Saudi Cup Notes: Knicks Go ‘Doesn’t Have To Have The Lead,’ Tactitus Has ‘The Whole Backside To Work Out A Trip’

The following notes about contenders in the $20 million Saudi Cup, scheduled for Feb. 20, were provided by the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia. 

Bangkok (IRE) – Anna Lisa Balding was happy with what she saw from the British raider, who was not overly extended in a visit to the dirt track.

“He just had a trot around and then a canter around,” she said. “Her work rider Maddy O'Meara came back with a smile on her face, and that's good enough for me.”

Charlatan (USA) – The Bob Baffert-trained 4-year-old followed his typical routine leading up to a race galloping 2400m over the dirt track.

Mike Smith has the call aboard the son of Speightstown who will leave from post nine for Saturday's race.

“He has raw talent. He's just so good. The one-turn mile and an eighth (1800m) should be just perfect for him,” assistant trainer Jimmy Barnes said.

Chuwa Wizard (JPN) – A light day for the Japanese runner, who did not visit the track and instead walked around the parade ring with assistant trainer Kota Kato in the saddle to familiarise him to the raceday experience.

“Everything has been under control,” said trainer Ryuji Okubo. “We will decide whether he works on the main track or not later today.”

Knicks Go (USA) – Arriving at the track just after 7am, Korea Racing Authority's Saudi Cup contender did an easy canter around the dirt oval under assistant trainer Dustin Dugas.

A three-time Grade 1 winner, the grey son of Paynter enters in the form of his career, fresh off an easy front-running victory in the Pegasus World Cup Invitational at Gulfstream Park.

The victory marked his fourth consecutive victory and made him perfect in four starts for trainer Brad Cox. Previously trained by Ben Colebrook for two wins from 14 starts, he was a Grade 1 winner at two and was second to champion Game Winner in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile.

“At some point toward the end of 2019, they sent him to me from Blackwood (Stables) and (general manager and former Shug McGaughey assistant trainer) Robby Medina in Lexington and warned us he's an aggressive horse who likes to train,” Cox said.

“It really takes a good rider to handle him. He's forward, he's tough and he's eager and that makes him a very good work horse and you lead him over to the races with confidence because of that. The first race he had with us was an (allowance conditions) at Oaklawn and we thought 'if this horse doesn't show up and run, then mentally he's done because you can't train that well and not compete in a two-other-than allowance'.

“Then he showed up and ran big, but had a setback and the owners were talking about retiring him, but I told them we should just give him the time and see how he comes back and if he doesn't then we could just retire him. It was that time of year, around March, when it wasn't like he could go off to stud and get any business, so we brought him back and it worked out well, obviously.”

Showing marked improvement, the $87,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase of 2017 has gone from trying to rate to free-wheeling on the front end—something that has been encouraged by the Cox squad. He has now earned $3,088,995.

“I don't know how anyone else trains but myself, but one thing we do with him and all our horses is we allow them to train on,” Cox explained. “We let them stretch their legs and do strong gallop-outs and keep them happy. Two weeks before the Pegasus, he put in a phenomenal piece of work that gave us the confidence that he would go (1800m), galloping out a mile in 1:39, which at the Fair Grounds (Racecourse) is a very good move. We put draw reins on him and let him gallop. He raced a lot as a 3-year-old, was lightly raced as a 4-year-old and now is totally sound as a 5-year-old and you can see that the way he moves. He floats over the ground right now.”

Jockey Joel Rosario, who is currently in flying form, has been aboard for his past three wins.

Cox continued: “I think Joel fits him extremely well. The first time he sat on him was his Keeneland allowance win and he said 'man, this is a really nice horse' which is funny because I had told him before 'hey, you're just going to have to hold on'.

“Then in the Breeders' Cup, we almost didn't get in the race, but his (speed) numbers stacked up and I actually think he went off as the favourite against a bunch of good horses. The thing with him is he was a G1 winner and won the allowance and Breeders' Cup at Keeneland, but the question was whether he would transfer his form to Gulfstream in the Pegasus, but he was able to get it done.”

Drawing post five in the Saudi Cup, Knicks Go will likely have a good deal of company on the front end from Charlatan

“He doesn't have to have the lead, he's just a really honest horse who likes to be forwardly placed. When the gate comes open, we'll let the jock play the break and place him accordingly,” Cox said. “The post will be important, obviously. I watched the race last year several times and it's hard to get a read on it because the horse on the lead (Mucho Gusto, fourth) was so far off the rail and then (Midnight Bisou, second) was actually glued to the rail, so it's hard to know how the track plays. It seems like two of the better horses obviously have a lot of speed and will make this a very good race.”

Max Player (USA) – The 4-year-old Honor Code colt schooled in the starting gate on Thursday morning with regular exercise Carlos Rosas aboard. After being backed out, the Steve Asmussen trainee galloped once around the dirt oval.

Military Law (GB) – Group 2 winner Military Law had his first look at the track on Thursday morning, having shipped in Tuesday evening and hand-walked on Wednesday morning at the quarantine stables.

The son of Dubawi is in top form, exiting a smart victory in the Al Maktoum Challenge Round 1 at Meydan, defeating multiple top-level winners and proving he could cut back in trip in the process.

“He's quite versatile, but you always want the easiest run possible and down inside wouldn't be bad,” said Maria Ritchie, assistant to trainer Musabbeh Al Mheiri.

“He's come through very well shipping and his work has been very good leading up to the race. We can't ask much more. He's fresh and in great form and I think he has a lot more to show, even though he's six. He's a lot stronger than last season and Antonio (Fresu, jockey) is very comfortable with him – he rides him out in the mornings, as well.”

Fresu and the gingerly campaigned 6-year-old bay gelding will break from post 10 of 14 in the $20 million affair. From 12 starts, he has been first or second eight times. In his lone Group 1 try, he was second to Matterhorn in the Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3 eleven months ago.

Fresu added: “He was good. He seems to be looking around a lot at the new place, but he went really well on the track. When I finished cantering, he was very proud of himself going back to the stable. He was moving great on the surface. I think it's a beautiful track.”

Mishriff (IRE) and Global Giant (GB) – Arrived on track shortly after 7am with their stable-mate and Saudi Derby contender New Treasure.

Thady Gosden, assistant to his father John, said: “They went for a canter on the main track this morning, and fortunately everything was straightforward. They seem to be well in themselves, and I hope everything goes smoothly leading up to the race.”

Simsir (IRE) – The Bahrain International Trophy winner had an easy hack around the dirt course at just past 7am on Thursday. Trainer Fawzi Nass – partner in ownership group Victorious – observed on the apron.

This will be the first time the Aga Khan-bred son of Zoffany runs on dirt. Nass, appropriately, has made a habit of finding useful dirt runners with turf pedigrees including Salute the Soldier, a son of Sepoy who won last week's Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2 at Meydan.

“I do see, looking at him, that he might be able to run on dirt, so I hope that I'm right one more time,” Nass said. “You never know until they really go on it. Obviously, I have seen that transition before.

“We train in Bahrain on the sand track and this is where I've seen it happen and I've seen him move on it. I know this is a different surface from our sand track – it's mixed with wood shavings etc so I hope I'm right in thinking he can run on the dirt.”

Sleepy Eyes Todd (USA) – As has now become a familiar sight, on Thursday morning the Miguel Angel Silva trained Sleepy Eyes Todd spent a good few minutes at the entrance of the dirt track, observing his surroundings before his rider José Sandoval nudged him into action.

“He just jogged one lap,” said his Mexico City-born trainer Miguel Angel Silva. “We just want to keep him fresh. All the exercise he needs to do is that. Right now it's just about keeping him sound and happy and then go for the race. And he does look happy.”

Tacitus (USA) – The Bill Mott-trained striking grey horse made his way onto the dirt track on Thursday morning after spending the previous day doing his work on the training track in the quarantine area.

As is his want, the 5-year-old stood near where the 1800m chute meets the main track and took in the proceedings before galloping off under assistant trainer Neil Poznansky.

“He loves it. That's his thing,” he said. “That's his routine. Just let him do his thing and he's happy.”

Having drawn post seven at the draw on Wednesday evening, Poznansky was pleased noting that with the long run to the turn that jockey John Velazquez will have “the whole backside to work out a trip”.

“The last time Johnny rode him was at Belmont (in the Grade 2 Suburban) and he won by 8¾ lengths,” he said.

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Saudi Cup: Japanese Grade 1 Winner Chuwa Wizard ‘In Really Good Form’

Japan's challenger in Saturday's $20 million Saudi Cup has made his second visit to the Gulf region with hopes from connections that it will be more successful than his first.

Chuwa Wizard had started his 2020 term in flying form in the Grade 1 Kawasaki Kinen, with the son of King Kamehameha clinching a six-length win in what had looked to be a good preparation for the Dubai World Cup at Meydan last March.

However, the cancellation of the meeting from the Covid-19 pandemic saw a 20-strong Japanese contingent, including Chuwa Wizard, flying back home instead.

So Chuwa Wizard reappeared in June, with Christophe Lemaire partnering him to finish third behind Chrysoberyl, last year's Saudi Cup contender, in the 2000m (1 1/4-mile) Teio Sho at NAR-Oi.

In the following JBC Classic, at the same track in November, Lemaire had his mount sitting handily in the field on a rain-affected track but he finished third behind his biggest rival, Chrysoberyl, once again.

But in December, in the Champions Cup at Chukyo, he finally gained not only his first Grade 1 at the top-tier JRA level in Japanese racing, but the edge over Chrysoberyl as he came two and a half lengths clear in an ideal prep for his Saudi Cup challenge.

“He's a very talented horse,” said trainer Ryuji Okubo. “From the tactics we had in the JBC Classic, I decided to change the strategy again in the race. I wanted to make the most of what he had, so I told the jockey (Keita Tosaki) to settle him further back, targeting Chrysoberyl from behind.”

Bred by the Japanese leading breeding operation Northern Farm, Chuwa Wizard has barely put a foot wrong since winning a maiden at Kyoto in February 2018. Since his debut, he has been unplaced only once in his 18 career starts.

Tosaki has partnered Chuwa Wizard in his exercise since he arrived in Saudi Arabia on Monday and is happy with what he has seen.

“He has matured a lot and showed lots of progress every time he races,” the jockey said. “I think he is in really good form and has been the same as how he is at home, feeling good.”

After helping his mount to his most significant victory to date in Japan, Tosaki is keen to make the most of their partnership in what will be a new experience.

“Having riding experiences overseas is nothing but very special for me,” he said. “My last trip to overseas was the Shergar Cup at Ascot (in 2017), and this is my first trip to Saudi Arabia.

“I have had a really good time and it is a great experience to ride here. Even under the difficult circumstances, I am very honored and grateful to have been invited.”

 

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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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Almond Eye Japan’s HOTY For Second Time In Three Years

Silk Racing Co. Ltd.’s Almond Eye (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}), who was retired from racing following a second victory in the G1 Japan Cup last November, was named the recipient of the Horse of the Year award for the second time in the last three years Wednesday. She easily outpointed Triple Crown winners and unanimous champions Contrail (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) and Daring Tact (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}), while champion sprinter/miler elect Gran Alegria (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) garnered a single vote for HOTY. Almond Eye, who was also the champion of her generation at three in 2018, was also named champion older filly or mare.

Programmed for a defence of her title in the G1 Dubai Turf last March, Almond Eye returned to Japan following the cancellation of the multi-million dollar race meeting in late March and instead made her 5-year-old debut in the G1 Victoria Mile, where–facing her own sex for the first time since completing the Fillies Triple Crown in the 2018 G1 Shuka Sho–she proved an easy winner, stopping the timer in 1:30.6. Runner-up to Gran Alegria in the G1 Yasuda Kinen in June, Almond Eye defeated champion older male Fierement (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) to win the G1 Tenno Sho (Autumn) for the second year in a row and handed Contrail his first career defeat when concluding her career victoriously in the Nov. 29 Japan Cup.

 

WATCH: Almond Eye wins the 2020 Japan Cup en route to HOTY honours

 

Gran Alegria put together a Horse of the Year-worthy campaign herself, defeating males in the G1 Sprinters’ S. (1200m) in October, the strength of which was amplified when that race’s runner-up Danon Smash (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) returned to land the G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint. Gran Alegria closed a three-for-four season in the G1 Mile Championship, besting the classy Indy Champ (Jpn) (Stay Gold {Jpn}) with an irresistible late flourish. All but one of the 283 votes were cast for Gran Alegria (one was cast for Almond Eye).

Contrail was untouchable versus his age group, completing the Triple Crown with a hard-fought success in the G1 Kikuka Sho before finding only Almond Eye too strong in the Japan Cup. Fierement, whose retirement was announced Wednesday, made three trips to the post in 2020, winning the G1 Tenno Sho (Spring) over 3000 metres in May and was last seen finishing a close third to ‘Special Award’ winner Chrono Genesis (Jpn) (Bago {Fr}) in the G1 Arima Kinen. Deep Impact’s three champions for 2020 take his total to 21 in his illustrious career.

Daring Tact’s campaign very much mirrored that of Contrail, as she was untouchable in the Filly Triple Crown series before finishing third in the Japan Cup.

Danon the Kid (Jpn) (Just a Way {Jpn}) and the white filly Sodashi (Jpn) (Kurofune) locked up the 2-year-old male and female divisions, respectively, with victories in the G1 Asahi Hai Futurity S. and G1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies, while Chuwa Wizard (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}) was given the nod as the country’s top dirt horse following his win in the G1 Champions Cup last month.

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