Few have followed the trajectory of the career of Country Grammer (Tonalist) more closely than the well-respected Peter Bradley, who went to work on behalf of the late Paul Pompa, Jr. at the 2019 OBS April Sale. It was Bradley's name on the docket when the hammer fell in the first 20 minutes of the final day of the auction, having parted with $450,000 for the :21 flat breezer who was bred in Kentucky by Scott and Debbie Pierce.

Not Exactly A Buyer's Market

As it turned out, the record-setting 2019 OBS April Sale proved a sensational market to sell into. The overall sales-topper, a $1.3-million colt by Into Mischief–Dixie Song (Fusaichi Pegasus), sold during that final day of trade in Central Florida and was one of three to fetch seven figures. Colonel Liam was the second-priciest horse, a $1.2-million purchase by Robert and Lawana Low.

“That was one of those years when everything was selling really well, and I was trying to kind of look for a support system where it's slightly under the radar,” Bradley explained. “Colonel Liam had sold like 20 hips before this horse did [during the latter stages of the penultimate session]. And I really liked him, but I also kind of knew that he was going to be out of my price range.”

Still, the Tonalist colt had plenty of action and was unlikely to come cheap.

“I had some money to spend. I mean, I spent $450,000 on this horse, so it wasn't like I was trying to find a bargain-basement horse,” he said. “'Obvious' always stands out and, you know, the two kind of–and they weren't really knocks–but one was his sire was not the hottest thing in the world, and, two, he was a May foal. And even though he did everything right, he was pretty immature. He had a great frame on him, but he was a bit on the narrow side. He worked every bit as well as Colonel Liam if I remember correctly. He really leveled out and I don't remember him being pressed  on the gallop out. He looked like he liked his job.”

Country Grammer let down following the sale at WinStar Farm and “the horse pretty much went through his 2-year-old blues,” Bradley reported.

“He was a little wound up, so they took a little more time with him than not, which you know when to do if you've spent time with horses,” Bradley said.

Making Up For Lost Time

Country Grammer was therefore a late-debuting juvenile for Chad Brown, finishing a close fourth on the turf before breaking his maiden when switched to the dirt for the first time in November 2019. Never a factor after losing his footing at the start of the 2020 GII Fountain of Youth S. a short time before COVID-19 changed the entire racing landscape, he was third in a salty Belmont allowance–one spot behind 'TDN Rising Star' and future Dubai World Cup winner Mystic Guide (Ghostzapper)–then was up late to win the GIII Peter Pan S., with Mystic Guide back in third. Country Grammer was fifth to GI Belmont S. hero Tiz the Law (Constitution) in the GI Runhappy Travers S. that August and was sidelined before tragedy intervened.

“Chad thought he was a seriously nice horse, thought he might potentially be a Derby horse for him and that didn't quite work out of course,” said Bradley. “He was maturing and he kept going along. He came up with a little problem and we put him on the sideline and went back to WinStar. Then, sadly, in the interim, Mr. Pompa passed away. Eventually WinStar bought him from for a song.”

Part of the Pompa dispersal at the 2021 Keeneland January Sale–a draft topped by the $925,000 future Eclipse Award winner Regal Glory (Animal Kingdom)–Country Grammer was hammered down for a comparatively paltry $110,000.

“We were prepared to go to $250,000 or so for him and were very surprised we got him for $110,000,” WinStar's Elliott Walden said in a pre-World Cup interview this time last year. “We felt he could be a good handicap horse and we bought him with the intention of sending him to Bob Baffert in California because that division out there seemed a little short on numbers and it's worked out well.”

That is possibly the understatement of the century. Country Grammer's runner-up effort in the 2022 G1 Saudi Cup and subsequent World Cup success netted him better than $10 million. He parlayed a dominating victory in the GII San Antonio S. Dec. 26 into yet another $3.5-million payday in Riyadh behind the reopposing Panthalassa (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) last month and would surge past $21 million in earnings with a win this weekend.

Pete Bradley will be watching Saturday's race with keen interest, hoping that the horse he took a chance on nearly four years ago continues to validate his high opinion of him.

“That's what I do for a living–I'm a talent scout when it comes right down to it,” Bradley said.

The post ‘Grammer’ Lessons–Part II appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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The 6-year-old is one of 13 in the field for the $12-million centerpiece of the meeting, including no fewer than eight runners from Japan topped by Panthalassa (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}), who registered a half-length defeat of Country Grammer in the G1 Saudi Cup last month. Emblem Road (Quality Road), who upset Country Grammer in the 2022 Saudi Cup, is set to make the trip over from Riyadh.

In terms of numbers, the U.S. supplies five of the 13 likely starters the G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen, whose defending American-bred champion Switzerland (Speightstown) is also engaged. Gunite (Gun Runner) gave an excellent account of himself when making his seasonal debut in the G3 Riyadh Dirt Sprint, finishing runner-up to champion Elite Power (Curlin), while the in-form Sibelius (Not This Time) ships in for Midlantic-based conditioner Jerry O'Dwyer and will be ridden by Ryan Moore. Hopkins (Quality Road), a latest winner of the GIII Palos Verdes S., also represents the Bob Baffert barn, while C Z Rocket (City Zip) was a late addition to the field. Super Ocho (Chi) (Dubai Sky) is one of two World Cup night entries for trainer Amador Sanchez, who also sends out Gulfstream allowance winner Super Corinto (Arg) (Super Saver) in the G2 Godolphin Mile.

The G2 UAE Derby is the first race on the Road to the Kentucky Derby that offers the winner 100 points, and three American-based sophomores are in the mix. Two of those wintered in Dubai for Doug O'Neill, namely Tall Boy (Lookin At Lucky), fourth to Practical Move (Practical Joke) in last year's GII Los Alamitos Futurity, who handed Charles Fipke's Shirl's Bee (Bee Jersey) a one-length loss in the G3 UAE 2000 Guineas over a mile Feb. 10. Ah Jeez, a son of 2018 UAE Derby romper Mendelssohn, earned his way into the field with a 2 1/4-length allowance victory going seven furlongs at Meydan Feb. 24. Worcester (Empire Maker) is a third World Cup night runner for Baffert and most recently rounded out the trifecta in the Feb. 4 GIII Robert B. Lewis S.

Extravagant Kid (Kiss the Kid) won the 2021 G1 Al Quoz Sprint for Brendan Walsh and the conditioner is represented in this year's running by 'TDN Rising Star' Cazadero (Street Sense).

The last of the North American-based entries is Fipke's Grade I-winning 'TDN Rising Star' Shirl's Speight (Speightstown), who runs in the G1 Dubai Turf after finishing ninth behind Golden Shaheen entrant Lemon Pop (Lemon Drop Kid) in the G1 February S. on the dirt at Tokyo Feb. 19.

COUNTRY GRAMMER's regular pilot Umberto gave the keys to Antonio Fresu and watched on for his pre World Cup breeze at Meydan this morning .Moved like a Stealth fighter- low flyin' ,quiet and fast . pic.twitter.com/mVO99XsKyv

— John Nicholls (@JohnNico49) March 13, 2023

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Wherever and whenever horses from Japan show up on the world stage, recent history dictates that they are to be taken very seriously.

As recently as 12 months ago at the Saudi Cup meeting, horses representing the island nation accounted for four of the evening's six big races, and a month later in yet another desert destination, they somehow managed to one-up themselves with a spectacular five-timer on Dubai World Cup night. The nation has yet–repeat, yet–to break through in either of the world's eight-figure races on the dirt, but they will have every chance to rewrite history just past 8:30 local time Saturday when a half-dozen accomplished Japanese runners take on seven others in the $20-million G1 Saudi Cup at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh.

The most accomplished of the group at Saturday's nine-furlong distance on the dirt is Jun Light Bolt (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}), who earned an automatic berth in the Cup via his last-gasp defeat of 2022 G2 UAE Derby hero Crown Pride (Jpn) (Reach the Crown {Jpn}) in the G1 Champions Cup at Chukyo last December (see below). Purchased for better than $1 million as a yearling at the JRHA Select Sale, the bay won four of 21 starts on the grass, but has been reborn with the surface switch; the Champions Cup was his third win from four runs on the main track. He'll carry saddle towel six from barrier number six.

“Several front-runners drew inside so there is going to be plenty of early speed,” said trainer Yasuo Tomomichi. “I believe he can settle anywhere the jockey wants to be.”

WATCH: Jun Light Bolt up late in the Champions Cup

Panthalassa (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) is expected to be part of the early pace, as he drew the inside stall Wednesday. Having dead-heated for the victory in last year's G1 Dubai Turf, he ran a couple of blinders in defeat in the G2 Sapporo Kinen and particularly in the G1 Tenno Sho (Autumn), where he dared them to catch him after opening a monstrous lead and was only run down in the final yards. He makes a second start on dirt for the charismatic Yoshito Yahagi, who was matter of fact as relates to the draw.

“I never think about the numbers but number one should be a good number,” he said. “There's only one instruction–gotta go!”

Cafe Pharoah (American Pharoah) is the most prolific Japanese Group 1 dirt horse and passed up an opportunity for a third straight February S. in favour of Saudi riches. He'll have to negotiate a trip from gate 13 with Joao Moreira up.

“Cafe Pharoah has won the [February S.], and if you're able to win that race, you have to have a lot of ability,” the 'Magic Man' said. “I'd be very surprised if he runs a poor race. He's solid, strong, big, and apparently he knows what his job is. I'll be very surprised if he's not finishing in the top four.”

Though it would be no shock to see them run well, G1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) hero Geoglyph (Jpn), a son of American dirt sprint champion Drefong, and the well-traveled Vin de Garde (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), right there in last year's Dubai Turf, would be nevertheless be considered upset winners, all things considered.

Don't Sleep On The Locals…

Emblem Road (Quality Road) gave the home team its first win with a stunning victory over Country Grammer (Tonalist) in the big race last year and is back to defend his title. Fifth as the surprising favourite in the G3 Grand Prix de Vichy–a lone start on the turf–last July, the 5-year-old resumed with a smooth four-length conditions success in strong time Jan. 13 (video, SC 4).

“I'm so happy with the number eight, he's a late horse from the gate, so I can be outside easily,” said jockey Alexis Moreno. “He's doing very well, he's run well and I hope he can do it again.”

The commonly owned Scotland Yard (Quality Road), a graduate of the Fasig-Tipton Horses of Racing Age Sale, has earned his way into the Saudi Cup with three wins on the trot, including a 10 1/4-length romp over Electability (Quality Road)–winner of a $500,000 handicap Friday–in the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Cup Jan. 28 (video, SC 16).

Saudi Arabia is also represented by the two females in the race, former Polish champion Lagertha Rhyme (Ire) (Gutaifan {Ire}) and Sunset Flash (Ire) (Mayson {GB}).

Remorse (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) ships over from Dubai for Bhupat Seemar, having run a distant third to the G1 Dubai World Cup-bound Algiers (Ire) (Shamardal) in the G2 Al Maktoum Challenge R2 at Meydan three weeks ago. —Alan Carasso

Will Waters Part For Subjectivist In Red Sea Turf?

A baker's dozen line up in the G3 Longines Red Sea Turf H. over 3000 metres on grass, and the $2.5-million dollar question is if multiple Group 1 winner Subjectivist (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}) has returned to his formidable best after overcoming a tendon injury and 600-plus days away from the races.

Trainer Charlie Johnston was still an assistant to his father, Mark, when the bay stormed to victories in the G1 Prix Royal-Oak in October of 2020, the G2 Dubai Gold Cup in March of 2021 and the G1 Gold Cup at Royal Ascot later that June. It is a big ask for the 6-year-old, but Johnston is happy with his star's progress.

“It is a feeling of the unknown,” said Johnston. “We wouldn't be here if we didn't feel we would be competitive. Can I have the same confidence I had two years ago? No. This horse is coming back from a serious tendon injury, a tendon injury that in a lot of cases is career-ending. It is not like a bone injury that you know would have repaired to 100%.

“Stall 13 wouldn't have been my first choice of where to jump from, but it is what we've got and we just have to make the best of the situation.

“The horse seems in good fettle with himself and it's all systems go. I think he is showing the signs of a horse who has spent 20 months away from the track and he was always quite a difficult horse to lead up, particularly on a raceday going back a couple of years, so it doesn't concern me to see him full of himself.”

HE'S BACK!

Gold Cup winner SUBJECTIVIST will return to action in the Red Sea Turf Handicap after a 20 month break

Hear from trainer Charlie Johnston about his road to recovery @Johnston_Racing #TheSaudiCup pic.twitter.com/GXbTHF5ePE

— World Horse Racing (@WHR) February 23, 2023

John and Thady Gosden won the second running of the Saudi Cup with Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}), and are back in Riyadh with Trawlerman (Ire) (Golden Horn {GB}) for this marathon affair. The 2022 Ebor H. winner carries the Godolphin blue, and was third after briefly leading in the G2 British Champions Long Distance Cup in October.

“He's an Ebor winner who was able to make the step-up to group class when he was third in the Long Distance Cup on Champions Day at Ascot, so you would like to think he will continue to develop into a good stayer,” the younger Gosden said. “But this is a very good race, not least with the return of Subjectivist, and he faces very tough competition in a very competitive handicap.”

Japan's Silver Sonic (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}) will be cutting back in trip on Saturday, after running out an 3/4-length winner of the 3600-metre G2 Sports Nippon Sho Stayers S. first off a seven-month hiatus on Dec. 3. The Shadai colourbearer is slotted into post one, near Darius Racing and Michael Motschmann's 2021 G1 Deutsches Derby victor Sisfahan (Fr) (Isfahan {Ger}), who leaves from stall three for trainer Henk Grewe. In between them is the outstandingly well-bred Enemy (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}), third in the G3 Sagaro S. for owners Tracey Bell and Caroline Lyons, from the yard of Ian Williams. If the last-named were to triumph, he would be the fourth group winner for his stakes-winning dam Prudenzia (Ire) (Dansili {GB}). –Heather Anderson

Missed The Cut A Warm Order For Neom Turf Cup

Can George Boughey and Oisin Murphy get off to the best possible start together with Missed The Cut (Quality Road) in the G3 Neom Turf Cup?

Murphy has committed to riding Boughey's Royal Ascot winner this season and they will be bidding to get off to the best possible start in the $1.5-million contest.

Missed The Cut is a short-priced favourite to get his campaign off with a bang and Boughey says that he is happy from what he is seeing from the 4-year-old in the build-up to the race.

“We're happy with him,” Boughey said. “He beat the Dubai World Cup favourite [Algiers {Ire} (Shamardal)] on the all-weather at Lingfield back in November and he comes here in super shape so we are looking forward to it.

“The Algiers form is obviously good form. Algiers has taken his form to a different level on the dirt in Meydan and this is a whole different kettle of fish for Missed The Cut. It is a tight 10 and a bit furlongs [2100m] around the turf here. He has got plenty of pace and I'm hoping he should go well.”

Missed The Cut could face stiffest opposition from fellow British raiders Sir Busker (Ire) (Sir Prancealot {Ire}), trained by William Knight, and John and Thady Gosden's Mostahdaf (Ire) (Frankel {GB}).

John Gosden said, “Mostahdaf is training well having had a nice break after the Arc when he didn't handle the very heavy conditions.

“He looks great and seems to be enjoying the warmer climate. He is a lightly raced colt, still with plenty of potential and he has Group-winning form between 10 and 12 furlongs [2000m to 2400m].”

The trainer added, “We don't have any campaign mapped out for him yet, we would like to take it step-by-step, but I'd be hopeful of a good showing tomorrow.”

Meanwhile, Sir Busker comes into the Neom Cup off the back of a blowout under Ryan Moore on the all-weather, and the leading jockey remains loyal in Saturday's contest.

Knight said, “He's been in good order here and he arrives on the back of career-best form last year with a Group 2 win and a Group 1 place.

“He has come out of his prep a few weeks ago at Lingfield very well and Ryan Moore is back on him. We're hopeful of a big run.”

Bahrain-based veteran trainer Allan Smith will be hoping to grab the headlines with Byline (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}). Consistent throughout his career, the six-year-old comes into the contest after finishing third in the Listed Crown Prince Cup over 2000m on Feb. 3.

Speaking after morning track work on Friday, Smith said, “He breezed very well today. He galloped out good and was clean-winded. I'm very pleased with him.”

In 2021, Al Adiyat and Smith were a close second in the 1351 Turf Sprint on Saudi Cup day with Dark Power (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}). This year, they bring a similarly overlooked type into the meeting. Veteran jockey Gerald Mosse takes the reins from post three.

“He's taken everything in stride since he arrived and is a happy horse,” Smith continued. “There wasn't much to do with him since he got over here from Bahrain. He's had a nice busy season and ran just a couple weeks ago. He ran a good race, but was a bit unlucky with a high draw and being wide throughout the entire race. He's better than that.

“He ran 10 furlongs [2000m] last time and this race is a little farther than that, but Bahrain has a big, sweeping track and this is a tighter track, which makes me think the distance won't be a problem. He's doing very well and we're hopeful for a good run.” —Brian Sheerin

MISSED THE CUT was unraced one year ago. He is now a Royal Ascot winner, a Listed winner and lines up in the Neom Turf at @thesaudicup on Saturday.

His trainer @gbougheyracing has been flying since last year and has had multiple international wins. #TeamBritishRacing pic.twitter.com/Ppn6uVXVoH

— GBRI (@GBRI_UK) February 21, 2023

Lemaire Bids To Call The Tune Again On Songline

While Richard Hannon is doubly represented in the following G3 1351 Turf Sprint by Happy Romance (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}) and Lusail (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), the race appears to be dominated by Japanese-trained runners, including last year's winner Songline (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}).

Trained by Toru Hayashi, Songline will again be partnered by Christophe Lemaire, who rode four winners on this card 12 months ago.

Lemaire said of Songline's chances of a repeat win aboard the Japanese raider, “I think she is in better condition than last year. If I remember correctly last year, when I rode her in the morning, she was a little bit stiff. Today, I felt she was very smooth and her footwork was very good so I am more confident than last year.”

He added, “She will have to show that she is a Group 1 horse. She had some issues last autumn but this morning she looked brilliant. All the staff did their best to bring the mare at her best for Saturday. She can stay the mile so it means that, if the pace is strong, you will need stamina in the last furlong. She has got that stamina.”

Lauda Sion (Jpn) (Real Impact {Jpn}), winner of the G1 NHK Mile Cup in Japan, returns to the race he finished fourth in last year. He had a breeze on the dirt track under jockey Bauyrzhan Murzabayev on Friday and was reported by connections to be in good form.

Shigeki Todo, assistant to trainer Takashi Saito, said, “We prefer giving just a stretching-out breeze rather than fast gallop on the week of the race–it is our stable's routine. He looked under control this morning with the jockey which I always want to see.”

Hannon's Happy Romance was third to Songline in this race last year and, along with Lusail, makes up a strong challenge for the trainer.

Hector Tournier, representing Hannon, said, “Both horses have done the work they needed at home. They travelled well and are easy horses.” —Brian Sheerin

My Map Looks To Stay Unbeaten in Derby

Locally based My Map (Liam's Map) looks to run his unbeaten mark to five-from-five as he takes on an international group in the $1.5-million G3 Saudi Derby Cup Saturday evening.

Winner of a pair of starts over the summer season at Ta'if, he returned from a three-month freshening to take a local allowance over 1400 metres and made it four in a row in the Saudi Derby Qualifier Jan. 27, defeating Almulhem (More Than Ready) by 2 1/4 lengths, with Atta Alghali (Karakontie {Jpn}) a further half-length adrift in third. My Map drew 13 of 13.

Japan took the first two runnings of the Derby and will have a strong chance to add to that total here. Continuar (Jpn) (Drefong) makes his 3-year-old debut Saturday, having won two of his three trips to the post at home, including the Cattleya S. conditions race that serves as the first leg on the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby at Tokyo Nov. 26. His lone defeat came in his second career start at the hooves of Derma Sotogake (Jpn) (Mind Your Biscuits), who would go on to annex the second leg of the Kentucky Derby series, the Dec. 14 Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun. Third that day was Perriere (Jpn) (Henny Hughes), recent winner of the Listed Hyacinth S. to climb to the top of the Derby leaderboard. From Dusk (Bolt d'Oro), Group 2-placed on turf, and Ecoro Ares (Unified) look like fringe players from the barn of Hideyuki Mori, who saddled Full Flat (Speightstown) in 2020 and the late Pink Kamehameha (Jpn) (Leontes {Jpn}) the following year.

Bob Baffert won last year's renewal with Pinehurst (Twirling Candy) and is represented here by Havnameltdown (Uncaptured). Campaigned exclusively over six and seven furlongs to date, the Florida-bred won the GIII Bob Hope S. in November and tacked on a 1 1/2-length success in the GII San Vicente S. Jan. 29. He tries to see out the mile here with Frankie Dettori in the irons. —Alan Carasso

WATCH: My Map makes it four out of four in the Saudi Derby Qualifier

From 'Prince' To King In Dirt Sprint?

Like many of the Saudi Cup night races, there is a high class Japanese presence in one form or another, and in the $1.5-million G3 Riyadh Dirt Sprint Presented By Sports Boulevard, three runners from the Land of the Rising Sun have signed on.

Chizu Yoshida's Dancing Prince (Jpn) (Pas de Trois {Jpn}) is back to defend his title in the 1200-metre dirt feature, and will leave from stall seven in the nine-horse race under Damian Lane.

More likely to wind up in the winner's circle than not, the Chizu Yoshida runner has only lost once since his victory here, and defeated the re-opposing Ryuno Yukina (Jpn) (Vermilion {Jpn}) going this trip at Morioka in the Listed JBC Sprint on Nov. 3.

However, there is also a strong American contingent headed by Juddmonte's Eclipse Award-winning sprinter Elite Power (Curlin), who has won his last five starts for Hall of Famer Bill Mott. Frankie Dettori is booked for the entire, who splits the nine-horse field in gate five. A 1 1/4-length victor in the GI Qatar Racing Breeders' Cup Sprint in November, the 5-year-old is not the only Breeders' Cup participant, as GI Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile fourth and GI Hopeful S. scorer Gunite (Gun Runner) enters fresh off a victory in the Jan. 28 Listed King Cotton S. at Oaklawn Park. The Winchell Thoroughbreds' homebred leaves from stall two with Tyler Gaffalione in the irons for trainer Steve Asmussen, who recently celebrated his 10,000th career victory.

“Gunite has been training really well and as evidenced by his first performance as a 4-year-old, he's doing quite well,” said David Fiske, who manages owner/breeder Winchell Thoroughbreds' racing and bloodstock. “I get videos almost every day of him since arriving in Saudi Arabia and he seems to be doing great there. The race has been in the back of our minds as an early goal since the Breeders' Cup. His race in the King Cotton increased our confidence that he could be effective in a race that, on paper, might appear to be a little short for him, distance-wise.” –Heather Anderson

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The featured event, sponsored by Emirates Airline, attracted 171 entries. Of the 24 Group or Grade 1 winners besides the Zedan Racing-owned and Bob Baffert-trained Country Grammer, is the duo's three-time Grade I winner Taiba (Gun Runner).

Joining them could be a pair of longshot headliners from last year; namely, GI Kentucky Derby champ Rich Strike (Keen Ice) and upset G1 Saudi Cup victor Emblem Road (Quality Road). Japan continues their well-documented rise on the international racing stage, and 2022 G1 Dubai Turf dead-heater Panthalassa (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) holds a Dubai World Cup nomination this time.

As for the rest of the card, the G1 Longines Dubai Sheema Classic nominations includes Japanese stars like the 2022 winner Shahryar (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), as well as Equinox (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}), the highest-rated 3-year-old in the world last year. Standing in their way is Godolphin trainer Charlie Appleby who has entered Rebel's Romance (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), winner of the 2022 GI Breeders' Cup Turf.

Speaking of the Dubai Turf, sponsored by DP World, the other half of the dead heat from last year in Lord North (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) returns, while newcomer Saffron Beach (Ire) (New Bay {GB}) made the list. They could be facing rookie international shipper and reigning Hong Kong Horse of the Year Golden Sixty (Aus) (Medaglia d'Oro). Meanwhile, the G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen could pit the Steve Asmussen trainee Gunite (Gun Runner) against RRR Racing's local hero Switzerland (Speightstown).

Grass sprinting noms in the G1 Al Quoz Sprint, sponsored by Azizi Developments, are led by the well-travelled Artorius (Aus) (Flying Artie {Aus}) who could make the journey from Down Under. Irish trainer Aidan O'Brien's three wins in the G2 UAE Derby make him a logical frontrunner, especially as he has nominated GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf winner Victoria Road (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}).

The G2 Dubai Gold Cup, sponsored by Al Tayer Motors, could signal the return of 2021 winner and G1 Gold Cup hero Subjectivist (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}). While the rundown of entries for the G2 Godolphin Mile, sponsored by Nakheel, is marked by defending champion Bathrat Leon (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}), as well as Japanese challengers like Lauda Sion (Jpn) (Real Impact {Jpn}) and Derma Louvre (Jpn) (Pyro), plus Americans hopefuls like Pioneer Of Medina (Pioneerof the Nile) and White Abarrio (Race Day).

“We are delighted by the strength and depth of entries for this year's Dubai World Cup meeting,” said Stephanie Cooley, International Manager for the Club. “To have horses from more than 20 countries considering the trip shows the meeting's continued global appeal.”

Invitations for the meeting are set to go out during February. Click here, for the full list of the nominations.

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Drawn gate four and asked to carry 62kg (136 pounds), the mount of Alexis Moreno was clearly last into stride and was guided into the clear inside the opening quarter-mile, then proceeded to improve his position into midfield passing the halfway point. Some six or seven wide into the bend, the 5-year-old caught the eye approaching the 600-meter marker as he began to wind up with a menacing run nearing the straight. Racing on his left lead, Emblem Road struck to the lead with about a furlong to travel and was pushed out under mild hands-and-heels encouragement to score by four lengths (see below).

A perennial leading local jockey, Moreno guided Emblem Road to three consecutive scores in 2021 and 2022, including the $213,000 Prince Faisal Cup, a local Saudi Cup prep, this time last year. When Moreno elected to retain the mount on King's Cup hero Making Miracles (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) for the Saudi Cup, that opened the door for Wigberto Ramos to take over aboard Emblem Road and the duo came storming down the center of the track to best Country Grammer (Tonalist) by a half-length, with Midnight Bourbon (Tiznow) third. Making Miracles was fourth.

Emblem Road, $230,000 Keeneland September yearling and $80,000 OBS June breezer, was winning for the eighth time from 11 starts overall. He was last seen in France last July when he finished fifth of sixth as the somewhat surprising favorite in the G3 Grand Prix de Vichy, his only start on the turf to date.

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Olivier Peslier said, “We stayed behind the lead [horse] and made him run 400 metres quick. He closed a little bit late, but he was coming in the end. The horse is very well.”

Renato Geiger, manager of the racing and bloodstock interests for Prince Saud, said, “After the horse won the Saudi Cup, we had the thought to go to the Breeders' Cup. The first plan was a holiday [in France], not really to run. We thought we'd give him a break and then head to America for a prep race before the Breeders' Cup.

“When Prince Saud bin Salman bin Abdulaziz decided to race him in France, I knew that Alessandro Botti–cousin of Italian trainer Stefano Botti and Newmarket-based Marco Botti–was the right man.”

“There is a nice 2000m race–the Grand Prix de Vichy–where we are going next Wednesday,” added Geiger. “We picked Vichy because it is a flat track, so there are no tricky situations. Where he heads after that is down to Prince Saud bin Salman bin Abdulaziz. If you look at his work, he looks good on turf. Physically he's a sort of hybrid. He's a smart horse, an athletic horse and we think he's a very special horse.”

“He's a horse that will never show who he is in the mornings,” he continued. “He's very laid back. That's why Olivier [Peslier] was picked to ride him. He's not only a good racing jockey, but he's a good tester too.

“In the last three weeks, [Emblem Road]'s come along very well.”

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Gracing the cover of the 2022 catalog is 'TDN Rising Star' Corniche (Quality Road), who topped last year's renewal on a bid of $1.5 million from Marette Farrell, agent for Speedway Stables, and who went on to cap an undefeated championship season with a victory in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Del Mar.

OBS April graduates Emblem Road (Quality Road) and Country Grammer (Tonalist) provided the exacta in the $20-million G1 Saudi Cup in Riyadh last month and are featured on the back cover of the catalog. The former was an $80,000 by agent Bruno de Berdt out of this event two years ago, while Country Grammer fetched $450,000 from Bradley Thoroughbreds LLC, agent, in 2019. Winner of the GIII Peter Pan S. as a 3-year-old while under the care of Chad Brown, he added last year's GI Hollywood Gold Cup and was first off a nine-month layoff in the Saudi Cup. Country Grammer goes in Saturday's G1 Dubai World Cup at Meydan.

Other high-profile grads of the April sale include the G1 Dubai Turf-bound MGISW Colonel Liam (Liam's Map, $1.2m–2019), the undefeated 3-year-old fillies Kathleen O. (Upstart, $275,000–2021) and 'TDN Rising Star' Shahama (Munnings, $425,000–2021) and recent G1 Coolmore Classic victress Lighthouse (Mizzen Mast, $375,000–2019).

Under-tack previews will be held over the course of six days from Sunday, Apr. 10 through Saturday, Apr. 16, beginning each morning at 8 a.m., with approximately 175 horses breezing each day.

OBS will once again offer online bidding during the sale. For complete information, click here. For the catalog, visit www.obssales.com.

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Before getting into Brushy Hill's mating plans this year, we asked Moore about the story behind the mating, which was put together by the late Mike Recio, that produced Emblem Road.

“That was a Mike Recio special,” Moore said. “All the matings up until last year and our entire portfolio is because of Mike's involvement. Emblem Road's dam Venturini (Bernardini) was out of a great race mare from a really exciting family. We bought her in foal to Temple City in 2016 and we felt like we got a great deal at $62,000. That first foal by Temple City went up to Canada and was stakes placed there. At that point we felt like we had a little bit of support behind the mare, so we wanted to go big with her breeding. Mike was super high on Quality Road that year and felt like he was the big horse on the upswing. Turns out he was right.”

Emblem Road fetched $230,000 at the 2019 Keeneland September Sale with South Point Sales Agency.

In 2020, Venturini produced a colt by Nyquist who sold for $185,000 at the Keeneland January Sale to OXO Equine, but Moore said the mare died shortly after foaling that year.

“It's unfortunate because we've done so well with all the babies out of her. She was producing runners, so it will be exciting to see what will happen with the Nyquist colt and hopefully this is the jumping off point for Emblem Road. We'll be watching and rooting for him.”

Moore said that Brushy Hill's program will be sending 15 mares to the breeding shed this year. While at one point they had over 25 mares, he said they have since scaled back due in large part to the loss of partner and advisor Recio.

“It was kind of a regrouping because he was our partner in a lot of these and obviously the advisor on all of them,” Moore explained. “We also thought that last year was a good time to do it. We weren't sure what the market would look like this year so we didn't want to get caught holding too much.”

Moore noted that maintaining a boutique-sized broodmare band helps them focus on their goal of seeking quality over quantity.

“It allows us to pick stallions that we really like without getting bogged down on what our total stud fee bill looks like,” he said. “I think the market is such that you have to breed to quality. Everyone knows that the middle market can be tough, so you have to try to play to the top of the market as best you can. For us, that means finding mares that maybe didn't make it as superstar racehorses but have quality, exciting, active families.”

ALMADA (m, 8, Lonhro (Aus) – Amerique (Ire), by Galileo (Ire)) to be bred to Violence

   This year Almada will be going to Violence. Of course he was hot when he came off the track and we have always loved him.

Almada is a really nice mare out of a great European family. She had a filly a few years ago that we sold to Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners called Dressed (More Than Ready). We expect great things from her this year and we think the mare will get support from her on the track, so we're going back to a really nice, proven stallion for Almada. She had an Improbable colt a few days ago. We went unproven last year and this year we're going back to proven.

CATENARY (m, 7, Arch – Grand Pauline, by Two Punch) to be bred to Good Magic

   Catenary is a big, beautiful Arch mare from the family of GIISW Keen Pauline (Pulpit). She never really made it as a racehorse but we love an Arch mare any chance we can get one and obviously her family is impressive. She had terrible luck last year from a breeding standpoint and with her being such a big mare, we have to be really careful about getting huge foals.

This year we are sending her to Good Magic. He has had some tremendous foals. While most of what we do is to sell, if we end up with a good filly that's by Good Magic and out of a nice Arch mare, that is something we would be totally content to keep and race in our own stable. We look at everything in terms of being as commercial as possible without getting to the point to where it's not something we would want to race ourselves.

CELIA'S SONG (m, 7, Distorted Humor – Warbling, by Unbridled's Song) to be bred to Audible

Celia's Song is named after my daughter, so she's one that will stick around with us for a while. We bought her as a 2-year-old and she won some races for us. She had a beautiful Ghostzapper colt last year. She foaled late, so we decided to keep her open.

This year she is going to Audible. Everyone loves Audible and is doing well with him. We've had a couple Audible fillies and have loved every single one we've seen, so this was an easy choice.

FORENSIC (m, 11, Medaglia d'Oro – Criminologist, by Maria's Mon) to be bred to Practical Joke

This mare is out of a great family and we also used to own her dam, a multiple stake-producing mare. Forensic was one of the first mares we bought for our breeding program, so she's another one that is a sentimental favorite.

Going back, this mare has had a Lemon Drop Kid, a Flatter, a Mastery and a Speightstown. It's a really blue-blooded family and she's a nice Medaglia d'Oro mare, so we try to breed her to as much class as we can. She will be going to Practical Joke. He's one that was a great horse to watch on the track and we've been big supporters of him. It's an easy decision for us to breed to Practical Joke. The battle we have is cutting the list down of who we want to send to him because he checks so many boxes of what we're looking for in a stallion. Plus, Forensic is a smaller mare with a slighter frame and we think Practical Joke will complement some of her size shortcomings.

OSAGE TREATY (m, 5, Declaration of War – Legendary Peace, by Peace Rules) to be bred to Mitole

This is a really beautiful mare. She was a $170,000 yearling and a nice turf mare, which we always like. We first bred her to Street Boss and this year she will be going back to Mitole. Last year we had one Mitole foal that we absolutely love. I know this is his third year which is always a roll of the dice, but he was such an impressive racehorse that we think adding speed to her turf pedigree is going to be really exciting. It's an easy formula for us.

VENKAT (m, 7, Distorted Humor – Stormy Welcome, by Storm Cat) to be bred to Upstart

   We love her family and this mare is beautiful physically. We kind of struggled with her this year in deciding what we wanted to do with her, but in the end it was kind of a roll of the dice but we're going to go with Upstart. He's a horse that we've always liked. I really like Flatter as a stallion. When we started breeding, he was relatively new and we really liked the foals we had by him. I think Upstart is great value at $10,000 this year and I've always liked how Airdrie has managed their stallions. If we're right and he has a big year this year, with this mare's page I think we have the opportunity to do really well with the horse.

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Now owned by Prince Saud bin Salman Abdulaziz, Emblem Road came into Saturday's 1 1/8-mile race off the back of three straight wins, but looked likely to have blown all chance at the start when breaking slowest of all from gate five. Rider Wigberto Ramos didn't panic, however, and kept Emblem Road in touch with the pack but still with plenty to do as the Dubai raider Secret Ambition (GB) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) moved to make the running. Amr Zedan's Country Grammer (Tonalist) raced in Secret Ambition's slipstream while Art Collector (Bernardini) kept the frontrunner company to the outside, with Midnight Bourbon (Tiznow) tracking the GI Woodward S. winner. Mandaloun and Mishriff raced in the three and four paths while stalking the pace, with Marche Lorraine and Sealiway further toward the back. Emblem Road, meanwhile, began to circle the field as they ran into the bend, quickly picking off rivals while traveling five wide. By the time they straightened, Emblem Road was running on the heels of his stablemate Making Miracles (GB) (Pivotal {GB}), likewise running a bold race at long odds. With Art Collector having called it a day at the quarter pole and Secret Ambition soon dropping back on the rail, it was a tussling Country Grammer and Midnight Bourbon who inherited the lead, but Emblem Road soon arrived on their outside, with Making Miracles also rallying gamely in behind. As Midnight Bourbon ceded, Emblem Road grabbed the lead from Country Grammer at the 50-meter mark and hit the line a half-length the best. Making Miracles stayed on for fourth, while the Uruguayan raider Aero Trem (Brz) (Shanghai Bobby) grabbed fifth at huge odds. Marche Lorraine was sixth, while Mandaloun faded to ninth and Art Collector 12th. Sealiway and Mishriff were distanced in 13th and 14th, respectively.

Emblem Road and Ramos returned to raucous celebrations in the King Abdulaziz Racecourse stands, and Prince Bandar Bin Khalid Al Faisal, chairman of the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia, summed up the occasion: “To have a locally trained horse perform that way is very emotional. I'm very happy for the connections, and I'm happy for Saudi Arabia. I think Mishriff, a Saudi-owned horse [the 2021 Saudi Cup winner], did amazing things to spread the love of horses. And now to have a locally-trained horse win it [the Saudi Cup] is extremely special, and I'm really excited about what this means for the future of horse racing in Saudi Arabia.”

Ramos explained how he put his knowledge of the course to good use. “My horse ran a great race and I broke good and my horse was very strong,” he said. “He wanted to go early, but I took my time with him and took a little hold and saw another horse, so then I just waited for the 500 metres to ask him. The key on this track is that you have to be near the front when you pass the 800 metres. If you're near, you are in a good position and outside is the best part of the track. It's a big turn, so when you put a horse who comes from behind all the way on the outside, they finish a lot better. I knew that I could do it, but now that I've done it, I still don't believe it. I beat so many good horses and this is the biggest race in the world. I think he could go on to the Dubai World Cup. He's the kind of horse who can do it.”

Emblem Road has won seven of nine starts and has never been off the board, and he has raced exclusively over this track. He broke his maiden going a mile by 6 1/4 lengths in November of 2020 three weeks after running a debut third, and he won a pair of allowance races in late December and early January of last year before being put away for the season. Emblem Road was second on return on Aug. 28 before winning a local stakes race by 14 lengths. He rounded out the year with a five-length victory in November and returned a winner once again in a Jan. 15 stakes over Great Scot (GB) (Requinto {Ire}), who was third in last year's Saudi Cup but only made it as far as the also eligibles for this year's edition.

Flavien Prat and Joel Rosario aboard runner-up Country Grammer and third-place Midnight Bourbon, respectively, had positive feedback on their mounts. Prat said, “[Country Grammer] ran great. When I pulled away I thought I was going to win, I thought it was going to be enough and that my horse was doing the hardest, but the winner was just too good and finished harder.”

Rosario said of Midnight Bourbon, “I thought he ran really well; it was probably a little bit different with him but he showed heart. He did great.”

Florent Geroux said of Mandaloun, “No good. He just wasn't there today. We knew the locals were good horses but we thought the outside horses might be better.”

Ryan Moore and David Egan provided insight on the well-beaten European fancies. Moore said of Sealiway, who was running on the dirt for the first time, “He started really well. He had more speed than I expected and the pace was strong, and once he got shuffled back he got some kickback and he didn't know what to do. He's a good horse.”

Egan said of Mishriff, “He didn't jump as sharp as last time but I did a similar thing and kept him out wide. He got there with ease but once I turned into the bend I was struggling from a long way out. I hope he's alright, there's obviously something amiss. He's better than that.”

Pedigree Notes

Saudi Arabian themes run along the bottom of Emblem Road's pedigree, too: his second dam is the four-time Grade I-winning filly Ventura (Chester House), who was bred by the late, great Saudi Arabian breeder Khalid Abdullah of Juddmonte Farm. Emblem Road's dam, the unplaced Venturini, was the first live foal out of Ventura and was purchased by Brushy Hill for $62,000 at Keeneland November in 2016 in foal to Temple City. The resulting produce was the Canadian listed-placed Kunal, and Emblem Road is the mare's second foal. She has a 2-year-old colt by Nyquist. Ventura has since produced the G3 Prix de Lieurey winner Fount (GB) (Frankel {GB}). The dual South African Group 1 winner Queen Supreme (Ire) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) appears under the third dam Estala (GB) (Be My Guest).

Saturday, King Abdulaziz (Riyadh), Saudi Arabia
SAUDI CUP-G1, $20,000,000, King Abdulaziz, 2-26, 4yo/up, 1800m, 1:50.52, ft.
1–EMBLEM ROAD, 126, c, 4, Quality Road
                1st Dam: Venturini, by Bernardini
                2nd Dam: Ventura, by Chester House
                3rd Dam: Estala (GB), by Be My Guest
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. 1ST GROUP WIN. 1ST GROUP 1 WIN.
($230,000 Ylg '19 KEESEP; $80,000 2yo '20 OBSJUN). O-Prince
Saud Bin Salman Abdulaziz; B-Brushy Hill, LLC (KY); T-Mitab
Almulawah; J-Wigberto Ramos; $10,000,000. Lifetime Record:
9-7-1-1, $10,204,734.  Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the
eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Country Grammer, 126, h, 5, Tonalist–Arabian Song, by
Forestry. ($60,000 Ylg '18 KEESEP; $450,000 2yo '19 OBSAPR;
$110,000 '21 KEEJAN). O-Zedan Racing Stables, WinStar Farm
& Commonwealth T'Breds; B-Scott & Debbie Pierce (KY); T-Bob
Baffert; J-Flavien Prat; $3,500,000.
3–Midnight Bourbon, 126, c, 4, Tiznow–Catch the Moon, by
Malibu Moon. ($525,000 Ylg '19 KEESEP). O-Winchell
Thoroughbreds, LLC; B-Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings,
LLC (KY); T-Steven Asmussen; J-Joel Rosario; $2,000,000.
Margins: HF, 1HF, 3.
Also Ran: Making Miracles (GB), Aero Trem (Brz), Marche Lorraine (Jpn), Secret Ambition (GB), T O Keynes (Jpn), Mandaloun, Magny Cours, Real World (Ire), Art Collector, Sealiway (Fr), Mishriff (Ire).
Click for the Racing Post chart and VIDEO.  Click for the free Equineline.com catalog-style pedigree.

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