Tag: Europe

Mishriff and Mandaloun Duel In The Desert

By Emma Berry and Kelsey Riley

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

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

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

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

Authority Kick Starts Big Day For Japan

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

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

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

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

Champions Go Head To Head

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

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

Passing The Crown

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

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

Baffert Targets Another Derby

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

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

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

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

Copano Back To Defend Sprint Title

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

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

Click here for the group fields.

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Buick Off Saudi Cup Mounts After Covid Positive

Godolphin jockey William Buick, who was slated to ride the Jan. 21 G2 Al Fahidi Fort hero Naval Crown (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the G3 1351 Turf Sprint on the Saturday of the Saudi Cup meeting, has tested positive for Covid and will be off his mounts in Riyadh on Saturday. Also due to ride Siskany (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the G3 Longines Red Sea Turf H., Noble Truth (Fr) (Kingman {GB}) in the G3 Saudi Derby and Copano Kicking (Spring At Last) in the G3 Riyadh Cup Sprint, Buick missed several rides at Meydan on Friday, as well. In Friday's G3 Dubai Millennium S., Buick had been booked for Star Safari (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), but Andrea Atzeni finished second aboard the Godolphin runner instead.

For his Saudi Cup mounts, James Doyle will deputise for Buick on Naval Crown and Siskany, while Frankie Dettori has been called up to ride Noble Truth. In place of Doyle on Happy Power (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) in the 1351 Cup Sprint is David Egan. The regular rider of 2021 Saudi Cup victor Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}), Egan also picks up the ride on Copano Kicking for Buick in the Riyadh Dirt Sprint.

Ginobili (Munnings) will be forced to miss the Sprint after emerging from his second gallop at King Abdulaziz unsatisfactorily. Trainer Richard Baltas told Daily Racing Form that the 5-year-old was lame in his left for, but that the first set of X-rays taken were negative. Results of a second set of images were pending and Baltas surmised that Ginobili would undergo a nuclear scan upon his return to America.

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In Mighty Mishriff We Trust

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia–In its short history, the Saudi Cup meeting has not been short of drama. It has also not been slow in ensuring Group 1 status, which it carries this year for the third running of the world's richest race. 

It is a deserved uplift. Last year's winner of the $20 million Saudi Cup, Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}), was a Classic winner coming into the race, and won another two Group 1s in Dubai and Britain following his success in Riyadh. What's more, he had the subsequent Breeders' Cup Classic winner and American Horse of the Year Knicks Go (Paynter) behind him in fourth in the Cup.

This triumph by a globetrotting star owned and bred by Saudi Arabia's Prince Faisal was everything the race needed following an unwelcome turn of events in the aftermath of the inaugural Saudi Cup. A matter of days after Maximum Security (New Year's Day) won in 2020 his initial trainer Jason Servis was charged with race fixing and the use of performance-enhancing drugs in the U.S. and is currently awaiting trial. Within a month of that first international gathering, the world went into a Covid-enforced lockdown, which persisted though last year's meeting, staged in an elite sport 'bubble' with only a small number of participants and spectators present. 

This time around, the world is a little freer but no less dappled by ongoing controversies within the wider racing world. In the quarantine barn is stabled the horse who has just been crowned the Kentucky Derby winner of 2021, some ten months after the race was run. Mandaloun (Into Mischief), who is one of the main chances to take the third running of the Saudi Cup on Saturday, could well be in the unusual position of having 'won' two Group/Grade 1 races within a week, having been awarded the Kentucky Derby on official confirmation on Monday of the disqualification of the late Medina Spirit. The latter's trainer Bob Baffert now faces a 90-day suspension and is represented in the Saudi Cup by Country Grammer (Tonalist), who, like Medina Spirit, is owned by Saudi-born Amr Zedan.

Mandaloun remained in the barn on Wednesday morning. His compatriot  Art Collector (Bernardini) ventured out and stood placidly watching the equine world go by on the main track at King Abdulaziz racecourse. Breezing past amid the strong Japanese contingent–always a delight at any international race meeting–was the shock GI Breeders' Cup Distaff winner Marche Lorraine (JPN) (Orfevre {JPN}). The 6-year-old mare, looking pretty woolly having been plunged back into a Japanese winter after her golden autumn in California, will be without her big-race partner Oisin Murphy. The reigning champion jockey in Britain was suspended from race-riding for 14 months on Tuesday following a BHA Judicial Panel hearing into various offences pertaining to failed breath tests and Covid protocol breaches.

Ah, racing. You're hard to love sometimes. But whatever slings and arrows are thrust upon the sport by a minority of the humans involved, there are at least those four-legged wonders who remind us, happily, on a daily basis exactly why we fell for the game in the first place.

In Riyadh this week, no horse deserves a cape and a gold star more than the mighty Mishriff. They say, apparently, that 80 per cent of success is just showing up. Mishriff has shown up every year since the Saudi Cup was launched, running second to Full Flat (Speightstown) in the first Saudi Derby before his glorious hurrah, as much for locals as for Britain, in the big one last year. His success is clearly down to much more than simply being present, not least his owner's formidable boutique breeding operation which has been honed with panache though generations. But he's back again, and if looks and glowing good health are anything to go by, Mishriff will not surrender his crown easily, even from the widest draw of all.

As the tractors exited the dirt track on the dot of seven on Wednesday morning, it was only fitting that the poster boy for the Saudi Cup was out first and almost alone, followed at a respectful distance by his stable-mate Harrovian (GB) (Leroidesanimaux), who runs in the Neom Turf Cup. John Gosden is not in Riyadh, but his son Thady, arriving at the track by bicycle, has already proved his mettle in overseeing a major international runner when travelling with Mishriff during last year's lockdown. A month later, the younger Gosden's name was officially added to the licence as co-trainer.

Out even earlier than Mishriff were Jocelyn Targett–former creative director for the inaugural Saudi Cup–and John Hammond, former trainer, notably of Montjeu (Ire), one of the few horses who was even better looking than Mishriff. The two old pals are on something of a busman's holiday as owners of runners trained respectively by the up-and-coming French trainers Jerome Reynier and Edouard Monfort. Targett is in town to cheer on his homebred Saudi Derby runner Jacinda (GB) (Aclaim {Ire}), her background memorably described by him on Tuesday as “the story of a mare I shouldn't have bought, a yearling I couldn't sell and a claimer that no-one wanted to claim.” Look how far you can go with horses if you never stop believing. Targett never does.

Hammond meanwhile has a runner in the Neom Turf Cup, a mare he owns with Rebecca Philipps and who was selected by his son Oscar at the BBAG Yearling Sale some years ago for €14,000. Eudaimonia (Fr) (Vision d'Etat {FR}) has merrily skipped her way through plenty of dances in some pretty fancy halls since then, and the music plays on. 

French racing has not been immune to turbulent times of late, and Sealiway (Fr) (Galiway {GB}) has arrived in Saudi with a different trainer to the one who saddled him to win the G1 QIPCO British Champion S. last October. With both his former trainers Cedric and Frederic Rossi currently suspended, the 4-year-old now represents Francis Graffard's stable, and he has been exercising along with the Aga Khan's Ebaiyra (Distorted Humour), who was Alain de Royer Dupre's final Group 1 runner in Hong Kong before his retirement in December. She is another new recruit to Graffard's increasingly powerful string. Their compatriots Skazino (Fr) (Kendargent {FR}), another former Rossi incumbent now trained by Richard Chotard, and the Jean-Claude Rouget-trained Glycon (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) have been keeping them company and the quartet took the opportunity for a little paddock schooling after cantering on the main track on Wednesday morning. 

Wandering past them as they circled the parade ring, head in the air but ears firmly pricked, was one of the most likeable mares of recent racing seasons, Princess Zoe (Ger) (Jukebox Jury {Ire}). We hear plenty about Willie Mullins at this time of year, usually in relation to Cheltenham, though the over-achiever also sent True Self (Ire) (Oscar {Ire}) to score at last year's Saudi Cup meeting with another formidable female, Hollie Doyle, in the Neom Turf Cup. But Willie's brother Tony has received deserved plaudits for his handling of the super staying mare Princess Zoe, now seven, who is another to have taken her happy team of connections on many memorable days out having been racing off a mark of 64 less than two years ago. Her next challenge is back in tandem with her young jockey Joey Sheridan for the $2.5 million Longines Red Sea Turf Handicap.

Regally named she may be, but Princess Zoe's determined climb to the top is just one reminder here in Riyadh that in the sport of kings, at the world's richest meeting laid on by a prince, even those from slightly humbler origins can have an important part to play in the greatest game of all. 

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Paddy Trainor Named Employee of the Year at the GSSSA

Johnston Racing's Patrick 'Paddy' Trainor was named the Employee of the Year at the Godolphin Stud & Stable Staff Awards on Monday. Hosted by Oli Bell, the ceremony was held virtually and broadcast live on Racing TV. The awards were organised by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) in conjunction with media partners Racing Post and Racing TV.

Trainor will receive £10,000, with the same amount shared with his colleagues at Johnston Racing, as well as the Godolphin Trophy. Earlier in the night, Trainor, who has worked for Johnston Racing for 23 years, won the Rider/Groom Award and £5,000, with an equivalent amount once again split between Johnston Racing employees. An Industry Coach, Trainor works with less experienced members of the Johnston team to develop their skills and improve their knowledge of horse welfare.

The full list of winners are as follows:

Employee of the Year & Rider/Groom: Paddy Trainor – Johnston Racing Ltd.

David Nicholson Newcomer: Elouise O'Hart – Ed Walker

Leadership: Tom Messenger – Dan Skelton

Stud Staff: Dulcie West – North Farm Stud

 Dedication: Alyson West – James Ferguson

 Community (In recognition of the wonderful work Rory

 MacDonald achieved at The British Racing School):

Freedom Zampaladus – Urban Equestrian Academy

 

Julie Harrington, Chief Executive of the BHA, said, “Everybody nominated tonight has done their bit to make horse racing a better sport and for that we are all extremely grateful. Measures have remained in place on racecourses throughout the last 12 months to reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19 and, as has been the case throughout the pandemic, those impacted have adapted their working style admirably and ensured that our sport has continued uninterrupted since its resumption in June 2020.

“My heartfelt congratulations go to all of tonight's winners and nominees, in particular Paddy Trainor, and my thanks go to our sponsor Godolphin and the judging panel for their hard work.”

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