Tag: king abdulaziz racecourse

Japan’s Forever Young Edges Book’em Danno In Another Saudi Derby Cliffhanger

Three of the four previous runnings of the $1.5-million G3 Boutique Group Saudi Derby had been decided by less than a length, including a them-versus-us showdown last year when the locally based Commissioner King (Commissioner) outlasted America's Havnameltdown (Uncaptured) by a head in a real war of attrition.

Susumu Fujita's Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}) had been the recipient of as much lip service as any horse on the grounds in Riyadh over the past several days, his latest seven-length romp in the Listed Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun stamping him not only as the highest-rated dirt juvenile in Japanese history, but also as a top contender for a race like the GI Kentucky Derby.

A hot favorite on the international markets at 3-4, the Yoshito Yahagi-trainee had very little go his way in the first of Saturday's group races, but he called upon his considerable talent in the final 150 meters and dropped his nose down on the wire just ahead of a very gallant Book'em Danno (Bucchero).

Making his first start going one turn, Forever Young perhaps brushed the gate or was otherwise awkwardly away from stall nine, as US invader Bentornato (Valiant Minister) showed the way up front after the opening couple of furlongs, with company to his inside in the form of dirt debutant Set Up (Jpn) (Declaration of War).

Meanwhile, Forever Young was immediately under the pump from Ryusei Sakai as he slipstreamed a four-wide Book'em Danno approaching the turn, and it was the last-out romping Pasco S. winner who looked to be going best of the bunch when he easily claimed Bentornato leaving the 400-meter pole. Book'em Danno looked every ounce a winner with a sixteenth of a mile to travel, but he began looking for the line over a strip that can place a premium on stamina, and Forever Young–racing on his incorrect lead, but pinching ground off the leader with every stride–took a successful dive at him at the line. The final time was easily the quickest in the five-year history of the race.

“He didn't have a good start,” said Yahagi, winning his fourth race at the Saudi Cup meeting. “He was wide out and it was a tough race, but he ended up winning, so we are very satisfied. He didn't like the kickback, so the jockey kept him wide out. Still, he had a very good performance, so I'm very happy about that. We will first head to the [1900-meter Mar. 30 G2] UAE Derby before hopefully the Kentucky Derby.”

“My heart is very, very tired. Stretching out to distance is very welcome for him. I love Saudi Arabia, I love this country.”

Of the beaten second favorite, Irad Ortiz, Jr. said: “He just got caught on the wire but he ran really good.”

Derek Ryan indicated that Book'em Danno would target the $600,000 GII Pat Day Mile on the Kentucky Derby undercard May 4.

Japanese horses won the first two Saudi Derbys with Full Flat (Speightstown) in 2020 and the late Pink Kamehameha (Jpn) (Leontes {Jpn}) in 2021. Both were trained by the trend-setting Hideyuki Mori.

Pedigree Notes

Real Steel, a full-brother to the Yoshito Yahagi-trained, multi-jurisdictional Grade I/Group 1 winner Loves Only You (Jpn), was being represented by his third group winner and first on the dirt.

Forever Steel's third dam won the 1994 GI Ballerina H. for Tri-Honors Stable and Shug McGaughey and was purchased by Nobuo Tsunoda for $750,000 in foal to Storm Cat at the 1998 Keeneland November Sale. Darling My Darling was the second of three foals Roamin Rachel produced prior to her export and she cost John Oxley $300,000 at the 1998 Keeneland September Sale, finishing runner-up in the GI Matron S. and GI Frizette S. at two before adding Keeneland's Raven Run S. at three and the Doubledogdare S. the following year.

Roamin Rachel's first Japanese-bred foal, Stray Cat (Jpn), made just one start and died at 16 in 2015, but bred nine winners from 10 to race, including four full black-type winners. Roamin Rachel's second produce, Zenno Rob Roy (Jpn) (Sunday Silence) put the pedigree on the map as Japan's Horse of the Year of 2004 after taking out the G1 Japan Cup.

In addition to Forever Young's GII Santa Ynez S.-winning dam, Darling My Darling was also responsible for GI Darley Alcibiades S. heroine Heavenly Love (Malibu Moon), the dam of 'TDN Rising Star' and recent GII Risen Star S. hero Sierra Leone (Gun Runner). Following Forever Young is a 2-year-old filly by Kizuna (Jpn), a yearling filly by Epiphaneia (Jpn) and Forever Darling was most recently bred to Rey de Oro (Jpn).

Saturday, King Abdulaziz (Riyadh), Saudi Arabia
BOUTIQUE GROUP SAUDI DERBY-G3, $1,500,000, King Abdulaziz, 2-24, NH/SH3yo, 1600m, 1:36.17 (NSR), ft.
1–FOREVER YOUNG (JPN), 121, c, 3, by Real Steel (Jpn)
1st Dam: Forever Darling (GSW, $217,545), by Congrats
2nd Dam: Darling My Darling, by Deputy Minister
3rd Dam: Roamin Rachel, by Mining
(¥98,000,000 Ylg '22 JRHAJUL). O-Susumu Fujita; B-Northern Racing; T-Yoshito Yahagi; J-Ryusei Sakai; $900,000. Lifetime Record: MSW-Jpn, 4-4-0-0, $1,469,451. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Book'em Danno, 121, g, 3, Bucchero–Adorabella, by Ghostzapper. O-Atlantic Six Racing LLC; B-Gregory Kilka & Bright View Farm (NJ); T-Derek Ryan; J-Irad Ortiz Jr; $300,000.
3–Bentornato, 121, c, 3, Valiant Minister–Her Special Way, by Put It Back. ($45,000 Ylg '22 OBSOCT; $170,000 2yo '23 OBSMAR). O-Leon King Stable Corp; B-Tanma Corp (FL); T-Jose F D'Angelo; J-Luis Saez; $150,000.
Margins: HD, 6, 5.
Also Ran: Ajwadi (GB), Mashhur, Salam Alkhair, Saudi Neom, Oasis Boy (Arg), Almotahed (GB), Satono Phoenix (Jpn), Set Up (Jpn), Haayeet. Click for the JCSA chart (R4).

 

The post Japan’s Forever Young Edges Book’em Danno In Another Saudi Derby Cliffhanger appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Fasig-Tipton To Sponsor Record Best Turned Out At Saudi Cup

Fasig-Tipton will sponsor a world-record Best Turned Out prize of $2,666 (SAR 10,000) for the world's richest race, the Group 1, $20 million Saudi Cup Feb. 24, the auction house said in a release early Friday.

Best Turned Out honors for each of the remaining eight races of The Saudi Cup Saturday card will also be offered, with prizes of $667 (SAR 2,500) to each winning groom. Fasig-Tipton will be represented on site by Anna Seitz (Director of Client Relations) and Michael Adolphson (Middle East Representative), who will help judge the contests.

The Saudi Cup's Saturday card boasts $33.5 million of the global showcase's record $37.6 million in purses, including two Group 1s. Seven Fasig-Tipton graduates will compete, topped by Power In Numbers (Girvin), Scotland Yard (Quality Road) and National Treasure (Quality Road) in G1 Saudi Cup.

Christopher Bevan, Chief Commercial Officer of the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia, said, “The racing industry is built around the people who take such good care of our equine athletes and we are very pleased to join forces with Fasig-Tipton to honor and recognize their efforts on our biggest race night of the year.”

“The Saudi Cup has stamped itself as one of the world's great race meetings and we are honored to take part, especially with so many great horsemen in the region having supported Fasig-Tipton over the years,” said Boyd Browning, President and Chief Executive Officer of Fasig-Tipton.

We are thankful to the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia for not only being part of our growing and gratifying relationship with the Middle East, but also allowing us to reward those who work so hard taking such great care of the beautiful animals so integral to our lives.”

Fasig-Tipton will also offer $2,666 (SAR 10,000) in Best Turned Out prizes on King Abdulaziz Cups Day, Mar. 9, including $400 (SAR 1,500) for both of the King Abdulaziz Cup races.

The post Fasig-Tipton To Sponsor Record Best Turned Out At Saudi Cup appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

White Abarrio, National Treasure Lead U.S. Challenge Into Saudi Cup

The Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia (JCSA) has published the likely fields for the Saudi Cup meeting to be held Saturday, Feb. 24, at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in the Saudi capital of Riyadh.

The United States is set to be represented by a five-strong entry in the $20-million richest race in the world, a team headed by White Abarrio (Race Day), who will be making his first start since besting Derma Sotogake (Jpn) (Mind Your Biscuits) in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita Nov. 4. The 5-year-old, trained by Richard Dutrow, Jr., has remained in California since and has logged seven workouts dating back to Dec. 24, including a five-furlong drill that was timed in :59.60 (3/120) Feb. 3.

Also making the trip over from the states are National Treasure (Quality Road) and Senor Buscador (Mineshaft), first and second, respectively, in the GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational Jan. 26; GII Cigar Mile H. hero and Pegasus fourth Hoist the Gold (Mineshaft); and Saudi Crown (Always Dreaming), last year's GI Pennsylvania Derby hero and recent winner of the GIII Louisiana S.

Derma Sotogake is one of five Japanese-based horses gearing up for the nine-furlong test and will be joined on the trip over by Ushba Tesoro (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}), the 2023 G1 Dubai World Cup winner and a good fifth in the Classic; champion Japanese dirt horse and dual Group 1 winner Lemon Pop (Lemon Drop Kid); G2 UAE Derby and G3 Korea Cup victor Crown Pride (Jpn) (Reach the Crown {Jpn}); and multiple Group 3 winner Meisho Hario (Jpn) (Pyro).

Most intriguing among the probables is the globetrotting Luxembourg (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) for trainer Aidan O'Brien. A Group 1 winner at ages two, three and four in Europe, the 5-year-old will make his first start on the dirt, having just missed behind Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup Dec. 10.

The home team fields the remaining three runners, including the recently imported American Grade I winner Defunded (Dialed In); Power in Numbers (Girvin), undefeated in four starts in Saudi Arabia since selling for $400,000 at the 2023 Fasig-Tipton Horses of Racing Age Sale; and Carmel Road (Quality Road), who aired by 7 1/2 lengths in a valuable 1600-meter race Jan. 13.

Emergency runners include the Doug Watson-trained 2023 G2 Godolphin Mile winner Isolate (Mark Valeski) and Scotland Yard (Quality Road), a close second to Power in Numbers in the King's Cup last time.

The probable starters for the remaining Saudi Cup races may be accessed here.

 

The post White Abarrio, National Treasure Lead U.S. Challenge Into Saudi Cup appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Saudi Cup Meeting Attracts Entries From 15 Countries

The Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia (JCSA) has released the names of the 1162 entries–including 41 Grade I/Group 1 winners–from no fewer than 15 racing jurisdictions around the world for the US$33.5 million Saudi Cup meeting to be held at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh Saturday, Feb. 23, 2024. Prize money is up by $2.25 million as compared to the 2023 renewal, reflecting the upgrades of the Neom Turf Cup (2100mT) and 1351 Turf Sprint to international Group 2 status. One of the two races for Purebred Arabians–the Al Mneefah Cup– has been accorded Group 1 status for the first time.

White Abarrio (Race Day) is chief among the entries for the $20-million G1 Saudi Cup. The Rick Dutrow, Jr. runner is doing his preparations in California for the 1800-meter test, where he could face Derma Sotogake (Jpn) (Mind Your Biscuits), whom he defeated when last seen in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita in early November. The Japanese–which have 110 entries across the races–could also be represented by reigning G1 Dubai World Cup winner and Breeders' Cup Classic fifth Ushba Tesoro (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}) as well as Godolphin's Japanese champion dirt horse Lemon Pop (Lemon Drop Kid), who earned a spot in the Saudi Cup field when winning the G1 Champions Cup in December. National Treasure (Quality Road), victorious in last year's GI Preakness S., is one of five entries for trainer Bob Baffert, who has also nominated GI Malibu S. winner Speed Boat Beach (Bayern) and Zedan Racing Stable's Hejazi (Bernardini), runner-up in that seven-furlong test Dec. 26. The Brad Cox barn could be represented by Saudi-owned GI Pennsylvania Derby winner Saudi Crown (Always Dreaming), while Scotland Yard (Quality Road) is among the chief local chances. Aidan O'Brien has entered Luxembourg (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) and Point Lonsdale (Ire) (Australia {GB}) for what would be their dirt debuts in the Saudi Cup.

Japan's Silver Sonic (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}) carried 125 pounds to victory in last year's G3 Longines Red Sea Turf Cup H., but if he is to defend his title in the $2.5-million contest, he will need to tote 134 against a field in which G1 Grosser Preis von Berlin winner Simca Mille (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB}) is top-weighted at 136 pounds. The 3000-meter staying test has also attracted G2 Yorkshire Cup hero Giavellotto (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}, 133), Godolphin's group/graded winner Siskany (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}, 133), the Dermot Weld-trained 9-year-old G3 Loughbrown S. winner Falcon Eight (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}, 129), Enemy (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}, 126) and G3 Bahrain Trophy second Tower of London (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) for Ballydoyle.

The connections of Simca Mille could opt for the G2 Neom Turf Cup, a $2-million race over an extended mile and a quarter. John and Thady Gosden sent out Mostahdaf (GB) (Frankel {GB}) to a barnstorming win in last year's race and the father-and-son partnership has Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training acquisition Jack Darcy (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) engaged. Luxembourg holds a Neom Turf Cup entry, while narrow GI Breeders' Cup Mile runner-up Mawj (Ire) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) has also been handed this stamina-stretching option by Saeed bin Suroor. Spirit Dancer (GB) (Frankel {GB}) could try to make it consecutive wins in the race for his sire, having most recently defeated the Gosdens' Israr (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}) and Point Lonsdale in the G2 Bahrain International Trophy back in November. American entries include Missed the Cut (Quality Road), unplaced when well-fancied last year, and the consistent Webslinger (Constitution).

America's Casa Creed (Jimmy Creed) has endured a pair of excruciating defeats in the 1351 Turf Cup and could return for a third attempt at the race, as he remains in training into an 8-year-old campaign in 2024. The globetrotting Bathrat Leon (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}) dropped his head down on the line first in last year's race for trainer Yoshito Yahagi and could be back to defend his title against a group that could also include Saudi Arabia's Raaed (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), a cracking third last year, Godolphin's Real World (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), Amo Racing's Walbank (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), an impressive handicap winner over 1200 metres at Meydan for George Boughey Jan. 5, and Forbidden Kingdom (American Pharoah), all-the-way winner of the GII Joe Hernandez S. for MyRacehorse and Spendthrift Farm at Santa Anita Dec. 30.

Japanese runners have proved formidable in the G3 Riyadh Dirt Sprint and a strong team includes Remake (Jpn) (Lani), who was a good third to the now-retired top American sprinters Elite Power (Curlin) and Gunite (Gun Runner) in the 1200-meter test last February. The North Hills homebred was last seen finishing runner-up to Igniter (Jpn) (Espoir City {Jpn}) in the valuable Listed JBC Sprint at Ohi Racecourse in November, and he also holds an entry. Speed Boat Beach could be re-routed for this shorter option, while other entries from the US include reigning G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen hero Sibelius (Not This Time), the in-form Bold Journey (Hard Spun) for 2023 winning conditioner Bill Mott, Forbidden Kingdom, Hejazi and recent Oaklawn allowance winner Skelly (Practical Joke). Last year's Saudi Derby winner Commissioner King (Commissioner) features among the local Sprint contingent.

Over 200 entries were taken for the G3 Saudi Derby going a metric mile on the dirt. Zedan Racing's 'TDN Rising Star' Muth (Good Magic), recent winner of the GII San Vicente S. for Bob Baffert, has been given an entry as has his Grade I-placed stable companion Wine Me Up (Vino Rosso) and San Vicente runner-up Pilot Commander (Justify). Yahagi's Group 3 winner and Group 1-placed Shin Emperor (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) holds an entry as does his stablemate Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}), who appears set to make the journey to the desert after convincingly defeating Aigle Noir (Jpn) (Bricks and Mortar) in the Listed Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun at Kawasaki last month. An intriguing possibility from the Weld yard is Taraj (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}), placed in one of two starts on the turf and a latest maiden winner going a mile over the Dundalk all-weather Nov. 24. Among the locals, Saudi Neom (Connect) is among the possibles, having run his record to two wins and a second from three runs with a victory over the Derby course and distance Jan. 6.

Top Qatari galloper Bolthole (Ire) (Free Eagle {Ire}), third in last year's Listed H. H. The Amir Trophy and winner of a Class 2 conditions race over 2000 metres at Al Rayyan Jan. 4 for Wathnan Racing and Alban de Mieulle, is the joint-highweight for the $500,000 Saudi International H. (90-110) over 2100 metres on the grass.

Click here for the full list of entries.

 

The post Saudi Cup Meeting Attracts Entries From 15 Countries appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Verified by MonsterInsights