The two-three finishers in Saturday's $20 million Saudi Cup, Country Grammer and Midnight Bourbon, will be staying in the Middle East to pursue bids in the Group 1 Dubai World Cup on March 26, according to the Daily Racing Form.
Country Grammer, a 5-year-old son of Tonalist trained by Bob Baffert, earned $3.5 million for his runner-up finish in Riyadh. Owned by WinStar Farm, Amr Zedan, and Commonwealth Racing Stables, the horse had won the G1 Hollywood Gold Cup in his most recent start before the Saudi Cup, and ran second off a layoff of over 250 days.
Co-owner Elliott Walden (WinStar) told DRF that Country Grammer “came out of the race in good shape” and was likely to join the WinStar and China Horse Club-owned Life is Good in Dubai.
Midnight Bourbon, the 4-year-old son of Tiznow conditioned by Steve Asmussen, ran very well to finish third and add just over $2 million to his career earnings. Owned by Winchell Thoroughbreds, Midnight Bourbon was beaten 1 1/2 lengths in Saudi Arabia and will also head on to Dubai.
In his most recent start prior to the Saudi Cup, Midnight Bourbon was just defeated by Juddmonte's Mandaloun. The Brad Cox-trained runner was favored in pari-mutuel pools for the Saudi Cup, but faded to finish ninth and will head back to the United States.
“Mandaloun will come home next week and regroup,” Juddmonte's Garrett O'Rourke told DRF. “No obvious excuse, but not enough confidence to move forward as we know he's much better than that.”
American-trained Art Collector, who ran 12th in the Saudi Cup, will also head back to the States. Meanwhile, his Bill Mott-trained stablemate Casa Creed will proceed to Dubai's Al Quoz Sprint after a big second-place effort in the 1351 Sprint.
Locally-trained hero Emblem Road won the Saudi Cup by a half-length, and could also be considered for the Dubai contest, according to post-race comments from connections. Also known to be pointing for the Dubai World Cup is the American-trained Hot Rod Charlie, who won a prep race in Dubai on Feb. 4.
Read more at the Daily Racing Form.
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