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Team Switzerland Hopes To Neutralize Foes In Riaydh Dirt Sprint

When the winner's enclosure cameras flash in Saturday's $1.5 million Riyadh Dirt Sprint, the team behind Switzerland is fully prepared to say cheese. Carrying the orange and black colors of HH Sheikh Rashid bin Humaid Al Nuaimi's RRR Racing, the son of Speightstown enters the tough contest as one of the serious players, thanks to a strong score in Meydan's G3 Dubawi on Jan. 21–his third victory at the level and sixth lifetime.

“He came out of the race in great shape,” said Bhupat Seemar, assistant trainer to Satish Seemar. “For us, that was only his first run–he was with Doug (Watson) before and obviously Steve Asmussen before that–so I can only say what we've seen from him and he's been very good in the mornings at Zabeel (Stables). He's a superb horse in the mornings and a flamboyant galloper. Mickael Barzalona galloped (breezed) him Monday morning and he was really happy with him. He will ride him in Saudi.”

Last year, the same connections entered Gladiator King–also fresh of G3 success in Dubai–to finish a respectable third in this. Gladiator King was astern Switzerland last out, obviously needing the run, but never seriously challenging his banner-mate when the real running commenced.

“I hope he travels well and everything just goes according to plan,” Seemar continued. “I think there are some tough horses in there, but I really like how Switzerland is doing. The really tough ones could be the Japanese, especially Matera Sky, who is very quick and a class horse. He was second in it last year and was second here in the (G1 Dubai Golden) Shaheen. He's fast and will be on the lead, so if he's let loose, he'll be tough to peg back.”

Strategy will definitely be paramount for the chocolate-brown Switzerland. Quick enough to go to the front, he showed a new dimension when stalking wide and free of sand last out. If he wishes for a replay of that scenario, the post position will be of utmost importance. The barrier draw takes place on Wednesday.

“One thing he doesn't want is cover,” Seemar explained. “If you look at all his winning races in America, he was always on the lead and didn't face a lot of kickback. He tried it here a couple times–to take back behind horses–and it just didn't work out for him. If they're going really fast on the lead, he can hopefully lay off them out of the kickback and come running again like he did at Meydan. The draw is obviously important, as well. I would like to be in the first four somewhere early.”

Having a live contender once again on Saudi Cup Day is quite an accomplishment for UAE's reigning champion training yard, proving once again that Dubai's premier horses can stack up against some of the very best in the world. Maintaining such company remains the goal after Saudi, as well, as Switzerland will surely be turning his watch ahead to Dubai World Cup Day and the $1.5 million Dubai Golden Shaheen.

Seemar: “We've been kind of lucky to be in this position. Last year, we had North America in the Saudi Cup and Gladiator King in the (Riyadh) Sprint, who was arguably the best sprinter in Dubai at the time. He got bumped in the race, which I think cost him second place, but he ran really well. The good thing is we've been there once and we know the script. We know what to do and what not to do, so we feel like we are in with a good chance with Switzerland.”

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International Sire Pivotal Pensioned From Stud Duty

Pivotal, the champion sprinter and multiple champion sire and broodmare sire, has been retired from covering duties.

The 28-year-old son of Polar Falcon has been a stalwart and flagbearer at Cheveley Park Stud since his retirement to stud in 1997.

Bred and raced by Cheveley Park Stud, he was trained by Sir Mark Prescott. A track record breaker as a 2-year-old, he was crowned champion sprinter as a 3-year-old, with the undoubted highlight coming in the Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes at York, when prevailing by the narrowest of margins to become the first Group 1 winner to be both bred and owned by Cheveley Park Stud. Prior to that he had shown all his battling qualities and tenacity in winning the Group 2 King's Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Pivotal took up stallion duties at an initial fee of £6,000, and immediately proved popular with commercial breeders. He was a leading British based first season sire, and soon sired his first British Group 1 winner in Kyllachy, who followed in his father's footsteps in winning the Nunthorpe Stakes, before also retiring to stand at Cheveley Park Stud. Pivotal went on to quickly rise through the stallion ranks and was leading British-based sire by individual winners on no less than eight occasions, and was twice crowned leading British-based sire by earnings. To date Pivotal has sired 32 individual Group 1 winners, including the classic winners Sariska, Halfway To Heaven, Falco, Buzzword and Saoire, as well as Dubai World Cup winner African Story, and most recently a Group 1 brace on QIPCO British Champions Day with Addeybb and Glen Shiel winning the Champion Stakes and British Champions Sprint Stakes, respectively .

Already Pivotal's legacy is starting to live on through both his sons and daughters. He was crowned champion European broodmare sire 2017 to 2019, and his daughters produced the Group 1 winners Love, Magical, Golden Horde and One Master last season, as well as multiple Group 1 winners Cracksman and Advertise in recent years. He is also making an impact as a sire of sires, with seven of his sons having sired Group 1 winners to date, most notably Siyouni with last season's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe victor Sottsass and Dewhurst Stakes winner St Marks Basilica.

A true legend in his own lifetime, the 'mighty' Pivotal will now enjoy a happy retirement at Cheveley Park Stud, where he will see out the rest of his years.

Managing director, Chris Richardson, said; “The story associated with the 'Mighty' Pivotal is truly extraordinary, considering he was the result of the very first covering his sire, Polar Falcon, was given. Thankfully, as a yearling, it was decided to retain him to race, rather than offer him for sale, as we did with the other yearling colts by Polar Falcon that year. Whilst in the hands of trainer, Sir Mark Prescott, Pivotal truly put Cheveley Park Stud on the map, giving owners David and Patricia Thompson their first Group 1 winner in the stud's famous red, white and blue colors. Having covered a relatively small book of mares in his first year, his resulting progeny excelled and inspired at all levels, which they have continued to do throughout his career, both domestically and internationally. On the world stage, Pivotal has excelled as a sire, a sire of sires and as a broodmare sire, to the highest level and all of us at Cheveley Park Stud have been so blessed to have been part of his life for 28 years. I think Triple Crown winner, Isinglass, whose stable Pivotal occupies, would have been very proud and we all wish Pivotal a well-deserved and happy retirement.”

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Christine Moore Named Kentucky Derby’s Featured Milliner For Fourth Straight Year

Churchill Downs Racetrack today announced that Christine Moore will continue for the fourth year as a featured milliner of the 147th Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve. Moore became the Derby's first featured milliner in history in 2018. Her highly popular hats and fascinators for women and men are available for purchase at www.camhats.com.

Moore's inspired and comfortable hat designs have been a staple of the racing industry for over a decade and have been worn by women and men at the world's most famous racetracks and equine events. She is the Official Milliner for the Breeders' Cup World Championships, America's Best Racing, the Jim McKay Maryland Million Day, the Iroquois Steeplechase and the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association. She is also the featured milliner at the Florida Derby, Keeneland and the Preakness Stakes.

Moore's hats have been worn by Jennifer Lopez, Mary J. Blige, Katy Perry, Kate Upton, Tara Lipinsky, Steffi Graf, Bo Derek, Jewel and the Today Show's Dylan Dryer and Al Roker. Moore and her famous hats have been featured on the Today Show, the Netflix Show 7 Days Out and have appeared on television shows including Nashville, Gossip Girl, The Carrie Diaries and Horseplayers.

“Statement-making hats are such a treasured part of the traditions of the Kentucky Derby and why it is one of the most exciting days in fashion as well as racing,” said Moore. “I'm thrilled to continue my relationship with Churchill Downs for the fourth year as a featured milliner and to bring my designs to Derby fans whether they are watching at the track or celebrating at home.”

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Editorial Returns From Eventful Stay In Peru To Stand In Maryland

Editorial, a half-brother to top sire Uncle Mo, has returned to Anchor and Hope Farm in Port Deposit Maryland for the 2021 breeding season after the COVID-19 pandemic kept him in Peru longer than expected, BloodHorse reports.

The 7-year-old son of War Front shipped to Haras San Pablo in the summer of 2019 for the Southern Hemisphere breeding season, and he was scheduled to return to Maryland to stand what would have been his third season in 2020. However, logistical hangups with quarantine stalled his return in January of last year. Then, once those hoops were cleared, the initial global shutdown at the onset of COVID-19 crippled the cargo shipment industry and created a shortage of available cargo planes, leading to the decision to keep the horse in Peru for the year.

Editorial cleared quarantine for the upcoming breeding season in January. His first foals are 2-year-olds of 2021.

Editorial won one of two starts during his on-track career, finishing second by a head on debut, then charging on the outside in his second start to prevail by a neck. Both races came over the turf at Gulfstream Park for the Coolmore partnership and trainer Todd Pletcher.

The stallion will stand for an advertised fee of $2,500 during the upcoming breeding season, with a “Ship and Win” incentive of $500 for the owners of mares who make their first visit to editorial in 2021.