Tag: Max Player

Honor Code’s Max Player Upends Suburban

The betting public had Saturday's GII Suburban S. down to a battle between a pair of 'TDN Rising Stars': in one corner, Mystic Guide (Ghostzapper), whose victory in the G1 Dubai World Cup made him favored at 85 cents on the dollar, and in the other, Happy Saver (Super Saver), who got the better of Mystic Guide when first they eyeballed one another in last year's GI Jockey Club Gold Cup and the clear second choice at 8-5. Max Player (Honor Code) had yet to beat a horse of the quality of either of those and was duly sent off a distant fourth choice at what some would deem underlaid odds of 11-1. He was clearly overmatched on paper, but as the old saying goes, they don't run races on paper, and the persevering 4-year-old outslugged the odds-on choice to cause the upset in the 'Win and You're In' qualifier for this year's GI Breeders' Cup Classic. Happy Saver was no real menace in third.

Drawn five of six, with Mystic Guide to his inside and Happy Saver to his outer, Max Player wasn't the quickest out of the stalls but was soon clicked up by Ricardo Santana, Jr. and improved to be the pace-chaser as Moretti (Medaglia d'Oro)–a stakes winner at 11 and 14 furlongs–called the shots up front. Santana was content to lie second and wait for Moretti to play his hand, but Mystic Guide–perhaps a touch eager in his first start in 98 days–tugged for his head beneath Luis Saez, and Happy Saver was committed to an overland journey by Irad Ortiz, Jr.

Racing one off the fence, Moretti took the Suburban field into the final four furlongs, but Saez immediately seized upon the opening at the inside and allowed Mystic Guide to advance into what appeared to be a pretty tight spot, causing him a moment's hesitation that may have briefly stopped any momentum he'd built up. Max Player kept pace three wide, but Mystic Guide looked to be doing the better work has he struck to the front right at the quarter pole. Shaken up at the three-sixteenths, Mystic Guide looked to have the race at his mercy, but he was tardy in switching his leads, drifted to his right despite right-handed urging and could not resist the persistent rally of Max Player in the run to the wire. Happy Saver, four wide off the home corner, stayed on at one pace while never a danger to the top two and just lasted for third over Moretti.

“He was training really well,” said the winning jockey. “He always runs well on this track. He always tries hard. Today, he broke well and put me right there. I took the spot and no one wanted to go. As soon as he felt [Mystic Guide] inside, he kept on fighting until the end.”

Mike Stidham, trainer of the beaten favorite, was not unduly dismayed, and said: “It's not that surprising that a horse coming off three months might get tired off this kind of a racetrack. Certainly no disgrace in defeat. He ran hard and ran well. We're going onward and rolling toward the Breeders' Cup. We'll see how he comes out of it and then start talking about what's next.”

Winner of the GIII Withers S. while under the care of Linda Rice last February, Max Player was caught up in the uncertainty surrounding the numerous COVID-19 cancellations and ended up–less than ideally–racing first off a 4 1/2-month absence in the GI Belmont S. in June. A creditable third to Tiz the Law (Constitution), he repeated the effort in the GI Runhappy Travers S. in early August, but when Rice expressed some doubt about a possible run in the Sept. 5 GI Kentucky Derby, was moved to the Steve Asmussen barn. Fifth in the Run for the Roses and again in the GI Preakness S. a month later, Max Player had been soundly defeated in his two starts this term–an 11th-place effort in the Saudi Cup in February and a distant sixth in the GIII Pimlico Special S. when last seen May 15.

Pedigree Notes:

Kelly Breen signed the ticket on Fools In Love, going to $80,000 on behalf of K&G Stables at the 2007 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic yearling sale. A debut winner and multiple stakes placed at two, Fools In Love won her only black-type race in the 2009 Orleans S. at Delta Downs a few races before Hall's Truth and Justice (Yes It's True) was unfortunately pulled up when favored in the GIII Delta Princess S.

Fools In Love has gone on to be an integral part of Hall's broodmare operation and has bred five winners from five to race, including GSW & G1SP Seahenge (Scat Daddy), GSP Urban Bourbon (City Zip) and SP Frank's Folly (Mineshaft) prior to Max Player. The half-sister to MGSW International Star (Fusaichi Pegasus) was sold to Cheveley Park Stud for an even $1 million (offered not pregnant to Speightstown) at Keeneland November in 2017. Her first foal for that operation, the 2-year-old colt Homeric (GB) (Ulysses {Ire}), fetched €175,000 from Jamie Railton Sales Agency as a foal at Goffs in 2019 and she has since produced a filly by Frankel (GB) and another Ulysses colt.

Saturday, Belmont
SUBURBAN S.-GII, $400,000, Belmont, 7-3, 4yo/up, 1 1/4m, 2:01.95, sy.
1–MAX PLAYER, 120, c, 4, by Honor Code
                1st Dam: Fools in Love (SW, $240,746), by Not For Love
                2nd Dam: Parlez, by French Deputy
                3rd Dam: Speak Halory, by Verbatim
($150,000 RNA Ylg '18 KEESEP). O-George E Hall & SportBLX
Thoroughbreds Corp; B-K & G Stables (KY); T-Steven M.
Asmussen; J-Ricardo Santana Jr. $220,000. Lifetime Record:
MGISP, 10-3-1-2, $717,500. *1/2 to Seahenge (Scat Daddy),
GSW & G1SP-Eng, SP-Ire, $228,295; and to Urban Bourbon
(City Zip), GSP, $113,381. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the
eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Mystic Guide, 124, c, 4, Ghostzapper–Music Note, by A.P.
Indy. 'TDN Rising Star'. O/B-Godolphin (KY); T-Michael
Stidham. $80,000.
3–Happy Saver, 124, c, 4, Super Saver–Happy Week, by
Distorted Humor. 'TDN Rising Star'. O/B-Wertheimer Et Frere
(KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher. $48,000.
Margins: NK, 2HF, NK. Odds: 11.80, 0.85, 1.60.
Also Ran: Moretti, Informative, Prioritize. Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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Rispoli, Stevens Removed From Plane En Route to Saudi Cup; Velazquez Stymied in Miami

Several major shifts in riding assignments were underway Friday morning after Umberto Rispoli and John Velazquez were not allowed to fly to Saudi Arabia due to a mixup in flight arrangements Wednesday and problems with COVID-19 restrictions Thursday.

Ron Anderson, the agent for Velazquez and Rosario, said that Mickael Barzalona would ride Max Player (Honor Code), that William Buick would be aboard Tacitus (Tapit) in the Saudi Cup, and that Joel Rosario would ride New York Central (Tapit) in defense of his title in the Riyadh Dirt Sprint. In the Saudi Derby, Rosario takes over on Cowan (Kantharos) after being released from his previous assignment on Pink Kamehameha (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}).

Rispoli had been set to ride Max Player for Steve Asmussen in Saturday's Saudi Cup, as well as Cowan in the Saudi Derby, but was taken off a Qatar Airways flight to Doha as it prepared to take off Thursday, according to a Tweet posted by the jockey Thursday evening. John Velazquez, scheduled to ride Tacitus, and who was supposed to depart from Miami, was not allowed to fly.

Anderson said that the problems began Wednesday when the two jockeys and Gary Stevens, who was to be part of the broadcast team, arrived at LAX and discovered that their tickets had been canceled. From Doha, they were scheduled to fly to Saudi Arabia.

“The night before last (Wednesday), Umberto and Joel were at the airport in L.A., said Anderson. “The travel team from Saudi made a mistake and double-booked the second leg into Riyadh, so when they got to the airport, their tickets were canceled. Johnny gets to Miami, because he was in Florida, and same thing. They told us it's called a dupe, and the computer automatically cancels the ticket, as they explained to us, because they didn't cancel the first reservation before making the second.”

It was unclear why the tickets had been booked twice.

Rispoli and Stevens were booked on a flight the next day, Thursday, and were taken off the plane when it became apparent that their COVID test, which was required to be taken within 72 hours of landing in Riyadh, would expire before they arrived in Saudi Arabia. Rosario was allowed to stay on the plane because he had sought an additional COVID test after his first flight was canceled.

“We had thought, 'okay, it's alright, we'll just go the next day,'” said Anderson. “Now Gary, Joel and Umberto are on the plane, sitting in business class, having a glass of champagne, and someone comes and says, `okay, you three are getting off the plane. Your 72-hour COVID test expires by the time you get there.'”

But while Stevens and Rispoli were taken off the plane, Rosario showed the airline staff the additional test he had taken a day later as a precaution when they were not allowed to fly Wednesday. “We're lucky the testing center sent an email,” said Anderson. “He spent $400 on a rapid test, and they said `okay, you're allowed to fly. You two are not.'”

Rispoli posted a video on Twitter Thursday night with his version of events.

“As you can see, I am here, sitting home on my bench,” said Rispoli in the Tweet in which he was critical of the organization running the event. “I couldn't make the flight to Saudi to go to the Saudi Cup. It has been since yesterday I have been trying to fly, but it has been over a week that we have had an issue with the organization with the Saudi Cup,” he said. “Yesterday, there was an issue with the ticket. The ticket was cancelled after I was at the airport for three hours. Today, I was ready to fly, my luggage was already on the plane, I was in my seat, my seatbelt was fastened, and before we took off, the stewards came and took me off the plane, saying in Riyadh at that moment, exactly that moment, there was a change in the rule in the COVID test. Before, it was 72 hours prior to the flight. This time, in Riyadh, the request, a COVID test, was 72 hours once you land in Riyadh. It was something that was out of my hands. I'm so devastated, I'm frustrated, and that's why I couldn't go to ride the Saudi Cup.”

Stevens Tweeted that he was also removed from the flight. “Anyone that has seen the tweet and video post of @unbyrispoli, I was on the same flight and removed as well due to immediate Covid test restrictions. Not good. No @thesaudicup for us.”

Stevens supported Rispoli's version of events, that the COVID protocols were changed at the last moment. “We knew all the rules,” Stevens wrote. “They literally changed them just before they fired up the engines. We met all protocols and they changed them.”

“It wasn't the airline's choice,” said Stevens. “All I know is it became our problem in a hurry. Qatar Airlines were very professional and kind about it. They said it was Saudi. We were fine to fly to Qatar, but not on to Saudi. They wouldn't have allowed us in.”

Velazquez rebooked his original flight and had planned to fly through Spain when he was told that protocols in place in that country would not allow him to change from one terminal to another, or risk a $10,000 fine and imprisonment. He never left Miami.

Velazquez tweeted Friday morning: “I tested negative 4 times this week to make it to the Saudi Cup but never made it anywhere, because flights canceled or wrong alternatives. I am not in Spain. Very disappointed.”

Rispoli said he felt sorry to leave the connections of Max Player in this situation. “I would like to give my apologies to Steve Asmussen, and his connections. I'm really sorry about that and also, I would say as well that this is the biggest race in the world and that there should be a better organization behind this, and probably then there wouldn't be any issue. Today, I'm paying the consequence of this organization, which probably didn't pay attention to any details. As I said, I'm frustrated, I'm have to move on, I'm going to watch the races on t.v., and I wish all the contenders of the Saudi Cup best of luck and I will see you back in business at Santa Anita next Friday. Thank you for all of your support before the race, and I wish you guys can keep supporting me.”

Officials at the Saudi Cup issued a statement Friday morning confirming the news, adding, “We understand and share John and Umberto's disappointment at not being able to ride at the Saudi Cup meeting.”

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Saudi Cup Notes: Charlatan Should Move Forward From Malibu, Sleepy Eyes Todd ‘Fit And Good’

The following notes about contenders in the $20 million Saudi Cup, scheduled for Feb. 20, were provided by the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia. 

Bangkok (IRE) – Andrew Balding's challenger took a first look at the dirt track on Wednesday with some gentle exercise.

Balding's wife and assistant Anna Lisa said: “He didn't do anything really smart today, the plan is that he will do something a bit quicker on Thursday. He went round the dirt and he seemed to enjoy it, he will wear special plates on Saturday, it should not be an excuse.”

Anna Lisa Balding said it would be a significant moment for Bangkok to be carrying the King Power Racing silks of the late Vichai Srivaddhanaprabh.

“The chairman of King Power said he wanted to race on the world stage, and this is a race you want to be in,” she said. “There are horses in the race that are better than him, it would be great to see him just up and close to them on Saturday.”

Charlatan (USA) – The Bob Baffert-trained son of Speightstown remained in the quarantine area on Wednesday, jogging an easy 1600m (one mile) over the training track.

“We stayed back (in the quarantine area) on the training track this morning,” assistant trainer Jimmy Barnes said. “It's our normal routine, we had our breeze day (Monday), walk day (Tuesday) and with the training track being right there we just stayed there. He jogged a mile. Twice around; it's a half-mile track.”

One of the top international contenders for Saturday's race, Charlatan has been here for a week and has settled nicely into his regular routine, according to Barnes.

“He's a very good traveler. That hasn't been any kind of a factor. The weather has been pleasant. It hasn't been hot so that always makes the trip easier. (We've) been here over a week and ready to get it on.

“The rest of the week we will go back to our regular galloping up to a race. We'll gallop a mile and a half tomorrow. We will stay on the main track Thursday and Friday. Not sure what we're doing on race day but I'll talk it over with Bob and see what he wants to do.”

Making only his second start since last May, the 4-year-old colt comes into Saturday's affair off an impressive win in the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes at Santa Anita Park

“Bob is really good off the layoff,” Barnes said. “Our horses are usually fit and ready. We look forward to him moving forward off that race – absolutely.”

Chuwa Wizard (JPN) – With handler Ryui Okubo supervising, the 6-year-old horse had a final piece of fast work over 1200m (six furlongs) on the dirt track under Keita Tosaki.

“I was asked to start galloping him with 1200m to go and drove him a bit strongly towards the end of the stretch,” said Tosaki.

“He was moving nicely and felt really good, responding to me so well. I understand that the American horses are very fast, so I want to make a plan depending on how the tempo in the race will be.

“I think the surface here is quite different from a Japanese dirt track. The dirt itself is smoother than Japan, I think Chuwa Wizard will suit the surface.”

Okubo added: “He moved beautifully this morning. I told the jockey to start cantering slowly from the 1200m pole and then pick up gradually before driving him strongly for the last stage of the stretch. I think he is in really good form. There will be some horses who are going fast in the field, so between middle and outside draw will be preferred.”

Extra Elusive (GB) – The 6-year-old Mastercraftsman gelding had a breeze on the dirt track.

“We are very happy with him,” said Andre Alencar, travelling head lad to Extra Elusive's trainer Roger Charlton. “We took him to the dirt track today and had a little breeze up, a little blow. He feels very good and happy – we can't ask for more. He's doing everything we ask him to.

“He's very relaxed; probably the change of scene has made him more relaxed than usual, and he's coping very well and he's on the right path. He won't go back out on to the main dirt track again now, he'll just stay on the training track.”

Knicks Go (USA) – Brad Cox-trained Knicks Go came out briefly to the dirt track and a one-lap jog in the wrong/clockwise direction along the outside of the track under assistant trainer Dustin Dugas. Owned by Korea Racing Authority, he enters with four consecutive one-sided victories, two in allowance company (at Oaklawn Park and Keeneland), the Grade 2 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile and Pegasus World Cup. He will have a five-week gap from the Pegasus to Saturday.

“He's had two good works since the race and seems to be moving well,” Cox said. “He's continued since the Pegasus to show us what he showed us prior to the Pegasus and prior to the Breeders' Cup. This race is back a little quick, but one thing that gives us confidence is that he won the Pegasus without Lasix and this race is without Lasix, too. Another thing is this is five weeks from the Pegasus and it was five weeks between his allowance win where he broke the track record at Keeneland and the Breeders' Cup.

“He had a little bit of a freshening of a couple easy weeks after the Breeders' Cup and before the Pegasus, so this is sort of a second race off a layoff for him. Hopefully, after the race, he gives us confidence that he can travel internationally and compete.”

Cox is planning ahead with the 5-year-old grey.

“Right now we're treating him as if this is his time to shine,” Cox continued. “If he's able to do well in the Saudi Cup and then do well in Dubai, that would be very special. If he were able to win the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile, Pegasus, Saudi Cup and Dubai, it would be very similar to what Arrogate did with the Travers, the (Breeders' Cup) Classic, Pegasus and Dubai. If he were able to do something like that, it would go down as one of the great streaks in racing history.

“We would try to get through these two and then ship him back to the States and work our way back from the Breeders' Cup after this. Whether that's the Dirt Mile or the Classic, his runs in Saudi Arabia and Dubai will tell us which one, so it's one race at a time.”

Max Player (USA) – The Steve Asmussen-trained son of Honor Code remained in the quarantine area.

Military Law (GB) – Nasir Askar's Musabbeh Al Mheiri-trained Military Law hand-walked on Wednesday after arriving late on Tuesday evening from Dubai. The gelded 6-year-old son of Dubawi exits an impressive victory in the Group 2 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 1 over 1600m (one mile) at Meydan.

“He just hand-walked today and shipped over well,” said Maria Ritchie, assistant trainer.

“We're looking forward to the race with him and we know he can see the distance. There will be pace, which is good. He was fresh last time, so he did well over the mile, but he obviously travels 2000m (1 1/4 miles).

“He was good that day and he has come forward, I think. Hopefully he won't be too far back off the pace. It's hard to come from too far back. We'll gallop him (a blowout breeze) down the stretch on Friday.”

Mishriff (IRE) and Global Giant (GB) – Cantered on the dirt track with Al Rajhi Bank Saudi Derby entry New Treasure. Mishriff was ridden by jockey David Egan and Global Giant by John Gosden's travelling head lad Tony Proctor.

“All three horses had an easy canter today and they are all handling the surface well,” said Gosden's son and assistant, Thady. “They seem to be enjoying themselves. Mishriff was very relaxed around there.”

Simsir (IRE) – Fawzi Nass was on hand to watch Bahrain International Trophy winner Simsir get over the dirt track on Wednesday morning. The trainer and co-owner (through the Bahrain-based Victorious racing stable) was pleased with his easy canter around the oval.

Nass said: “He did his big work in Bahrain on Sunday. All he and my other horses need to do is just 'tick over' and today they cantered about six and a half furlongs. It's their first time on the big track and one or two of them were a bit fresh, which is understandable on a new track, but hopefully they'll be more settled tomorrow. Simsir is doing very well.”

Sleepy Eyes Todd (USA) – The Miguel Angel Silva trained Sleepy Eyes Todd came onto the dirt track on Wednesday morning where he stood for about 10 minutes before warming up.

Miguel Angel Silva explained: “He always does that. He comes onto the track and first has a look. He then galloped for two rounds. He went a bit faster the second time round. He is fit and good.”

Tacitus (USA) – The 5-year-old son of Tapit came out of Tuesday's 600m (three furlongs) workout over the dirt track “super” according to Neil Poznansky, assistant to trainer Bill Mott and who was aboard Tacitus for Tuesday's drill.

“He jogged a mile on the training track (this morning),” added Poznansky, who was again in the saddle this morning.

Tacitus, who finished fifth in last year's inaugural edition of the Saudi Cup, has been racing well in the United States since that effort and last ran in the G1 Breeders' Cup Classic at Keeneland finishing fourth.

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Saudi Cup Notes: Knicks Go’s Monday Breeze ‘Seems To Have Woken Him Up’

The following notes about contenders in the $20 million Saudi Cup, scheduled for Feb. 20, were provided by the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia. 

Bangkok (IRE) – Kept busy during the last few weeks, Andrew Balding's British challenger was in winning action only a few days ago when landing the Winter Derby Trial over 2000m (1 1/4 miles) at Lingfield.

The 5-year-old was restricted to the training track for his exercise.

“He just went for a canter,” Balding's wife and assistant Anna Lisa said. “He came here fit and seems very well. He might do something a bit quicker on Thursday but it's all systems go.”

Charlatan (USA) – Bob Baffert's Charlatan, one of the leading international contenders, had a planned walking day on Tuesday after breezing on Monday.

“He's doing very good,” said Jim Barnes, Baffert's long-time assistant who is overseeing the preparations for the 4-year-old Speightstown colt. “Tomorrow (Wednesday) we will jog on the training track. Thursday (it's) back to the main track.”

Never beaten in four career starts, Charlatan comes here off an easy win in the Grade 1 Malibu at Santa Anita Park in California on Dec. 26. Since the Malibu, Charlatan has posted a series of impressive drills at his California home base.

Chuwa Wizard (JPN) – The 6-year-old horse, a winner of the Grade 1 Champions Cup which is a qualifying race for Saturday, had an easy piece of cantering for two laps to get the feeling of the dirt track.

“I am happy to see him this morning. He seems to have settled into the new surroundings here,” trainer Ryuji Okubo said. “He travelled to Dubai last year and that helped him a lot for a long trip to Saudi Arabia.”

Extra Elusive (GB) – The dual Group 3 winner exercised quietly on the training track.

“He was out on the track for the first time this morning, and we're happy with him. He's done a couple of rounds of the training track today and he seemed to handle it well and cope with everything,” said Andre Alencar, travelling head lad to Extra Elusive's trainer Roger Charlton.

“We talked to the company who travelled him here and he travelled well; since he's been here he's been eating and drinking well. All good so far! Tomorrow we will go to the main track and have a spin around, and probably on Thursday we will have a little breeze with him.”

Knicks Go (USA) – Brad Cox-trained triple Grade 1 winner continued to tout himself in Tuesday morning, exiting Monday's 800m (half-mile) breeze (in 48 seconds) in top order.

“He came out of his breeze very well today and just walked the shed row,” said Dustin Dugas, assistant trainer and exercise rider. “He jogged up the road really well this morning and is acting like he should. The breeze seems to have woken him up since being here and his coat looks great.”

Owned by Korea Racing Authority, the 5-year-old grey six-time winner enters off four consecutive victories, including two course record-setting performances at Keeneland and a pair of Grade 1 victories in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile and Gulfstream Park's Pegasus World Cup.

Cox added: “We've had him a while now and he's really always trained with a lot of energy and has been aggressive. I don't know if I'm looking to see him progress as much as I am just looking for more of the same -he's been that good.”

Max Player (USA) – The 4-year-old son of Honor Code walked in the quarantine area on Tuesday morning as the Steve Asmussen charge continued his preparation for Saturday's race.

“Shipping and training went smoothly,” Asmussen said via text from the United States. “(Max Player) is doing well. Anxiously awaiting the post position draw.”

Military Law (GB) – Nasir Askar's gelding had an easy day of it on Tuesday at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai, navigating a lap around the dirt course with big-race jockey Antonio Fresu aboard.

“He just did an easy canter today,” said Maria Ritchie, assistant trainer to Musabbeh Al Mheiri. “He did a gallop (breeze) on Saturday and he's had a couple easy days to freshen up. Musabbeh is coming tonight to meet the horse.”

The son of Dubawi is shipping in on Tuesday evening with a set of UAE-based runners expected on the ground before midnight. Fresh off a victory in the Group 2 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 1 over 1600m, the bay 6-year-old was second in both the Group 1 Al Maktoum Challenge R3 behind Matterhorn and Group 2 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2 behind Benbatl.

Ritchie continued: “He'll probably hand walk Wednesday, as I don't think he'll be able to go to the track yet. He's done very well since his last run. We'll probably canter on Thursday. Antonio will come in to ride him.”

Mishriff (IRE) and Global Giant (GB), both trained by Britain's champion trainer John Gosden, had their first outing on the track on Tuesday morning ahead. The pair completed a steady canter on the dirt.

Thady Gosden, who is assistant trainer to his father, said: “They travelled over really well and had a lead-out day and a trot yesterday. They arrived in the early hours of Sunday morning so have had some time to acclimatise. There's a bit of a change in the weather from Newmarket to here but I'm sure they are happy to be here in the warmth.”

The 4-year-old Mishriff, who was bred by his owner Prince A A Faisal, is no stranger to the track having run second in last year's Saudi Derby. On his return to Britain he won the Listed Newmarket Stakes before going on to Classic glory in the Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly.

Thady Gosden continued: “It was bottomless ground on Champions Day for Mishriff's final run of last year but he had a little break and has been training well since he started back. He's in good form.

“He knows his way around here a bit and he handles the dirt well. It's a brilliant track here – obviously Mishriff is a turf horse but he handles it well. It's wonderful for Prince Faisal to have a runner in The Saudi Cup. He puts a huge amount into the sport and takes a lot of time over his horses and cares about them deeply.

“He's very passionate and it's brilliant for him to have a horse who is a Classic winner and is now coming back to his home country to hopefully run well in the big race.”

He added of 6-year-old Global Giant, a dual Listed winner who was last seen in public finishing second to fellow Saudi Cup contender Simsir in the Bahrain Trophy: “He went over to Bahrain and ran very well there. The race didn't quite go to plan as he broke a little but slowly and was finishing well late on but wasn't quite able to peg back the leader. He's in good form too. He had a little break over the winter but seems very well in himself.”

Simsir (IRE) – Simsir's trainer Fawzi Nass, who is based in Bahrain, but also has satellite yard in Dubai, said: “Simsir arrived last night. This morning we took him out for a trot on the small track next to the quarantine. He is in good form. I think he travelled well, he ate up his food last night, so all is good.”

Sleepy Eyes Todd (USA) – Miguel Angel Silva, the trainer of American raider Sleepy Eyes Todd, said on Tuesday morning: “Yesterday the horse galloped one lap and then did a two minute mile on the dirt track.

“He nearly did three miles (4800m) yesterday on the track. He was on his own and it was José, my assistant, who rode him. Today he took the day off. He is in good form, he ate all of his dinner and everything is OK right now.”

Tacitus (USA) – The 5-year-old Tapit horse completed serious training with a sprightly 600m (three furlongs) work on the dirt track on Tuesday morning under Neil Poznansky, assistant trainer for Bill Mott – who is remaining in the United States after having travelled here for the inaugural running last year.

“I thought today's breeze was quite exceptional,” said Poznansky, a former jockey who won both the North American Eclipse Award and the Canadian Sovereign Award as Champion Apprentice jockey in 1996. “He continues to mature all the time and he is mentally more focused. He's really coming into himself.”

The grey horse finished fifth in last year's race. Once returned stateside, he won the Grade 2 Suburban at Belmont Park and remained competitive in top level competition.

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