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Likely Saudi Cup Day Fields Include 77 Contenders From Overseas

The likely runners for the two-day Saudi Cup meeting on February 19-20 have been announced, with 15 individual Group or Grade 1 winners set to line up.

In total, the King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh will host 77 overseas contenders representing 13 different countries from around the world who between them have won 24 Group or Grade 1 contests.

The highlight of the meeting is the $20 million Saudi Cup, and the second staging of the world's most valuable race looks set to feature another crop of star names.

The field could be headed by Brad Cox's Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile and Pegasus World Cup winner Knicks Go (USA), who is part of a strong American contingent which includes Grade 1 Malibu Stakes winner Charlatan (USA) and Tacitus (USA), returning for a second tilt at the race and owned by Juddmonte Farms.

Ryuji Okubo's impressive Grade 1 Champions Cup winner Chuwa Wizard (JPN) represents Japan, while John Gosden is likely to saddle Mishriff (IRE) who was second in the Al Rajhi Bank Saudi Derby at this meeting 12 months ago.

A host of other top-class horses look likely to take their spots in Riyadh, with Freddy Head's four-time Group 1 winner Call The Wind (GB) seeking back-to-back victories in the $2.5m Red Sea Turf Handicap, alongside last year's third Prince Of Arran (GB), trained by Charlie Fellowes.

Both the 1200m $1.5m SAUDIA Riyadh Dirt Sprint and $1m stc 1351 Turf Sprint have also attracted a host of well-regarded types.

Group 1 July Cup winner Oxted (UK), trained in the UK by Roger Teal, looks all set to run in the SAUDIA Riyadh Dirt Sprint, where he could take on Yoshito Yahagi's Justin (JPN) – the earner of an automatic spot in the race after winning the Grade 3 Capella Stakes in December.

The stc 1351 Turf Sprint is another race that has attracted a strong field, with last year's winner Dark Power (IRE), trained in Bahrain by Allan Smith, back to defend his crown. He'll face a strong challenge again this time around with Charlie Appleby's Space Blues (IRE), the winner of his last four races, including most recently in the Group 1 Prix Maurice de Gheest, as well as Joseph O'Brien's Speak In Colours (GB) both expected to line up.

Bill Mott's Channel Maker (CAN), last seen finishing third to Tarnawa in the Breeders' Cup Turf, is the likely star name in the 2100m $1m Neom Turf Cup, a field which also includes Gronkowski (USA), now trained by Abdulaziz Khalid in Saudi Arabia.

The Purebred Arabian runners in the 2000m $2m Obaiya Arabian Classic are headlined by the Group 1-winning Messi (BEL), trained by Timo Keersmaekers in Belgium, who will clash with last year's winner Tallaab Al Khalediah (KSA), trained locally by Mutlaq Bin Mushref.

This year's Saudi Cup meeting also sees the addition of a new race, the $500k Al Rajhi Bank International Handicap, which is specifically aimed at horses trained in IFHA Part II or Part III countries, and is run on Friday 19 February on stc International Jockeys' Challenge day.

There are horses entered from six different countries, including Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Spain, the Czech Republic and Greece.

Tom Ryan, Director of Strategy and International Racing for the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia, said:

“We were very excited when we saw the entry list for the second staging of The Saudi Cup and now we know the likely fields, we really are delighted.

“A battle between the likes of Knicks Go, Charlatan, Mishriff and Chuwa Wizard in The Saudi Cup would be a huge thrill, while the strength and quality of all the other races has really stood up.

“The entire team are working incredibly hard to deliver a world class event where the health and safety of all participants is paramount. It has obviously been an difficult year for everyone and we are glad that we are able to put on this meeting for racing fans all over the world to enjoy.”

For a list of where you can watch the Saudi Cup from home, please visit www.thesaudicup.com.sa and click “Where to watch”.

Download possible runners and past performances: https://thesaudicup.com.sa/page/Races

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Gamine Disqualified From Third-Place Finish In Kentucky Oaks, Baffert Fined $1,500

The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission has released its official ruling on Gamine's positive test in the Kentucky Oaks, disqualifying the filly from her third-place finish and issuing her trainer, Hall of Famer Bob Baffert, a $1,500 fine after he waived his right to a hearing.

Gamine's prize money from that race, $120,000, was ordered redistributed, while fourth-place finisher Speech has been elevated to third.

Gamine's post-race test after her third in the Kentucky Oaks on Sept. 4 at Churchill Downs showed a positive for the Class C drug betamethasone. It was the Into Mischief filly's second positive test of 2020: Gamine ran on Arkansas Derby day (May 2) at Oaklawn Park, winning an allowance race, but subsequently tested positive for lidocaine and has since been disqualified.

Another Baffert-trained runner, Arkansas Derby winner Charlatan, also tested positive for lidocaine and was disqualified.

Baffert plans to appeal the Arkansas rulings, but will not appeal the ruling by the KHRC, attorney Craig Robertson told bloodhorse.com.

Gamine developed into one of the top 3-year-old fillies of the year, earning an Eclipse Award as the top female sprinter after wins in the G1 Test and G1 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint.

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Knicks Go Headed to Saudi Cup; DWC Possible

Coming off a dominant win in the GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational, Knicks Go (Paynter) is scheduled to make his next start in the $20 million Saudi Cup on Feb. 20 in Riyadh.

“As long as he breezes well this weekend, we're going to the Saudi Cup,” trainer Brad Cox said. “We plan to ship him out Monday [Feb. 8].”

Cox said the decision became easier when it became clear that Knicks Go came out of the Pegasus in perfect shape.

“The owners [the Korea Racing Authority] would like to go to the Saudi Cup and they've made that clear. I looked for a reason not to run him back in four weeks and he's given me no indication that would not be a good idea. That's why I've said I want to see him breeze one more time before we put him on a plane. He really rebounded from the Pegasus in great shape and in good order. He's not giving me any reason to not run him, so we're going to press forward.”

In Saudi Arabia, Knicks Go may be going up against the only horse in training that could possibly beat him. Charlatan (Speightstown) is being pointed to the race for trainer Bob Baffert and is coming off a dazzling win in the GI Runhappy Malibu S.

“It will be a good match-up between those two,” Cox said. “Our horse does have to make the adjustment back to one turn and we don't know how he will handle that. I do like that he handled not having any Lasix at Gulfstream just fine. That's a positive and one thing we have going for us. He's in great form right now and, hopefully, we can keep him that way.”

With explosive early speed, Charlatan and Knicks Go have the same running style, which could cause a problem for both.

“Sure, that is a possibility,” Cox said when asked about the potential of a speed duel. “It will be up to the jockeys. Once the post positions are drawn, we'll have to handicap the race and we will know more after that.”

Joel Rosario will ride Knicks Go in the Saudi Cup and Mike Smith has the mount on Charlatan.

While some may believe running in both the Saudi Cup and the Mar. 27 Dubai World Cup may be asking too much of a horse, Cox said the $12 million race at a mile-and-a-quarter is also a target.

“Dubai is definitely under consideration,” he said. “The team that we have shipping over to Saudi Arabia has been told to pack enough clothes for several weeks. As long as he runs well in Saudi Arabia and comes out of it in good order, we will turn our attention to Dubai.”

The post Knicks Go Headed to Saudi Cup; DWC Possible appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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International Cast Nominated for DWC

Over 700 horses have been nominated for the 25th running of the Dubai World Cup night card on Mar. 27. Nineteen countries are represented among the 762 horses which resulted in 1,511 nominations.

Leading the 176 nominations for the $12-million G1 Dubai World Cup over 2000 metres on dirt is GI Pegasus World Cup hero Knicks Go (Paynter) for Brad Cox and GI Runhappy Malibu S. victor Charlatan (Speightstown) for Bob Baffert. MG1SW Code of Honor (Noble Mission {GB}) will also take part, while Godolphin fields undefeated Maxfield (Street Sense) from the barn of Brendan Walsh. Grade II winners Sleepy Eyes Todd (Paddy O'Prado) and Tax (Arch) have also signed on, as has John Gosden's Dubai Warrior (GB) (Dansili {GB}).

The 2410-metre $5-million G1 Dubai Sheema Classic received 167 nominations, led by globetrotting MG1SW Addeybb (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) for William Haggas. Japan is sending the MG1SW and 2020 G1 Arima Kinen heroine Chrono Genesis (Jpn) (Bago {Fr}) and G1SW Glory Vase (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}). Other top-level winners on the list of nominees include Bill Mott's Channel Maker (English Channel), David Smaga's Nao Da Mais (Brz) (T. H. Approval) and Aidan O'Brien's Mogul (GB) (Galileo {Ire}).

Held over 1800 metres, the $4-million G1 Dubai Turf attracted 209 nominees led by Group 1 winner Lord North (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) for John Gosden and GI Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational S. winner Colonel Liam (Liam's Map) for Todd Pletcher. Pletcher also saddles GSW Largent (Into Mischief). G1 Queen Anne S. hero Lord Glitters (Fr) (Whipper) is also part of the field for David O'Meara.

Americans have won 13 of the 24 editions of the $1.5-million G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen, and Grade I winner C Z Rocket (City Zip) is the leading light for trainer Peter Miller of the 184 nominees. Steve Asmussen's Yaupon (Uncle Mo) has saluted at Grade II level, while 2019 Golden Shaheen runner-up Matera Sky (Speightstown) returns from the yard of Hideyuki Mori. Japan also has Yoshito Yahagi's Justin (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}), while Gladiator King (Curlin) represents the locals in the 1200-metre test.

The fifth Thoroughbred Group 1 on tap for the evening is the $1-million Al Quoz Sprint, with 178 horses named as hopefuls for the six-panel turf dash. Aussie MG1SW Bivouac (Aus) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) flies the flag for Godolphin and James Cummings. Fellow Aussie Oleksandra (Aus) (Animal Kingdom) moved to the barn of American Neil Drysdale, but also is signed on, as is Roger Teal's G1 July Cup victor Oxted (GB) (Mayson {GB}) among others.

The G2 UAE Derby drew 148 prospective sophomores and Steve Asmussen's MGISW Jackie's Warrior (Maclean's Music) leads the way. Doug O'Neill sends GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile bridesmaid Hot Rod Charlie (Oxbow), and Bob Baffert's duo of GSW & GISP Spielberg (Union Rags) and recent GSW Medina Spirit (Protonico). Listed UAE 1000 Guineas heroine Soft Whisper (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) could also make some noise.

In the $750,000 G2 Godolphin Mile, Hong Kong sends Elusive State (Aus) (All American {Aus}), while MGSW Mr Freeze (To Honor and Serve) represents Dale Romans. The 237 nominations also see Fawzi Nass's Port Lions (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) set to run.

Rounding out the Throughbred races is the $750,000 G2 Dubai Gold Cup over 3200 metres on grass. The 121 nominees features G1 Melbourne Cup placegetter Prince of Arran (GB) (Shirocco {Ger}), Jamie Osborne's Mekong (GB) (Frankel {GB}), and French Group 1 winners Call the Wind (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and Subjectivist (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}), the latter for Mark Johnston.

For the full list of the nominees, please click here. The first supplementary stage closes on Feb. 10, the second on Mar. 8 and the final supplementary stage on Mar. 21. Connections must pay 0.1% at the first stage, 1% at the second stage and 10% at the final stage of their respective races' prizemoney to enter.

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