Annaf Scrapes Paint for 1351 Turf Sprint Win in Riyadh

UK trainer Mick Appleby, who burst onto the international scene with a win in the $1-million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint with Big Evs (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}) last year, doubled up on the world stage with a victory in the $2-million G2 Saudi National Bank 1351 Turf Sprint in Saudi Arabia by Fosnic Racing's ANNAF (IRE) (h, 5, Muhaarar {GB}–Shimah, by Storm Cat). Japan's La La Christine (Jpn) (Mikki Isle {Jpn}) finished second while Byline (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}) was third. Last year's winner, Bathrat Leon (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}), was slow away from the gates and never got involved after a troubled trip.

“It's great going abroad winning these races and it puts us on the international map,” said Appleby. “Huge credit to the team in the yard who work hard all year.”

With Rossa Ryan aboard from a wide post, Annaf found cover early and didn't waste an inch as he edged over to the rail. Staying under the radar, he angled steadily up throughout the running and landed in an advantageous spot, finally slipping through the slimmest of seams to thread the needle on the inside and burst clear late. With a move not for the faint of heart, Annaf finished three-quarters of a length the best with a final time of time of 1:17.88 for the 1351 metres, or approximately 6 3/4 furlongs. The Japanese mare La La Christine closed from the clouds with a spectacular turn of foot, but ran out of ground and secured second as Bahrain's Byline found his best stride late to follow in her wake.

“With Annaf I have always tended to ride for luck. It seems to work for him,” said Ryan. “He lets hard-hitters do the work for him and picks up the pieces.

“The owner and trainer don't put any pressure on me and I know he has pace to get me out of trouble. I didn't have a lot of room but he stuck his head out for me. It's brilliant because I picked this lad up as a spare one day in Lingfield, I had to drop him out and bide my time and the relationship formed from there.”

Ryan rode Annaf for the first time in January, 2023 in a Lingfield handicap and the two embarked on a three-race win skein. They went their separate way for a few months and reunited for a third in the G1 King's Stand S. last June at Royal Ascot. A fourth in a Group 3 at Sandown ensued and the two separated once again before finally reuniting in September. They notched two nose wins, including in the Oct. 7 G3 John Guest Racing Bengough S. at Ascot, and were last seen finishing second on the all-weather at Lingfield Feb. 4.

“Rossa gave him a great ride,” said Appleby. “All down to Rossa, not my training. He keeps improving and keeps surprising us. God knows where we go next. He has got an invite to Japan, so possibly we'll go there next. We always thought he was good horse who'd get better with age and he might not be finished yet. The sky is the limit.”

Pedigree Notes

Haras Du Petit Tellier's Muhaarar (GB), new to the operation for 2024 after standing at Haras des Faune, is the sire of Annaf and 23 other black-type winners. The son of Oasis Dream (GB), himself a multiple Group 1 winner and crack English sprinter, famously sired the exacta in the 2021 G1 QIPCO British Champions Fillies & Mares S. Also among his dozen group winners is last year's G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains winner Marhaba Ya Sanafi (Ire). In addition, his Byline (GB) was third in the 1351 Turf Sprint, giving Muhaarar a one-three finish in Saturday's race.

Damsire Storm Cat, leading broodmare sire in the U.S. three times, has 308 stakes winners out of his daughters, including a long list of champions. Interestingly, two of Muhaarar's 12 group winners are out of Storm Cat-line mares, including Paris Peacock (Ire), a group winner in Ireland in 2022 and graded stakes-placed in the U.S. last year.

Annaf is a fourth-generation Shadwell-bred. His dam, one of the top fillies in Ireland in her day, also produced English stakes winner Mushir (GB), who is by Muhaarar's sire, Oasis Dream. Her last reported foal is the sophomore colt Mitwaa (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}), a winner in Qatar. Shadwell also bred and raced Muhaarar. Fosnic Racing picked up Annaf as an unraced 2-year-old for 16,000gns at the 2021 Tattersalls Autumn Horses-in-Training Sale.

Saturday, King Abdulaziz (Riyadh), Saudi Arabia
SAUDI NATIONAL BANK 1351 TURF SPRINT-G2, $2,000,000, King Abdulaziz, 2-24, NH4yo/up, SH3yo/up, 1351mT, 1:17.88, gd.
1–ANNAF (IRE), 125, h, 5, by Muhaarar (GB)
                1st Dam: Shimah (Hwt. 2yo Filly-Ire, SW & G1SP-Ire,
                                $161,479), by Storm Cat
                2nd Dam: Sayedat Alhadh, by Mr. Prospector
                3rd Dam: Muhbubh, by Blushing Groom (Fr)
(16,000gns HRA '21 TATOCT). O-Fosnic Racing; B-Shadwell
Estate Company, Ltd. (Ire); T-Michael Appleby; J-Rossa Ryan;
$1,200,000. Lifetime Record: GSW & G1SP-Eng, 26-8-3-3,
$1,590,994. *1/2 to Mushir (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}), SW-Eng
& SP-UAE, $171,335. Werk Nick Rating: B. Click for the
   eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or the
   free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–La La Christine (Jpn), 121, m, 6, Mikki Isle (Jpn)–Super
Madame (Jpn), by Tanino Gimlet (Jpn). (¥18,900,000 Ylg '19
JBBAAUG). O-Fujii Kosan Co., Ltd.; B-; T-T. Saito; J-C. Demuro;
$400,000.
3–Byline (GB), 125, g, 7, Muhaarar (GB)–Lauren Louise (GB), by
Tagula (Ire). 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (140,000gns Ylg '18
TATOCT; 110,000gns HRA '20 TATOCT). O-Al Adiyat Racing; B- (GB); T-A. Smith; J-G. Mosse; $200,000.
Margins: 3/4, 3/4, HF.
Also Ran: Win Greatest (Jpn), Matilda Picotte (Ire), Aguri (Jpn), King Gold (Fr), Raaed (Ire), Jumby (Ire), Bathrat Leon (Jpn), Dr Zempf (GB), Art Power (Ire), Mysterious Night (Ire), Cold Front (GB). Click for the JCSA chart and video.

 

 

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Japan’s Remake Turns the Tables in Riyadh Dirt Sprint

The Japan contingent went two-for-two in the major races early on Saudi Cup Day as Koichi Shintani's REMAKE (JPN) (h, 5, Lani–Sariel {Jpn}, by King Kamehameha {Jpn}) rallied powerfully in the $1.5-million G3 Sports Boulevard Riyadh Dirt Sprint to run down Steve Asmussen's Skelly (Practical Joke), while Bill Mott's Bold Journey (Hard Spun) got up late for third. In a notable twist, the same trio of conditioners also finished in the top three in the race in 2023, albeit in a very different order. The victory by a Japan-based horse was the third in five editions of the Riyadh Dirt Sprint, with Dancing Prince (Jpn) (Pas De Trois {Jpn}) taking the 2022 renewal and Copano Kicking (Spring At Last) winning in 2021.

“If Remake showed his performance, I was pretty sure he was going to get there,” said Shintani. “But as he got beaten last year it was so disappointing, so we spoke with the staff and tried to better that performance. I think he is at an advantage that he can race from anywhere and that is his strength.”

A bit of roughhousing shook up the outside horses as the gates flew, but Remake broke cleanly to their inside and was unbothered. The chestnut angled over to the rail behind the second flight as the first 400 metres registered in :23.44 and a trio up front showed the way. Japan's well-traveled Jasper Krone (Frosted) held a narrow lead between horses 800 metres on (:46.05) as Skelly threatened only briefly before safely taking the controls. At the same time, Remake floated out wide off the turn for a clear run from behind and relentlessly closed down the lane, full of run, as Skelly shortened stride. Rider Yuga Kawada put away his right-handed stick and kept his mount under a hand ride for the final strides, waving his hand to acknowledge the victory at the wire. Skelly held second while Bold Journey rallied late to best Jasper Krone, making his first start on dirt, for third. The final time for the 1200 metres was a sharp 1:10.42.

“I have won three Japan Derbies but this is even more,” said winning owner Koji Maeda. “When he came into the final bend he was travelling so well and I was pretty sure he was going to win.

“Physically he has improved since last year. The trainer and all his staff put everything together and brought the horse here for a brilliant result which makes it really special. I came from no background in racing and now I have 30 Group 1 winners as an owner-breeder. It means a lot. I will bring the trophy back to [the] hotel and sleep with it tonight.”

Third in this race behind Mott's Elite Power (Curlin) and Asmussen's Gunite (Gun Runner) last year, Remake turned the tables on the Americans with the win. Last year, Remake shipped to Dubai for the G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen after the Dirt Sprint and finished fifth before returning to Japan for a listed stakes win and a second in the G3 Procyon S. He closed out the year with a G3 Korea Sprint score in Seoul and a runner-up finish in Japan's JBC Sprint. The Dirt Sprint was his first start since Nov. 3.

Pedigree Notes

A member of his sire's first crop, Remake is currently the sole black-type winner for Arrow Stud's Lani. The young stallion was bred in the U.S., won his biggest career race in Dubai, and stands in Japan. Although also trained in Japan, he did ship back to his native country to finish third in the 2016 GI Belmont S. after winning the G2 UAE Derby. King Kamehameha (Jpn), Japan's champion 3-year-old two decades ago, has 44 stakes winners, including Remake, out of his daughters. He hails from the Kingmambo branch of the Mr. Prospector line.

North Hills Co. Limited bred not only Remake, but also Lani and Lani's dam. The operation picked up Sariel, Remake's dam, for ¥21,000,000 at the 2007 Japan Racing Horse Association Select Sale. Her granddam is a half-sister to both the wonderful 1997 English Broodmare of the Year Slightly Dangerous (Roberto), whose four group winners included champions Commander In Chief (GB) (Dancing Brave) and Warning (GB) (Known Fact), and to group winner I Will Follow (Herbager {Fr}), dam of champion and excellent sire Rainbow Quest (Blushing Groom {Fr}).

Saturday, King Abdulaziz (Riyadh), Saudi Arabia
SPORTS BOULEVARD RIYADH DIRT SPRINT-G3, $1,500,000, King Abdulaziz, 2-24, NH/SH3yo/up, 1200m, 1:10.42, ft.
1–REMAKE (JPN), 126, h, 5, by Lani
1st Dam: Sariel (Jpn) (GSP-Jpn, $888,410), by King Kamehameha (Jpn)
2nd Dam: Shinko Nobby, by Nashwan
3rd Dam: Christabelle, by Northern Dancer
O-Koji Maeda; B-North Hills Co Ltd; T-Koichi Shintani; J-Yuga Kawada; $900,000. Lifetime Record: GSW-Jpn & Kor, 16-8-3-2, $2,978,544. Werk Nick Rating: D+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Skelly, 126, g, 5, Practical Joke–Adande, by Bwana Charlie. ($250,000 Ylg '20 FTKSEP; $350,000 RNA 2yo '21 FTFMAR). O-Red Lane Thoroughbreds LLC; B-H Allen Poindexter (KY); T-Steve Asmussen; J-Ricardo Santana Jr; $300,000.
3–Bold Journey, 126, h, 5, Hard Spun–Polly Freeze, by Super Saver. ($75,000 RNA Ylg '20 KEESEP; $80,000 2yo '21 OBSAPR). O-Pantofel Stable, Wachtel Stable & Gary Barber; B-Fred W Hertrich III & John D Fielding (NY); T-Bill Mott; J-Joel Rosario; $150,000.
Margins: 1HF, 1HF, 1.
Also Ran: Jasper Krone, Cairama, Keiai Dorie (Jpn), Power of Beauty (Ire), Sunset Flash (Ire), Rebellious Stage, Tuz, Alfaisaleyah (GB). Click for the JCSA chart (R5).

 

 

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Japan’s Forever Young Edges Book’em Danno In Another Saudi Derby Cliffhanger

Three of the four previous runnings of the $1.5-million G3 Boutique Group Saudi Derby had been decided by less than a length, including a them-versus-us showdown last year when the locally based Commissioner King (Commissioner) outlasted America's Havnameltdown (Uncaptured) by a head in a real war of attrition.

Susumu Fujita's Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}) had been the recipient of as much lip service as any horse on the grounds in Riyadh over the past several days, his latest seven-length romp in the Listed Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun stamping him not only as the highest-rated dirt juvenile in Japanese history, but also as a top contender for a race like the GI Kentucky Derby.

A hot favorite on the international markets at 3-4, the Yoshito Yahagi-trainee had very little go his way in the first of Saturday's group races, but he called upon his considerable talent in the final 150 meters and dropped his nose down on the wire just ahead of a very gallant Book'em Danno (Bucchero).

Making his first start going one turn, Forever Young perhaps brushed the gate or was otherwise awkwardly away from stall nine, as US invader Bentornato (Valiant Minister) showed the way up front after the opening couple of furlongs, with company to his inside in the form of dirt debutant Set Up (Jpn) (Declaration of War).

Meanwhile, Forever Young was immediately under the pump from Ryusei Sakai as he slipstreamed a four-wide Book'em Danno approaching the turn, and it was the last-out romping Pasco S. winner who looked to be going best of the bunch when he easily claimed Bentornato leaving the 400-meter pole. Book'em Danno looked every ounce a winner with a sixteenth of a mile to travel, but he began looking for the line over a strip that can place a premium on stamina, and Forever Young–racing on his incorrect lead, but pinching ground off the leader with every stride–took a successful dive at him at the line. The final time was easily the quickest in the five-year history of the race.

“He didn't have a good start,” said Yahagi, winning his fourth race at the Saudi Cup meeting. “He was wide out and it was a tough race, but he ended up winning, so we are very satisfied. He didn't like the kickback, so the jockey kept him wide out. Still, he had a very good performance, so I'm very happy about that. We will first head to the [1900-meter Mar. 30 G2] UAE Derby before hopefully the Kentucky Derby.”

“My heart is very, very tired. Stretching out to distance is very welcome for him. I love Saudi Arabia, I love this country.”

Of the beaten second favorite, Irad Ortiz, Jr. said: “He just got caught on the wire but he ran really good.”

Derek Ryan indicated that Book'em Danno would target the $600,000 GII Pat Day Mile on the Kentucky Derby undercard May 4.

Japanese horses won the first two Saudi Derbys with Full Flat (Speightstown) in 2020 and the late Pink Kamehameha (Jpn) (Leontes {Jpn}) in 2021. Both were trained by the trend-setting Hideyuki Mori.

Pedigree Notes

Real Steel, a full-brother to the Yoshito Yahagi-trained, multi-jurisdictional Grade I/Group 1 winner Loves Only You (Jpn), was being represented by his third group winner and first on the dirt.

Forever Steel's third dam won the 1994 GI Ballerina H. for Tri-Honors Stable and Shug McGaughey and was purchased by Nobuo Tsunoda for $750,000 in foal to Storm Cat at the 1998 Keeneland November Sale. Darling My Darling was the second of three foals Roamin Rachel produced prior to her export and she cost John Oxley $300,000 at the 1998 Keeneland September Sale, finishing runner-up in the GI Matron S. and GI Frizette S. at two before adding Keeneland's Raven Run S. at three and the Doubledogdare S. the following year.

Roamin Rachel's first Japanese-bred foal, Stray Cat (Jpn), made just one start and died at 16 in 2015, but bred nine winners from 10 to race, including four full black-type winners. Roamin Rachel's second produce, Zenno Rob Roy (Jpn) (Sunday Silence) put the pedigree on the map as Japan's Horse of the Year of 2004 after taking out the G1 Japan Cup.

In addition to Forever Young's GII Santa Ynez S.-winning dam, Darling My Darling was also responsible for GI Darley Alcibiades S. heroine Heavenly Love (Malibu Moon), the dam of 'TDN Rising Star' and recent GII Risen Star S. hero Sierra Leone (Gun Runner). Following Forever Young is a 2-year-old filly by Kizuna (Jpn), a yearling filly by Epiphaneia (Jpn) and Forever Darling was most recently bred to Rey de Oro (Jpn).

Saturday, King Abdulaziz (Riyadh), Saudi Arabia
BOUTIQUE GROUP SAUDI DERBY-G3, $1,500,000, King Abdulaziz, 2-24, NH/SH3yo, 1600m, 1:36.17 (NSR), ft.
1–FOREVER YOUNG (JPN), 121, c, 3, by Real Steel (Jpn)
1st Dam: Forever Darling (GSW, $217,545), by Congrats
2nd Dam: Darling My Darling, by Deputy Minister
3rd Dam: Roamin Rachel, by Mining
(¥98,000,000 Ylg '22 JRHAJUL). O-Susumu Fujita; B-Northern Racing; T-Yoshito Yahagi; J-Ryusei Sakai; $900,000. Lifetime Record: MSW-Jpn, 4-4-0-0, $1,469,451. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Book'em Danno, 121, g, 3, Bucchero–Adorabella, by Ghostzapper. O-Atlantic Six Racing LLC; B-Gregory Kilka & Bright View Farm (NJ); T-Derek Ryan; J-Irad Ortiz Jr; $300,000.
3–Bentornato, 121, c, 3, Valiant Minister–Her Special Way, by Put It Back. ($45,000 Ylg '22 OBSOCT; $170,000 2yo '23 OBSMAR). O-Leon King Stable Corp; B-Tanma Corp (FL); T-Jose F D'Angelo; J-Luis Saez; $150,000.
Margins: HD, 6, 5.
Also Ran: Ajwadi (GB), Mashhur, Salam Alkhair, Saudi Neom, Oasis Boy (Arg), Almotahed (GB), Satono Phoenix (Jpn), Set Up (Jpn), Haayeet. Click for the JCSA chart (R4).

 

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