Isle of Jura ‘Victorious’ In King’s Cup To Complete Bahrain Sweep

Isle of Jura (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) found his best stride entering the final 200 metres and ran out a comfortable winner of Friday's $200,000 Listed King's Cup to secure the 'Triple Crown' for Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa's Victorious Racing and trainer George Scott.

Winner of a Bahrain Turf Series race Dec. 8 and second in another three weeks later, Isle of Jura saw his rating rise out of the eligibility range for those valuable handicaps and made his next start in the Listed Crown Prince's Cup Feb. 2. Duly obliging there for a first black-type success, he scooped the $135,000 Sheikh Nasser Bin Hamad Al Khalifa Cup a fortnight later and was going for the sweep in the King's Cup.

The commonly owned, but Fawzi Nass-trained Rollajam (Ire) (Belardo {Ire}), ostensibly a pacemaker for Isle of Jura, bombed the start, but rolled forward with a rush to take up the running and opened a double-digit margin on his rivals down the back. Isle of Jura raced in about fifth position and one off the fence with cover, but still had plenty of ground to make up on the leader turning in. The hulking bay took time to hit top gear, but began to bridge the gap in earnest approaching the final furlong and pulled clear from there as Sovereign Spirit (GB) (Le Havre {Ire}) and Panning for Gold (Ire) (Galileo Gold {GB}) ran on for the minor prizes.

“This ranks as the highlight of my career to date, miles ahead of anything else. It's unbelievable,” the winning trainer commented. “The King's Cup is the pinnacle of racing here in Bahrain. What a wonderful horse, he really is a trier.”

Added jockey Callum Shepherd: “What a magic winter this horse has given us and for it to culminate in this race is huge. He's had to overcome adversity here, being virtually knocked over on the first bend. I'm enormously grateful to His Highness Sheikh Nasser, I am so pleased we could do this for him. It was his ambition to win the three races, the 'Triple Crown', and it takes some doing.

“I'd also like to give enormous credit to Rosie Jessop who's ridden him every day out here and the girls who have looked after him. They have carried out and implemented George's plans to the letter and they have been faultless in doing so.”

Said Jessop, who has jumped aboard Isle of Jura in his work over the course of the last three months: “I am going to miss him dearly. He's been the life and soul of my season this year. I'm just so happy and he's made it a magical time for us.”

Isle of Jura returns to Europe for a pattern campaign over the summer.

The well-related Isle of Jura is out of a daughter of French listed-winning 2002 G1 Pouliches runner-up Firth of Lorne (Ire) (Danehill), whose son Master of the Seas (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) led home a Godolphin 1-2 in last year's GI Breeders' Cup Mile. She is also the dam of the stakes-winning and G1 St James's Palace S. second Latharnach (Iffraaj {GB}) and Etive (Elusive Quality), a listed winner in Germany. This is also the family of Just Fine (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), popular winner of the G1 Metropolitan H. at Randwick last September. Falls of Lora is also represented by a 2-year-old Night of Thunder (Ire) colt and a yearling colt by Dubawi.

 

 

Real World Back To Winning Ways

It had been a stretch of 12 consecutive outs for Godolphin's classy Real World (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) dating back to his victory in the 2022 G2 Zabeel Mile at Meydan. The 7-year-old earned his first placing since when third to Brave Emperor (Ire) (Sioux Nation) in the Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Cup in Qatar Feb. 17 and snapped the skid with an authoritative victory in Friday's $80,000 Listed Al Methaq Mile.

Ridden forward by Kevin Stott, the veteran went to the front with better than 200 metres to travel and proved not for catching from there, defeating Wowzers (GB) (Kodiac {GB}) by a comfortable 2 1/2-length margin.

“Last time Real World ran well in Doha in Qatar, and then he worked very well last week and back at a mile, which is the best trip for him, I was confident he would run well. That was good to see,” said trainer Saeed bin Suroor.

 

 

KING'S CUP-Listed, $200,000, Sakhir, 3-8, 3yo/up, 2400mT, 2:31.50, gd.
1–ISLE OF JURA (GB), 128, g, 4, New Approach (Ire)–Falls of Lora (Ire), by Street Cry (Ire). (£150,000 HRA '23 TATMAR). O-Victorious; B-Godolphin; T-George Scott; J-Callum Shepherd; $120,000. Lifetime Record: 10-5-1-0, $287,164. *Full to Cascadian (GB), MG1SW-Aus, G1SP-Fr, $5,925,891; half to Albahr (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), GISW-Can, SW-Eng, $236,981.
2–Sovereign Spirit (GB), 125, g, 4, Le Havre (Ire)–Shutka (Fr), by Holy Roman Emperor (Ire). 1ST BLACK-TYPE. (€75,000 Ylg '21 ARQOCT; 40,000gns HRA '23 TATAUT). O-Al-Afoo Racing; B-J P Dubois; T-Jaber Ramadhan; J-Soufiane Saadi; $40,000.
3–Panning for Gold (Ire), 125, g, 4, Galileo Gold (GB)–Sweet Temptation (Ire), by Amadeus Wolf (Ire). 1ST BLACK-TYPE. (€18,000 Ylg '21 GOFOCT; £115,000 2yo '22 GOFAPR; 85,000gns HRA '23 TATAUT). O-Al Mohamediya Racing; B-Rossenarra Bloodstock Ltd; T-Fawzi Nass; J-Neil Callan; $20,000.
Margins: 2HF, 1HF, NO.
Click for the Bahrain Turf Club chart.

AL METHAQ MILE-Listed, $80,000, Sakhir, 3-8, 3yo/up, 1600mT, 1:34.30, gd.
1–REAL WORLD (IRE), 126, g, 7, Dark Angel (Ire)–Nafura (GB), by Dubawi (Ire). O/B-Godolphin; T-Saeed bin Suroor; J-Kevin Stott; $48,000. Lifetime Record: Hwt. Older Horse-UAE at 7-9.5f, GSW & MG1SP-Eng, GSW-Fr & UAE, 23-7-3-3, $896,845. *1/2 to Dubai Fountain (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}), SW & MGSP-Eng, $123,978.
2–Wowzers (GB), 126, g, 5, Kodiac (GB)–Vallado (Ire), by Clodovil (Ire). 1ST BLACK-TYPE. (65,000gns RNA Ylg '20 TATNOV; 110,000gns HRA '22 TATAUT). O-Al Mohamediya Racing; B-Wood Hall Stud; T-Fawzi Nass; J-Hector Crouch; $16,000.
3–Mehmento (Ire), 126, g, 6, Mehmas (Ire)–Invincible Me (Ire), by Invincible Spirit (Ire). (£14,000 RNA 2yo '20 TATJUL; 23,000gns HRA '22 TATFEB; 45,000gns HRA '22 TATJUL). O-Al-Afoo Racing; B-Tally-Ho Stud; T-Mohammed Hasan; J-Soufiane Saadi; $8,000.
Margins: 2HF, NK, HF.
Click for the Bahrain Turf Club chart.

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Quality Road Sires Exacta In Listed King’s Cup, Saudi Cup Next

A little less than five months after Emblem Road caused a massive upset in the $20-million G1 Saudi Cup last February, agents for that horse's owner HRH Prince Saud bin Salman Abdulaziz went shopping for another son of Quality Road at the Fasig-Tipton July Horses of Racing Age Sale. They landed on Scotland Yard, placed three times in maiden company from four starts for WinStar Farm and Siena Farm and Steve Asmussen and offered through the WinStar Racing consignment.

Acquired for $255,000 with a race like the Saudi Cup the long-term objective, Scotland Yard remained undefeated in three starts at King Abdulaziz Racetrack with a comprehensive victory in Saturday's $399,600 Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Cup (King's Cup), accorded listed black-type status for the first time.

Drawn wide in a field of 17, Scotland Yard broke alertly and raced handy to the pace while traveling in about the six path down the long backstretch in Riyadh. Allowed to improve his position and guided down to race three deep around the turn, Scotland Yard wrested command from fellow Fasig-Tipton HORA grad Electability (Quality Road) under little encouragement with more than a quarter-mile to race and put on a show down the lane, scoring by 10 1/4 lengths (see below, SC 16)). Electability plugged on for second ahead of 9-year-old mare La Casa Tarifa (Ire) (Casamento {Ire}) in third. The final time for the mile and a quarter on a dry strip that rarely produces fast times was a crisp 2:04 flat. With the victory, Scotland Yard earns an automatic berth in the nine-furlong Saudi Cup Feb. 25.

Scotland Yard is a son of Leslie's Harmony (Curlin), a half-sister to four-time champion and 10-time Grade I winner Beholder (Henny Hughes), all-conquering sire Into Mischief (Harlan's Holiday) and GISW and promising young stallion Mendelssohn (Scat Daddy). Bridlewood Farm acquired Leslie's Harmony for $1.1 million out of the 2014 Keeneland September Sale and she is also the dam of the 3-year-old filly Union Harmony (Union Rags), a 2-year-old Tapit filly and a yearling filly by Uncle Mo. She is due to Not This Time for her 2023 foal. Scotland Road is the 67th stakes winner for his sire.

 

 

THE CUSTODIAN OF THE TWO HOLY MOSQUES CUP (King's Cup) (Saudi Cup Qualifier)-Listed, SAR1,500,000 ($399,600), King Abdulaziz, 1-28, 3yo/up, 2000mT, 2:04, ft.
1–SCOTLAND YARD, 127, c, 4, Quality Road–Leslie's Harmony,
by Curlin. ($300,000 Ylg '20 KEESEP; $255,000 HRA '22
FTKHRA). 1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. O-Prince Saud bin Salman
Abdulaziz; B-Bridlewood Farm (FL); T-M Almulawah; J-V
Gutierrez; SAR750,000. Lifetime Record: 7-3-2-1, $343,934.
2–Electability, 127, g, 4, Quality Road–Spindle, by Hard Spun.
($300,000 Wlg '19 KEENOV; $330,000 HRA '22 FTKHRA).
O-King Abdullah bin A/Aziz Sons; B-Purple H Bloodstock (KY);
T-A Albadah; J-C Ospina; SAR300,000.
3–La Casa Tarifa (GB), 126, m, 9, Casamento (Ire)–Cool Tarifa
(Ire), by One Cool Cat. (£10,000 Ylg '15 DNPAUG; 16,000gns
HRA '17 TATNOV). O-Prince A/Aziz bin Fahd bin A/Aziz; B-;
T-N A Almindeel; J-Ah Alrashed; SAR225,000.
Margins: 10 1/4, 2 1/4, 2 1/4.

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Juddmonte-Bred Derevo Takes King’s Cup In Saudi Debut

The silks of the late Prince Khalid Abdullah's Juddmonte Farms were already set to be carried aboard US raider Tacitus (Tapit) in the $20-million Saudi Cup (1800m, dirt) Feb. 20, and the breeding operation will also be represented by Derevo (GB) (Dansili {GB}), after the former Sir Michael Stoute galloper arrived in the nick of time to take out the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Cup (2000m, dirt) Saturday at King Abdulaziz Racetrack in Riyadh. The 340,000gns Tattersalls Autumn Horses In Training acquisition just touched off the commonly owned multiple Chilean Group 1 winner Cariblanco (Chi) (Awesome Patriot) with fellow TATAUT purchase Making Miracles (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) third.

Drawn in the auxiliary gate in 15, Derevo traveled well off the inside and better than midfield on the long backstretch run. Into a clear fifth for the run around the bend, he was switched out in the straight and required every bit of the final 400 metres to be along in time.

Derevo won his maiden at second asking at Chelmsford in 2019 and added victories on the turf at Pontefract and a Newcastle handicap over 2400 metres of that all-weather surface later that summer. On behalf of Najd Stud, Voute Sales signed for Derevo at Tattersalls last October. The winner's dam produced a Kodiac (GB) filly for Juddmonte in 2020.

 

WATCH: Derevo (#1, red cap, far left) gets up on the wire in the King's Cup

 

Saturday's Results:
CUSTODIAN OF THE TWO HOLY MOSQUES CUP (King's Cup) (NBT), SAR1,000,000 (£194,569/€219,734/US$266,667), King Abdulaziz, 1-30, 4yo/up, 2000m, 2:04.15, ft.
1–DEREVO (GB), 127, g, 5, Dansili (GB)–Pavlosk (SW-Eng), by
Arch. (340,000gns HRA '20 TATAUT). O-Prince Faisal Bin
Khaled Bin Abdulaziz; B-Juddmonte Farms Ltd; T-A M Al
Khatani; J-A Alwafi; SAR500,00. Lifetime Record: 12-4-2-1,
$176,019.
2–Cariblanco (Chi), 127, h, 5, Awesome Patriot–Entera Buena
(Chi), by Hurricane Cat. SAR200,000.
3–Making Miracles (GB), 127, g, 6, Pivotal (GB)–Field of
Miracles (Ire), by Galileo (Ire). (47,000gns Ylg '16 TATOCT;
22,000gns HRA '19 TATAUT). SAR150,000.
Margins: NO, 1HF, 3.

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American-Bred Trio Features In Saudi Cup Prep

King Abdulaziz Racetrack in the Saudi capital of Riyadh plays host to the $266,667 Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Cup (King's Cup) Saturday afternoon, a 10-furlong affair that will produce a handful of runners for the second running of the $20-million Saudi Cup in three weeks' time.

Scars Are Cool (Malibu Moon) won three of his 13 starts in the colors of Sagamore Farm and fetched $175,000 from Saudi Arabian interests during the Horses of Racing Age section of the Fasig-Tipton July Sale last summer. The Florida-bred was well-beaten behind the re-opposing Making Miracles (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) in the Crown Prince Cup over 2400 meters Dec. 26, but dropped back in trip and registered a 3/4-length victory in allowance company going a mile Jan. 15 (see below). Scars Are Cool has gate 16 in a field of 18.

The Khalid Mishrif Bin Shanan-owned Gronkowski (Lonhro {Aus}) and Axelrod (Warrior's Reward) also landed double-digit posts in 11 and 14, respectively, as they attempt to earn their way into the Saudi Cup. Runner-up to Justify (Scat Daddy) in the 2018 GI Belmont S., Gronkowski ran Thunder Snow (Ire) (Helmet {Aus}) to a nose in the 2019 G1 Dubai World Cup and finished a distant 10th to Maximum Security (New Year's Day) in last year's Saudi Cup. He is unraced since. Axelrod, winner of the 2018 GIII Indiana Derby and GIII Smarty Jones S., was ninth in the 2019 World Cup and was last seen finishing runner-up in the G3 Burj Nahaar S. at Meydan last March.

Hallaaf (KSA) (Friends Lake) looks the best of the horses bred locally and exits a defeat of the commonly owned Persian Moon (Ire) (Makfi {GB}) in the King Saud Bin Abdulaziz Cup over course and distance Jan. 16.

The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Cup has a scheduled post time of 11 a.m. ET. Click here for live streaming.

 

WATCH: Scars Are Cool wins a Jan. 15 allowance in Riyadh

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