to blow out a little bit tomorrow morning. We got in last Thursday and everything has been coming along steadily. He has been training well, and should probably run a decent race.”
Country Grammer (USA) – Looking to do one better this year is trainer Bob Baffert, whose leading contender Charlatan was a runner-up 12 months ago. His runner this time, Country Grammer, has a lower profile.
On Tuesday morning during the 7am training lot, the son of Tonalist breezed (officially untimed) over 800m on the dirt track. Assistant trainer Jimmy Barnes was on hand and appeared pleased with the move.
Emblem Road (USA) and Making Miracles (GB) – Mitab Almulawah's stable is doubly represented, with the latter, a 7-year-old son of Pivotal, not short on stamina having won the Chester Cup in 2019 for Mark Johnston.
Since transferring to Saudi Arabia, he has won five of his eight starts, including back-to-back runnings of The Crown Prince Cup, a local Group 1. He comes into The Saudi Cup on the back of three consecutive wins over 2000m and 2400m.
The 4-year-old Emblem Road also brings excellent recent form into the race, with three consecutive wins over 1600m, the most recent being the King Faisal Cup (Local Group 1) on January 15.
“Both horses just walked in the barn today but they will be cantering on the main track on Wednesday morning,” the stable's representative Hisham Wahed said.
“Emblem Road has really shown us his class this season. He is an exciting horse and is improving. Making Miracles has won his last three races and looks really good. We are hoping for something really exciting in The Saudi Cup.”
Magny Cours (USA) – Richard Lambert, travelling head lad for French trainer Andre Fabre, was on hand to see Magny Cours stretch his legs on the dirt track on Tuesday morning.
“He's travelled over really well,” Lambert said. “He is used to travelling, he always travels well. This morning he just went for a small canter on the dirt track and he will go just a little bit quicker tomorrow.”
Mandaloun (USA) – The Grade 1 winner continued his progress on Tuesday morning with trainer Brad Cox's assistant trainer Dustin Dugas on board.
“He's a tough horse. Yesterday his gallop was phenomenal, getting better and stronger with every stride. Towards the end of the gallop I had to work to pull him up as he was enjoying himself a little too much,” Dugas said.
“He had a nice light little breeze this morning, half a mile [800m]. I was really happy with him. He was kind of looking around a little bit, as they had a bunch of people on the grass course this morning for the first time. So there was a lot going on.
“But he handled it well. The breeze may have been a tick slower than we originally wanted, but at the same time, being that it's Tuesday, slower is probably better. Overall, we're really happy. He hasn't missed a grain, he's eating up well.”
Marche Lorraine (JPN) – Stayed at the training track on Tuesday.
“She has lost a bit of weight after the long travel from Japan to Saudi Arabia, and I understand that she is still conditioning now and needs some more time to recover. Tomorrow she will work on the track,” trainer Yoshito Yahagi said.
Midnight Bourbon (USA) – Preparations reached a crescendo for Grade 3 Lecomte Stakes winner Midnight Bourbon, when he was asked to stretch his legs on the dirt track.
Long-time assistant to trainer Steve Asmussen, Scott Blasi, watched on as the colt moved down the lane for his 800m workout.
“We weren't looking for a lot with him, he had done most of his serious work back home and we just wanted to let him pick up his feet over the surface,” Blasi said.
“I'm pleased with how he travelled over here and how he worked today. He'll do some light training from here up until the race. Tomorrow he'll walk.”
Mishriff (IRE) – Prince Faisal's homebred has become a regular in Riyadh, having run second in the inaugural Saudi Derby before giving his young rider David Egan a massive thrill when landing The Saudi Cup last year. Trained in Newmarket by John and Thady Gosden, the 5-year-old has returned to defend his crown and took to the training track on Tuesday morning.
“It's fantastic to be back in Riyadh,” said David Egan. “It has to be an asset [to Mishriff] that he's been here twice, whereas most of the horses in the race are running at the track and on this type of surface for the first time. I think that will be a big help.”
He continued: “He came into The Saudi Cup last year after winning the Prix du Jockey Club but then having had a disappointing run in the [previous season's] Champion Stakes. He was able to bounce back and then it wasn't as bad a race last year in the Champion Stakes – he was able to finish fourth on ground that probably wasn't ideal.
“He had also had a long season after winning the Juddmonte International and having a couple of battles with Adayar. He's had a similar prep in the UK through the winter and he's a horse who travels well and takes it all in his stride. He's kind of getting used to having his usual trip to Riyadh in February now.”
Sealiway (FR) – Francis-Henri Graffard had arrived on Tuesday morning to see Sealiway make his first appearance on the dirt track. “It was Sealiway's first time on the track this morning,” he said.
“He trotted for a good bit and then hacked for 800m before adding a very steady canter. I'm very happy with him.”
Secret Ambition (GB) – UAE's current leading trainer Bhupat Seemar reported on Tuesday morning that his trio of competitors for the weekend are en route to Saudi Arabia from their Zabeel Stables base just outside of downtown Dubai.
The trio are led by Naser Askar's Godolphin Mile winner Secret Ambition while the remaining pair, Gladiator King and Switzerland, are each contesting The Riyadh Dirt Sprint presented by Saudia.
“They're supposed to arrive later, but I'm not sure when,” Seemar said. “Their flight got delayed three times, but I know they left at 12.45pm, so it shouldn't be long.”
T O Keynes (JPN) – Had an easy canter for one lap of the dirt track.
“The travel from Japan to Saudi Arabia was very smooth and he was relaxed during the long travelling,” work rider Daisuke Aramaki said.
“As it was the first time he arrived here, he was a bit nervous of the new surroundings but he is now getting focused on what he does in training. He was very fresh this morning, which was quite similar to how he is before he runs in races at home and he was really feeling good. I had to be strong to hold him but that's a good sign.”
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