Keyed up and ready on Wednesday morning in Riyadh, Art Collector took a moment to take in his surroundings before setting off to breeze with Neil Poznansky, assistant trainer to Bill Mott, poised in the saddle.
“We had a nice 3/8ths [600m] breeze this morning. I just wanted to see how he was getting hold of the surface, how he felt doing it and how his energy was doing it: everything was good,” Poznansky said.
Art Collector will make his first start of 2022 in this Saturday's $20 million, Grade 1 Saudi Cup. Most recently, the 5-year-old son of Bernardini finished sixth in the Breeders' Cup Classic.
“He's adapted well to the track, he's been aggressive. He likes to train,” Poznansky continued, whilst trying to hide his smile. “When we first got him he wasn't quite as aggressive, but as time has gone on he's gotten stronger and stronger, he loves to train.”
Champion apprentice jockey in the United States as well as Canada, Poznansky has been partnering the Grade 1 winner ever since he set foot in the Mott barn.
“He's not a big horse but he's very well proportioned and gets over the ground well. He's very efficient, he's got a big stride for a little horse. He's undefeated over a mile and an eighth [1800m].
“I'll talk to Bill (Mott) about what we will do tomorrow. It will probably be an easy day, we'll jog. We'll gallop into it from there.”
Updates On Other American Saudi Cup Entrants:
Country Grammer (USA) – Bob Baffert's Country Grammer exited his final breeze (800m on Tuesday) in top shape for connections. On Wednesday, he walked the shed row and is expected to return to the track on Thursday morning. Baffert was able to watch a video of the work from his California base.
“I liked what I saw,” Baffert said. “They shipped well and they're moving well and that's what you want to see in the final work. The reports I'm getting from my team there is that they're happy with how they went, came back and cooled out.”
Mandaloun (USA) – Had a comfortable morning when remaining within the confines of the stable area with Brad Cox's assistant trainer Dustin Dugas overseeing proceedings.
“Mandaloun just walked this morning, he didn't go to the track at all,” Dugas said.
“We gave him a nice easy day. He came out of the breeze in really good order. He jogged up sound and he ate up everything last night. He had really good energy this morning, he was very happy with himself. We move forward from here.”
The talented son of Into Mischief will be returning to the track the next day. Trainer Brad Cox will join him, having arrived in Saudia Arabia on Wednesday morning.
Midnight Bourbon (USA) – Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen's assistant trainer Scott Blasi was full of praise when asked how Midnight Bourbon was doing on Wednesday morning.
“He came out of the breeze in excellent order. We just walked him today,” Blasi said.
“I couldn't be happier with how he's travelled. His appetite has been great, he's drunk a lot of water. The horses in my barn ship well, all of them. He'll go to the track tomorrow.
“It will be light exercise from here on. Our major preparation was done at home. We put ourselves in a position not to have to do a lot when we get there,” Blasi concluded.
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