Tag: $20-million G1 Saudi Cup

Saudi Crown Punches Ticket to Saudi Cup in Louisiana

FMQ Stables' Saudi Crown (Always Dreaming) bossed his five overmatched rivals from the front to take out Saturday's GIII Louisiana S. at the Fair Grounds, a perfect lead-up into the $20-million G1 Saudi Cup at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh in five weeks' time .

Appearing for the first time since weakening to 10th behind the Saudi Cup-bound White Abarrio (Race Day) in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic 11 weeks back, the odds-on pop won the break from gate three and set the pace into the first turn as Tenacious S. winner Five Star General (Distorted Humor) applied token pressure from the outside. The well-backed Smile Happy (Runhappy) and Red Route One (Gun Runner) raced as a team, with defending champion Happy American (Runhappy) and Confidence Game (Candy Ride {Arg}) the back markers.

Saudi Crown galloped well within himself and under an easy Florent Geroux hold through a half-mile in a very manageable :47.93 and the French reinsman upped the tempo on the 2023 GI Pennsylvania Derby winner leaving the three-eighths marker. Firmly in front as they hit the long Fair Grounds stretch, Saudi Crown was shaken up a bit at the furlong grounds, but was taken in hand for the final 70 yards, strutting in a convincing winner. Red Route One rallied inside to beat Happy American out of second.

Winner of his first two starts over sprint trips, Saudi Crown was just touched off by Fort Bragg (Tapit) in the GIII Dwyer S. going Belmont's one-turn mile July 1 and took a similarly tough beat when just caught by Forte (Violence) trying a two-turn route for the first time in the July 29 GII Jim Dandy S. Never truly threatened in the slop at Parx Sept. 23, Saudi Crown was part of a strong early tempo in the Classic and faded from about halfway to finish better than 12 lengths off White Abarrio.

And now it is off to the Middle East, where Team Cox will be looking for Saudi Crown to atone for subpar big-race efforts from Knicks Go in 2021 and 2022 Louisiana S. winner Mandaloun.

Pedigree Notes:

One of three black-type winners for his Kentucky Derby-winning sire and the lone graded scorer, Saudi Crown is out of a daughter of Grade III turf winner New Economy who was sold to China Horse Club for $500,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale. But, after failing to make the races and having produced only a minor winner from her first two foals, New Narration was sold on to Harry Landry for $17,000 in foal to Yoshida (Jpn) at Keeneland November in 2021.

Saudi Crown's run of success last season ensured that New Narration would be a hot commodity at the Fasig-Tipton November Sale last fall, and so it proved, as she was knocked down to Summer Wind Equine for $850,000 while in foal to Nashville.

LOUISIANA S. PRESENTED BY RELYNE GI BY HAGYARD-GIII, $169,750, Fair Grounds, 1-20, 4yo/up, 1 1/16m, 1:43.20, ft.
1–SAUDI CROWN, 124, c, 4, by Always Dreaming
                1st Dam: New Narration, by Tapit
                2nd Dam: New Normal, by Forestry
                3rd Dam: New Economy, by Red Ransom
($45,000 Ylg '21 KEEJAN; $240,000 2yo '22 OBSAPR). O-FMQ
Stables; B-Chc Inc. (KY); T-Brad H. Cox; J-Florent Geroux.
$105,000. Lifetime Record: GISW, 7-4-2-0, $982,085. Werk
Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus*
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Red Route One, 118, c, 4, Gun Runner–Red House, by Tapit.
O/B-Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC (KY); T-Steven M. Asmussen.
$35,000.
3–Happy American, 118, g, 6, Runhappy–Queen of America, by
Quiet American. ($385,000 Ylg '19 KEESEP). O-Lothenbach
Stables, Inc. (Jack Lothenbach); B-Claiborne Farm (KY); T-Neil L.
Pessin. $17,500.
Margins: 5 3/4, HF, 1 1/4. Odds: 0.70, 4.30, 23.50.
Also Ran: Five Star General, Confidence Game, Smile Happy. Scratched: Kupuna.
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

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Breeders’ Cup Classic Winner White Abarrio Training Up to Saudi Cup

Horse of the Year candidate and GI Breeders' Cup Classic winner White Abarrio (Race Day) will kick off his 5-year-old campaign in the $20-million G1 Saudi Cup at King Abdulaziz Feb. 24. A subsequent start in the $12-million G1 Dubai World Cup at Meydan Mar. 30 could be in the cards as well.

The Rick Dutrow, Jr.-trained C2 Racing Stable LLC and La Milagrosa Stable, LLC colorbearer has breezed three times at Santa Anita since Christmas Eve, including a five-furlong move in 1:00.40 (9/58) Jan. 8.

“He's gonna go over (to Saudi Arabia) from Santa Anita basically 10 days before,” C2 Racing Stable's Mark Cornett said. “That's when the plane goes over there from Miami. So, he'll fly into Miami from L.A., then he'll get on the flight with the rest of the horses from the U.S. going over to Riyadh.”

Cornett continued, “He's on his game, I'll tell you that. We backed off him a little bit (after the Classic). He's been working very good. They're easy works, nothing serious yet. The horse is such a good work horse.”

The Saudi Cup will be White Abarrio's first start since concluding his 2023 season with a powerful win as the 5-2 favorite in the Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita Nov. 4. The longshot runner-up that day Derma Sotogake (Jpn) (Mind Your Biscuits) could potentially return for a rematch in the Saudi Cup.

Was a prep race–i.e., the $3-million GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational S. at Gulfstream Park Jan. 27–ever in play for White Abarrio before heading to the Middle East?

“Not really,” Cornett replied. “The timing, I don't understand why the Pegasus doesn't move their race and give you some more time to the Saudi Cup. It just isn't enough time with flying and everything else. You can't justify going to that race when you've got $20 million on the table.”

C2 Racing Stable's Mark Cornett (center) | Benoit

White Abarrio's seven-career victories have come at six different distances ranging between 6 1/2 furlongs to 1 1/4 miles. The 1 1/8-mile distance of the Saudi Cup is contested around one turn. The handsome gray's resume includes two wins at the Saudi Cup distance, albeit both around two turns, in the 2022 GI Curlin Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park and last summer's GI Whitney S. at Saratoga.

“We think that's gonna be what he really wants to do,” Cornett said. “He can do pretty much everything–he can sprint, he can go seven furlongs, he can go a one-turn mile, he can go 1 1/4 miles, etc. The one-turn 1 1/8 miles could be his absolute best.”

As for the appeal of the Saudi Cup, Cornett continued, “It's the distance and the purse money. It's those two factors and you combine them. Plus, it leaves the door open for the Dubai World Cup. It's possible. Obviously, we would be over there already. But the horse has to come out of the race the right way. He has to run the right way, too. If he has to run too hard, we'll pass and get him back over here and get him ready for the Saratoga meet.”

In addition to a runaway win in the Whitney with a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 110 and a decisive victory in the headliner at the Championships three months later, White Abarrio's 2023 season also featured a better-than-it-looked third-place finish after stumbling at the start in the prestigious GI Hill 'N' Dale Metropolitan H. at Belmont Park June 10. Previously campaigned by Saffie Joseph, Jr., White Abarrio was transferred to Dutrow prior to the Met Mile.

White Abarrio is a finalist for champion older dirt male at the upcoming 53rd Eclipse Awards to be held at The Breakers Palm Beach Jan. 25. Horse of the Year finalists won't be announced until that evening.

“It's nice to be in the conversation,” Cornett said. “In my opinion, he won the two most prestigious route dirt races in the U.S.– the Whitney and the Breeders' Cup Classic. Obviously, he doesn't have the storyline of a Cody's Wish. But it just depends how much the voters are gonna factor that into the equation.”

Cornett concluded, “We're not in it to win these things. We're in it to manage the horse the right way. Things that are out of our control, whatever happens, we're ok with that.”

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Emblem Road Returns To Defend Title As One Of Over 1400 Entries For 2023 Saudi Cup Festival

Emblem Road (Quality Road), the victor of the $20-million G1 Saudi Cup last year, is back to defend his title, as over 1,400 nominations were received for the $35.35-million extravaganza at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh Feb. 24-25. Locally owned and trained, Emblem Road will be seen in action on Friday over 1600 metres, as a prep for the nine-furlong Saturday cornerstone in just over a month's time. If he is successful on Feb. 25, he would become the highest-earning Thoroughbred in history with over $20.2 million in prize-money.

The supporting card is also filled with sought-after prizes, with a quintet of Group 3 races for Thoroughbreds, as well as a pair of group races for Purebred Arabians on tap over the two-day festival. Multiple countries have nominated strong contingents, including Japan, America, and the UAE, as well as UK, Ireland, France, Germany, and Argentina. A total of 47 top-level winners have been handed entries.

Successful in four of the six group races on last year's Saturday card, the Japanese have nominated another strong battalion to further burnish their international strike rate. Although they have yet to land the Saudi Cup, it is surely only a matter of time. Yoshito Yahagi's 2022 G1 Dubai Turf scorer Panthalassa (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) and Tetsuya Kimura's G1 Japanese 2000 Guineas hero Geoglyph (Jpn) (Drefong) are both nominated. Jun Light Bolt (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}) already holds a berth in the big dance after booking his ticket in the G1 Champions Cup at Chukyo in December. Cafe Pharoah (American Pharoah), named the Japanese Champion Dirt Horse earlier this week, also has a Saudi Cup nom.

Godolphin's 2022 GI Breeders' Cup Turf hero Rebel's Romance (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) for Charlie Appleby has signed on, as has Jane Chapple-Hyam's multiple Group 1 winner Saffron Beach (Ire) (New Bay {GB}), who was purchased for 3.6 million guineas by Najd Stud at the Tattersalls December Sale with the Cup in mind. GI Breeders' Cup Mile hero Order Of Australia (Ire) (Australia {GB}) represents Aidan O'Brien, while Argentina's flag will be flown by Nino Guapo (Arg) (Catcher In The Rye {Ire}) for trainer Maria Munoz.

The impact of the Saudi Cup continues to expand, and Laws Of Indices (Ire) (Power {GB}), who now races for Australian-based trainer Annabel Neasham, is the first Australian-trained horse to enter. He captured the G1 Prix Jean Prat during his European tenure, and has proved just as lethal Down Under, with placings in both the G1 Toorak H. and G1 George Ryder S. He exits a meritorious third in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Mile on Dec. 11.

The American challenge for the feature is expected to be robust and will be headed up by horses owned–completely, or in part–by Amr Zedan. Country Grammer (Tonalist), campaigned in partnership with WinStar Farm and Commonwealth, covered himself in glory last February when beaten just a half-length into second by Emblem Road, and he used the effort as a stepping stone several hundreds of miles to the east when taking out the G1 Dubai World Cup. Country Grammer ran out a facile winner of the GII San Antonio S. in his most recent appearance Dec. 26. 'TDN Rising Star' Taiba (Gun Runner) is also ticketed for King Abdulaziz, having backed up in trip to impressively win the GI Runhappy Malibu S. on the same program as the San Antonio.

Also possible to represent the red-white-and blue is Rich Strike (Keen Ice), last year's GI Kentucky Derby hero; the progressive Law Professor (Constitution) and Juddmonte's Fulsome (Into Mischief), a good third to Proxy (Tapit) and the Saudi Cup-entered West Will Power (Bernardini) in the GI Clark S. in late November.

America could field a handful of horses for the sprint races to be held on both surfaces. The in-form Sibelius (Not This Time) is among the entries for the $1.5-million G3 Riyadh Dirt Sprint and could be joined by the likes of Juddmonte's GI Breeders' Cup Sprint hero Elite Power (Curlin), while the latter's stable companion Casa Creed (Jimmy Creed) could get the chance to atone for his narrow runner-up effort in the G3 1351 Turf Sprint.

The most valuable undercard race is the 3000-metre G3 Red Sea Turf Cup, and it could mark the much-awaited return of G1 Gold Cup hero Subjectivist (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}). Other UK-trained notables are Quickthorn (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) and Trawlerman (Ire) (Golden Horn {GB}).

Winners of the Dirt Sprint in 2021/22, Japan sends last year's five-length victor Dancing Prince (Jpn) (Pas De Trois {Jpn}) back to defend his title. He is not the only representation from the Land of the Rising Sun, as G3 Capella S. hero Remake (Jpn) (Lani) earned an automatic berth with his tally in last month's Group 3.

Japanese Filly Triple Tiara heroine Daring Tact (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}) holds an entry in the 2100-metre $1.5-million G3 Neom Turf H. over 2100 metres, but she does not face an easy task, as her countryman Panthalassa is cross-entered here. Godolphin's Real World (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) could also make some noise for Saeed bin Suroor.

Dual Group 2 winner Bathrat Leon (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}), also trained by Yahagi, goes up against defending champ Songline (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}) in the 1351 Turf Sprint. Charlie Appleby's Creative Force (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) will attempt to find the winner's circle for the first time since taking the G1 British Champions Sprint S. in 2021, but he did run a close second to stablemate Naval Crown (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) in Royal Ascot's G Platinum Jubilee S. last June.

One of the supporting races is the $1.5-million G3 Saudi Derby, won exclusively by America and Japan throughout the first three editions, each of whom could offer strength in numbers. Karl Burke's Holloway Boy (GB) (Ulysses {Ire}), the first debutante to win at Royal Ascot since 1996, is a possible runner.

Besides the main action on Feb. 25, the day prior features 14 jockeys–seven men and seven women–competing in the International Jockeys Challenge. There is also the $500,000 Saudi International H. that day, which is designated especially for horses trained in countries that are not classified as Part I by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities.

Tom Ryan, Racing Advisor to the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia, said, “Last year's meeting could not have been more successful, with Emblem Road making history by becoming the first Saudi Arabian-trained winner of the Saudi Cup. There was also the remarkable success of Japanese horses, who took home four group races, and the strength of the Japanese entry has continued to grow this year.

“These were results that resonated throughout the racing world and we are confident that many more memorable stories will be created again this year showcasing the highest level of horse racing.

“Once again we're delighted with the depth of the international entries, from 22 different countries across five continents, which goes to show the reputation and global standing the Saudi Cup meeting has quickly established after just three years.

“With The Obaiya Arabian Classic being promoted to Group 1 status and the Al Mneefah to Group 2 this year, we now have a Group 1 for Thoroughbreds and another for Purebred Arabians. This is a hugely proud moment for everyone at the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia.

“We look forward to welcoming horsemen and women, and horse racing fans from all over the world to Riyadh next month for what promises to be another unforgettable Saudi Cup meeting.”

For the complete list of entries, please click here.

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Mishriff Arrives Safely in Riyadh For Saudi Cup Defence

Prince Faisal's Group 1 winner Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}), who took the $20-million Saudi Cup last February, touched down safely in Riyadh on Monday and is ready to defend his title, according to co-trainer Thady Gosden, who trains with his father, John. The race, promoted to Group 1 status for the first time in 2022, anchors the two-day Saudi Cup Meeting and will take place on Saturday. If the 2020 G1 Prix du Jockey Club and 2021 G1 Dubai Sheema Classic victor wins the 1800-metre dirt race, he would become the richest racehorse in the history of the sport. A six-length winner of the G1 Juddmonte International S. last August, the 5-year-old entire reported home fourth in the G1 QIPCO Champion S. at Ascot on Oct. 16.

Thady Gosden, who is also overseeing the Group 3-placed Harrovian (GB) (Leroidesanimaux {Brz}) in Saudi, said, “He landed this morning. The weather is nice and cool enough out here at the moment and he seems well in himself.

“We also have Harrovian in the Neom Cup. He's travelled well too, he ran well behind Pyledriver (GB) (Harbour Watch {Ire}) at Lingfield last time and he's a horse who has always had plenty of ability.”

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