1351 Turf Sprint | Horse Racing Free Tips

Japan On Song Again In The Turf Sprint

Sunday Racing's group winner Songline (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}) was up to the scrutiny on the world stage and delivered the G3 1351 Turf Presented By STC 1351 to Japan by a neck over American hopeful Casa Creed (Jimmy Creed) in Riyadh on Saturday. It was the second win on the night for jockey Christophe Lemaire and the Japanese contingent.

The Listed Kobai S. went to Songline last January, and, after an unplaced run in the G1 Japanese 1000 Guineas that April, she improved to second in the G1 NKH Mile Cup in May. The bay dropped a spot in the G3 Sekiya Kinen returning off a break in August of last year, but then stepped up to win the 1600-metre G2 Fuji S. on Oct. 23. A final 2021 run in the G2 Hanshin Cup resulted in a 15th-place finish, but she was still the third choice on Saturday.

Songline raced in midfield as Naval Crown (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) cut out the running with Pogo (Ire) (Zebedee {GB}) and Third Kingdom (GB) (Make Believe {GB}) shadowing his hoofsteps. The pace was hot as the field entered the turn and the 4-year-old filly was still several lengths off the vanguard cornering for home. Lemaire steered Songline out into the center of the course, and she began to let down as Naval Crown clung on to the lead with a quarter mile remaining. Happy Romance (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}) was making a similar move to Songline's inside as Naval Crown and Pogo faded, and just a length behind the top four was the ominous presence of American Grade I winner Casa Creed.

It was a true rubber match between the determined fillies, with the two exchanging blows and neither giving an inch in the straight. Songline thrust her nose in front of Happy Romance with 50 metres to travel, but Casa Creed had hit high gear and had reached her saddle towel on her outside. Songline's margin shrank with every stride, but she just lasted as Casa Creed snatched second by a neck over a gritty Happy Romance as the trio finished in a tightly packed bunch. There was a gap of 3 1/2 lengths back to Lauda Sion (Jpn) (Real Impact {Jpn}) in fourth.

Trainer Toru Hayashi said, “This is the greatest moment of my career. I have been training for only four years and it is my first time racing a horse outside of Japan, so for Songline to do this… I think I am dreaming!

“She is such a brilliant filly and the ride from [Christophe] Lemaire was perfect. The owners also deserve great credit for their ambition in coming here. As a 3-year-old last year she raced well in this counter-clockwise direction over a mile and she has a lot of natural speed, so we thought we could run well coming back in distance a little.

“Thanks also to Authority (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}) from Japan for winning the first race. That made me think we had the momentum and that Songline could also run well, and it is amazing that she did!”

Of Casa Creed's second, rider Luis Saez said, “We ran pretty good. He finished strong. After the second jump we were getting there but it was too late.”

“She's run absolutely superbly,” said hoop Tom Marquand. “I think it's [a] testament to her heart more than anything that she could come out here and run so well. To be honest, we were hoping for that, but it's tough racing out here so for her to have gone so close is great.”

Pedigree Notes

Already the sire of 16 stakes winners with his oldest foals just 5-year-olds, Kizuna has 10 group winners among that bunch with G1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup heroine Akai Ito (Jpn) leading the way. She is out of a Symboli Kris S mare, just like the 1351 Turf winner.

The first foal out of her four-time winning dam who specialized at 1200-1400metres, Songline is followed by the winning 3-year-old Teegarden (Jpn), by Duramente (Jpn). Her dam, a half-sister to dual Japanese group winner Jeune Ecole (Jpn) (Kurofune), did not produce a foal to the cover of Real Steel (Jpn) in 2020. Luminous Parade has a yearling colt by Real Impact (Jpn) and visited Songline's sire Kizuna in 2021.

Under the unraced third dam are the group winners Renforcer (Jpn) (Symboli Kris S), Northern River (Jpn) (Agnes Tachyon {Jpn}) and the G1 Shuka Sho/G1 Nassau S. heroine Deirdre (Jpn) (Harbinger {GB}). The Classic-winning French champion 3-year-old filly Sonic Lady (Nureyev) is the fourth dam and boasts the Classic-placed descendants Furner's Green (Ire) (Dylan Thomas {Ire}) and Lady Lupus (Ire) (High Chaparral {Ire}), both also group winners.
Saturday, King Abdulaziz (Riyadh), Saudi Arabia
1351 TURF PRESENTED BY STC 1351-G3, $1,500,000, King Abdulaziz, 2-26, 4yo/up, 1351mT, 1:18.00, gd.
1–SONGLINE (JPN), 121, f, 4, Kizuna (Jpn)
                1st Dam: Luminous Parade (Jpn), by Symboli Kris S.
                2nd Dam: Luminous Point (Jpn), by Agnes Tachyon (Jpn)
                3rd Dam: Soninke (GB), by Machiavellian
O-Sunday Racing Co Ltd; B-Northern Farm (Jpn); T-Toru
Hayashi; J-Chistophe Lemaire; $900,000. Lifetime Record: GSW
& G1SP-Jpn, 9-4-2-1, $2,187,655. Werk Nick Rating: A+++.
   *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Casa Creed, 125, h, 6, Jimmy Creed–Achalaya, by Bellamy
Road. ($15,000 Ylg '17 OBSJAN; $105,000 Ylg '17 KEESEP).
O-LR Racing LLC & JEH Racing Stable LLC; B-Silver Springs Stud,
LLC (KY); T-William Mott; J-Luis Saez; $300,000.
3–Happy Romance (Ire), 121, f, 4, Dandy Man (Ire)–Rugged Up
(Ire), by Marju (Ire). (£25,000 Ylg '19 GOFAUG). O-The
McMurray Family; B-Redpender Stud Ltd (Ire); T-Richard
Hannon; J-Tom Marquand; $150,000.
Margins: NK, NK, 3HF.
Also Ran: Lauda Sion (Jpn), Pogo (Ire), Happy Power (Ire), Rohaan (Ire), Cold Front (GB), Masaabeeh (KSA), Horoscope (Ire), Naval Crown (GB), Entscheiden (Jpn), Third Kingdom (GB), Thunder Moon (Ire). Click for the Racing Post chart and VIDEO. Click for the free Equineline.com catalog-style pedigree.

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Mishriff and Mandaloun Duel In The Desert

By Emma Berry and Kelsey Riley

A line-up worthy of its new Group 1 status, the Saudi Cup has attracted runners from seven nations, with Classic winners from two continents likely to be the leading players in the field of 14.

The major fly in the ointment for defending champion Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}) appears to be his draw in stall 14, but he wasn't much closer to the rail last year when winning from gate 12. He has really impressed in mornings this week, appearing relaxed and looking terrific, but his main rival Mandaloun (Into Mischief) will be no pushover. His presence in Riyadh in the week he was finally awarded the 2021 Kentucky Derby sets up a potentially thrilling clash of runners owned by two outstanding Saudi breeders, Prince AA Faisal and the late Prince Khalid Abdullah.

If Midnight Bourbon (Tiznow) can live up to his trainer Steve Asmussen's immense faith in him, he too could play a key role, and it would be folly to overlook the chances of the Japanese dirt champion T O Keynes (Jpn) (Sinister Minister), whose most recent victory came over the same trip in the G1 Champions Cup at Chukyo.

Two horses who lit up the autumn season in Britain and America, G1 Champion S. winner Sealiway (Fr) (Galiway {GB}) and GI Breeders' Cup Distaff heroine Marche Lorraine (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}), give the field proper strength in depth.

Authority Kick Starts Big Day For Japan

The Saudi Cup card kicks off with the G3 Neom Turf Cup, which understandably has attracted a strong European challenge, with half the field trained in either England or France. The likely favourite, however, is Japanese. The 5-year-old Authority (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}) was last seen finishing runner-up to the outstanding Triple Crown winner Contrail (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in the G1 Japan Cup and superstar hoop Christophe Lemaire is in town to ride him.

The hugely likeable G1 Coronation Cup winner Pyledriver (GB) (Harbour Watch {Ire}) has looked a relaxed individual in the morning on his second overseas trip for the absent William Muir, and his temporary training companion Solid Stone (Ire) (Shamardal), the winner of his last two Group 3 starts, could well kick off the 2022 campaign in style for his revered trainer Sir Michael Stoute.

The G2 Prix Corrida victrix Ebaiyra (Distorted Humor) is a rare older mare in training for her breeder the Aga Khan, and the 5-year-old will be making her first start for Francis Graffard since the retirement of her former trainer Alain de Royer Dupre.

Grocer Jack (Ger) (Oasis Dream {GB}), whose two Group 3 victories have come in Germany and Italy, is also running for a new trainer for the first time, having switched from Waldemar Hickst in Germany to William Haggas in the UK after topping the Tattersalls Horses-in-Training Sale at 700,000gns. This is an important start on the home turf of his new owner HRH Prince Faisal Bin Khaled.

Champions Go Head To Head

The longest race on the Saudi Cup card is also the second-most valuable staying race in the world, the $2.5 million G3 Red Sea Turf Handicap. Ireland launches a three-pronged attack with the Ebor winner Sonnyboyliston (Ire) (Power {GB}) favoured over GII Belmont Gold Cup victor Baron Samedi (GB) (Harbour Watch {Ire}), and the G1 Prix du Cadran heroine Princess Zoe (Ger) (Jukebox Jury {Ire}) completing the trio. All three are trained by former champion jockeys: Johnny Murtagh, Joseph O'Brien and Tony Mullins, respectively.

Having made the short trip from Dubai, Godolphin's Siskany (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) comes into the race in good form, having proven his staying power in listed company at Meydan on Jan. 28, while the dependable Skazino (Fr) (Kendargent {Fr}), representing the same connections of Saudi Cup contender Sealiway and with a new trainer in Richard Chotard, should not be overlooked. His compatriot Glycon (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) enjoyed a fruitful second half of his 2021 campaign and his breeder Andreas Putsch of Haras de Saint Pair has been keeping a close eye on his 6-year-old during training this week.

Passing The Crown

Twelve months ago, trainer Charlie Appleby saw a long-term plan come to fruition when he plundered the 1351 Turf Sprint on the Saudi Cup card with a son of Dubawi (Ire), Space Blues (GB). That Group 1-winning chestnut went on to add G1 Prix de la Foret and GI Breeders' Cup Mile before year's end, and while he is now ensconced in the stud barn at Kildangan Stud, Appleby returns with another highly regarded son of Dubawi, Naval Crown (GB), that he has long targeted this newly upgraded Group 3 with. The 4-year-old was good enough to finish fourth in last year's G1 2000 Guineas, and he has subsequently proven that performance wasn't a fluke with a second-place finish in the G3 Jersey S. at Royal Ascot and a win in the G2 Al Fahidi Fort at Meydan on Jan. 21. Appleby said last week, “We deliberately finished his season early last year to get ready for this. He was a model of consistency as a 3-year-old and he has come back in great form. It was a nice performance to win the Al Fahidi Fort and he has come forward for that run.”

Aside from Charlie Appleby's three-win Breeders' Cup, another key international takeaway from Del Mar last year was Japan's first two wins at the meeting. The nation brings a sizable, quality squad to Riyadh, and among those is the 4-year-old filly Songline (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}), who defeated colts to win the G2 Fuji S. in October. She was also a nose second in last year's G1 NHK Mile Cup against males. Bill Mott brings his 2021 GI Jaipur S. winner Casa Creed (Jimmy Creed), who rallied mildly to finish 3 3/4 lengths behind Space Blues at the Breeders' Cup. Richard Hannon's filly Happy Romance (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}) rarely runs a bad race, while Rohaan (Ire) (Mayson {GB}) and Thunder Moon (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) are both talented runners looking to rebound to their best.

Baffert Targets Another Derby

Trainer Bob Baffert has a typically loaded stable of exciting 3-year-olds, and though he is currently ineligible to participate in this year's Kentucky Derby, he sends forward Pinehurst (Twirling Candy) for another Derby and the first seven-figure prize for his generation this season in the $1.5-million G3 Saudi Derby.

Pinehurst broke his maiden at first asking in August and won the GI Del Mar Futurity by 4 1/2 lengths next out, but he has something to prove having been beaten in his two most recent starts, when fifth behind stablemate Corniche (Quality Road) in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile and when second in the GII San Vicente S. on Jan. 29.

Godolphin brings a stiff three-pronged challenge against the favourite, all of whom are trying the dirt for the first time, with Noble Truth (Fr) (Kingman {GB}) set to carry Frankie Dettori and the blue cap, as William Buick has been stood down after a positive covid test. The bay won Doncaster's Listed Flying Scotsman S. in September and was second in the G1 Prix Jean Luc Lagardere before finishing fourth in the G3 Horris Hill S. Sovereign Prince (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) has won three straight races including the Listed Jumeirah Classic last out, while Island Falcon (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}) has won his last two.

Japan is a perfect two-for-two in the Saudi Derby, having taken the first two runnings of the race with Full Flat (Speightstown) and Pink Kamehameha (Jpn) (Leontes {Jpn}), and this time around they bring the Listed Hyogo Junior Grand Prix winner Sekifu (Jpn) (Henny Hughes) and the Cattleya S. winner Consigliere (Jpn) (Drefong). Nick Bradley Racing's filly Oscula (Ire) (Galileo Gold {Ire}) ran an admirable 10 times last year and rarely had an off day. She won the G3 Prix Six Perfections and was placed four times in pattern company including the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac.

Copano Back To Defend Sprint Title

Copano Kicking (Spring At Last) was the least fancied of three Japanese-trained runners in last year's Riyadh Dirt Sprint and had to overcome a wide barrier, but neither of those things prevented him from hitting the line first, and Akira Murayama's charge is back 12 months later to defend his title under David Egan, who is deputising for the ill Buick. Those joining Copano Kicking on the flight from Japan included Dancing Prince (Jpn) (Pas De Trois {Jpn}), a Group 3 winner in his native country, going six furlongs. Prince Faisal's Faz Zae (KSA) (Mizzen Mast), an eye-catching third here last year after racing detached from the pack early, likewise returns for another go.

RRR Racing and trainer Bhupat Seemar bring the one-two from the Jan. 1 Listed Al Garhoud Sprint, Switzerland (Speightstown)-who was fourth in this last year–and Gladiator King (Curlin). Abdulla Al Mansoori's Good Effort (Ire) (Shamardal) has lived up to his name as of late, winning the Listed Golden Rose S. going six furlongs on the all-weather at Lingfield on Nov. 13 and placing in a Newcastle conditions race and Lingfield's Listed Kachy S. most recently.

Click here for the group fields.

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O’Brien To Send Two To Saudi

Joseph O'Brien has already collected an impressive haul of international trophies in less than seven years with a trainers' license, including two Melbourne Cups and a Breeders' Cup, and he will look to expand that collection when sending Baron Samedi (GB) (Harbour Watch {Ire}) and Thunder Moon (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) to next weekend's Saudi Cup card.

LECH Racing Limited's 5-year-old Baron Samedi rose rapidly through the ranks after being gelded in 2020, with four straight handicap wins followed by victory in the G2 Prix du Conseil de Paris, and he picked up where he left off last year, winning the G3 Vintage Crop S. at Navan before traveling to America to take the GII Belmont Gold Cup S. over two miles. After finishing third in the G1 Irish St Leger, Baron Samedi was last seen checking in sixth in the G2 British Champions Long Distance Cup, and he lines up in the Red Sea Turf H.

“He's a good, solid horse who just keeps progressing and always seems to turn up on the day,” O'Brien said. “He seems in good form at home and this is the race we've always had in mind to start him off this season. We've had some great days around the world so far and this looks a really good opportunity to have a go at a big pot again.”

“It looks as if those middle distance to staying races are where we will run him this season. He might perhaps prefer a little shorter than the trip in Saudi, but it's a tight enough track and I think the trip should be OK for him. He won on a tight track in America in that Grade II last year, so he's proven he can handle this sort of test and I'm hopeful he'll run very well.”

Chantal Regalado-Gonzalez's Thunder Moon is on a recovery mission; he won the G1 National S. at two, but was beaten in all six starts at three last year, albeit finishing second by a head in the G1 Prix Jean Prat. Thunder Moon filled the same position in his seasonal reappearance at Dundalk on Jan. 21. Thunder Moon is set for the 1351 Turf Sprint.

“He was unlucky not to be a Group 1 winner last year having been beaten a head in France and if he gets a good draw, we'd be hopeful he could run into some prize money,” O'Brien said. “I think it's fair to say he's not the most consistent, but on the pick of his form he's not without a chance, and I think we've finally found his optimum conditions.”

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Prizemoney Boosts For Saudi Cup Card

In addition to the previously announced allocation of Group 1 status to the $20-million Saudi Cup and Group 3 status to five undercard Thoroughbred races, the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia revealed in a press conference on Thursday some key purse increases for undercard races.

The 2022 Saudi Cup meeting, which will take place on Feb. 25 and 26, will be worth $35.1-million, making it the world's richest race meeting. Prizemoney for the G3 Neom Turf Cup and the G3 1351 Turf Sprint have each been boosted by $500,000, and are now worth $1.5-million apiece.

The JCSA also revealed a series of new qualifying races for the Neom Turf Cup and 1351 Turf Sprint. The GI Pegasus World Cup Turf, G3 Bahrain International Trophy and the G3 Challenge Cup at Hanshin in Japan will be qualifiers for the Neom Turf Cup. The G2 Hanshin Cup has been added as a qualifier for the 1351 Turf Sprint. The three qualifying contests for the Saudi Cup remain the same: the GI Pegasus World Cup, the G1 Champions Cup in Japan and the Custodian of The Two Holy Mosques Cup.

“We could never have imagined the immediate impact The Saudi Cup would have on the international racing landscape, or indeed on our domestic racing product,” said HRH Prince Bandar Bin Khalid Al Faisal, Chairman of the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia. “In 2020 we launched our first ever international meeting and less than three years later we enter our first racing season as a Part II racing nation, having been promoted by the IFHA earlier this month. We are now looking forward to hosting the world's most valuable race, The Saudi Cup, as a Group 1 for the first time, as well as five Group 3 races on the undercard. None of this would have been possible without the buy in and support of the international racing community and, on behalf of the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia, I would like to thank everyone within the industry for the way they have embraced The Saudi Cup.

“As The Saudi Cup makes advances, so does our domestic racing offering. We continue to focus not only the international aspects of this sport but also understand that building strong foundations upon which a sustainable industry can be built is a vital element to securing the future of this incredible and unique sport for generations to come, both in Saudi Arabia and overseas.”

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