Fans in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, were treated to an absolute thriller Saturday in the Saudi Derby (G3), as locally trained Commissioner King wore down American raider Havnameltdown in the final strides for the victory at King Abdulaziz Racecourse.
There is also a lucrative boxing match in the Saudi Arabian city this week, and the 1,600-meter (about one-mile) Saudi Derby developed into an equine prize fight with Frankie Dettori aboard Havnameltdown and Luis Morales on Commissioner King taking it right to the finish line.
It was Dettori who bounced out of the gates first aboard trainer Bob Baffert's Havnameltdown, already a multiple graded winner back in the U.S., but whose stamina would be tested to the limit as he had yet to race beyond 1,400 meters (about seven furlongs).
Every move the legendary Dettori made was shadowed by Morales and the Sabah Alshammri-trained Commissioner King, a lightly raced Kentucky-bred son of Commissioner who was acquired from America but was resold at auction in Saudi Arabia and campaigned domestically.
He had warmed up for this $1.5-million race with a stylish win over the same course and distance in December.
Havnameltdown and Commissioner King were the only two to ever get into Saturday's race, with the latter only edging past close home to gain the victory by a head in a time of 1:38.82. Japanese runner Derma Sotogake came through for third, 1 3/4 lengths adrift, with Uruguayan star Es-Unico in a commendable fourth.
”He was so tough, he kept wanting it and we got there at the line,” Morales said of Commissioner King.
Baffert's assistant Jimmy Barnes said Havnameltdown ran a great race.
“He just got ran down late on, but we are very proud of the horse,” Barnes said of the 3-year-old Uncaptured colt. “He really showed up today but it is not an easy thing to do, come over here and take on all these horses so we are very proud of him.”
Frankie Dettori said that after talking to Baffert prior to the race he tried to nurse his speed.
“He has tons of speed. I tried to save as much as I could, we got into a duel, but unfortunately in the last 50 yards, it ran out,” Dettori said. “He was absolutely knackered, he put on a great show and he was very brave. It's a shame it wasn't seven-eighths [of a mile], but this is life.”
Bathrat Leon Denies Casa Creed In 1351 Turf Sprint
United States-based Grade 1 winner Casa Creed was denied in 1351 Turf Sprint (G3) for the second year Saturday as Japanese sprinter-miler Bathrat Leon made the most of his potent mix of speed and willpower to land $1.5-million sprint.
A fast-diminishing head margin separated the Yoshito Yahagi-trained 5-year-old from the Casa Creed, a son of Jimmy Creed who had also finished runner-up in the race in 2022.
Bathrat Leon made all the running. He was sharpest from the gates and established a break of a length or so on the rail until swinging for home with jockey Ryusei Sakai appearing confident.
At this point Casa Creed broke from his position in midfield and began to reduce the margin. With 100 meters to go he was a length down, but the post came just in time for Bathrat Leon in a slick winning time of 1:17.49 for the 1,351 meters (about 6 ¾ furlongs).
Local-trained runner Raaed ran on strongly from the tail of the field to nick third. Last year's winner, the Japanese mare Songline, did not perform with the same verve and trailed home in second-last place.
“He broke from there pretty well and I was in a good position,” jockey Luis Saez said of Casa Creed. “I thought we were going to get up to win but every time the winning horse just kept going and going and it was too late when we passed him. That's racing but I saw the line and I knew I was not in front in time. He tried pretty hard; it's just the winner was tough to catch. I thought we were going to get him.”
Successful in the Godolphin Mile (G1) on dirt at the Dubai World Cup meeting last year, connections indicated Bathrat Leon would aim for a repeat success in the same race at Meydan next month.
Mostahda Impresses For Gosdens In Noem Turf Cup
Jim Crowley was smiling all the way to the line after Mostahda, a Shadwell Estate Co. homebred, produced an electric turn of foot that saw him surge clear from his opponents and secure victory in the Neom Turf Cup (G3).
Relishing the faster conditions at King Abdulaziz Racecourse, he flew right away towards the winning post, leaving Dubai Future seven lengths behind him, with another 5¾ lengths further back to Flying Visit in third.
It was a first victory for Crowley, a former British champion jockey, at the meeting while the John and Thandy Gosden had sent Mishriff to win the 2021 Saudi Cup (G1).
Eagle's Flight had set the pace in the 2,100 meter Noem Turf Cup, but Crowley immediately positioned the 5-year-old son of Frankel behind the leader and once he left the final bend, he kicked clear to win the race in 2:06.24.
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