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Swiss Skydiver, Charlatan, Knicks Go Lead U.S. Entries To Saudi Cup Card

The second staging of The Saudi Cup meeting, headlined by the $20 million Saudi Cup, has attracted a star-studded list of entries from the US, including Swiss Skydiver, Knicks Go, Charlatan, and Channel Maker.

After a successful inaugural event last year, the two-day meeting, held at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh on Feb. 19 and 20, has been expanded significantly in 2021 with increased prize money and a new race, resulting in an even stronger list of entries than 12 months ago.

The highlight will once again be the $20 million Saudi Cup, the world's most valuable race. The 1,800 meter contest has attracted some high-profile entries, such as Kenny McPeek's top-class Preakness winner Swiss Skydiver (USA), 2020 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile winner Knicks Go (USA) and Charlatan (USA), the winner of the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes.

Last year's fifth-place finisher, Tacitus (USA), is also entered along with Shug McGaughey's two-time G1 winner Code Of Honor (USA), while Jack Sisterson is represented by G1 Cigar Mile winner True Timber. The main British challenger looks set to be last year's Saudi Derby runner-up, Mishriff.

Gronkowski (KSA), now in the care of Abdulaziz Khalid in Saudi Arabia, has been entered to run in the meeting's highlight again after finishing tenth last year under Frankie Dettori. The locally-trained winner of the 2020 Dirt Sprint, New York Central (KSA), has been entered in The Saudi Cup this year, as has local hero, Alzahzaah (KSA), trained by Shaleh Alotalbi, winner of his last four starts, the latest being the domestic Grade 1, the Crown Prince Cup last month.

The $1.5 million Saudi Derby has also attracted a host of well-regarded types, including multiple G1 winner Jackie's Warrior (USA), last seen finishing fourth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, as well as the horse that finished two places ahead of him that day, Doug O'Neill's Hot Rod Charlie (USA).

The 2,100-meter, $1 million Middle Distance Turf Cup entry list includes Bill Mott's four-time G1 winner Channel Maker (USA), as well as 2019 Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Storm The Court (USA). They could face a strong European-based challenge with Dubai Warrior, Extra Elusive and Sangarius (all GB) all entered, while Port Lions (BAH) , trained in Bahrain by Fawzi Nass, is also entered as he bids to win the race for a second year running.

Channel Maker could also line up in the $2.5 million Long Distance Turf Handicap, run over 3,000 meters, which boasts over 100 international entries from around the world and also includes the 2020 victor Call The Wind (FR), international globetrotter Prince Of Arran (GB) and English St Leger runner up Berkshire Rocco (GB).

Neil Drysdale's Grade 1 Jaipur Stakes victor Oleksandra (USA) is entered in the $1 million, 1,351-meter Turf Sprint, where he could take on G1 July Cup winner Oxted (GB) and the Godolphin-owned Space Blues (GB).

Oxted is also entered in the 1,200 meter $1.5 million Dirt Sprint alongside Justin (JPN), who earned an automatic spot for the race when winning the Grade 3 Capella Stakes last month, while the Purebred Arabian entries in the 2,000 meter $2 million Obaiya Arabian Classic are headlined by the Group 1-winning Messi (BEL), trained by Timo Keersmaekers in Belgium, and last year's winner Tallaab Al Khalediah (KSA), trained locally by Mutlaq Bin Mushref.

This year's meeting, which starts on Feb. 19, sees the addition of a new race, the $500,000 Saudi International Handicap, specifically designed for horses trained in IFHA Part II or Part III countries.

There are horses entered from nine different countries including Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, Spain, Italy, Sweden, Norway, the Czech Republic and Greece.

Tom Ryan, Director of Strategy and International Racing for the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia, was excited by the quality of talent entered for this year's event.

“We are absolutely thrilled with the final entry list for this year's Saudi Cup meeting, especially given the challenges everyone has been faced with over the past 12 months,” Ryan said. “Considering this is only the second year of a new international racing event, both the quality and depth of entries has grown significantly, and there is some really strong momentum behind the meeting. We have seen marked improvements across the board but most satisfying to us is the support that our turf races and the Saudi Derby have received.

“The Saudi Cup itself is fascinating with exciting entries from the USA, Japan, Europe and the Middle East, while we are delighted with the response to our new race, The Saudi International Handicap, which gives an opportunity for horses trained in part two and three racing countries to compete on the global stage.”

* suffix denotes where horse is trained

Entries list: https://thesaudicup.com.sa/sc2021_entries.pdf

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Golden Sixty Shooting For 12th Consecutive Hong Kong Win As He Prepares For G1 Stewards’ Cup

After his devastating win in last month's Group 1 Longines Hong Kong Mile, hometown hero Golden Sixty pleased his connections at Sha Tin this morning with a trial in typical fashion ahead of the G1 Stewards' Cup (1,600 meters) on Jan. 24.

“I'm happy with his trial, in the trial you can relax him – he doesn't show much, he never does,” trainer Francis Lui said.

The son of Medaglia d'Oro went through his first barrier trial of the new year under his own steam, traveling wide throughout before crossing the line fourth, while the Caspar Fownes-trained Southern Legend went home best in a time of 1:11.73 with stablemate Rise High just behind him.

Lui outlined the brilliant 5-year-old's program for the near future, including a potential step back up to 2,000 meters for the first time since his thrilling BMW Hong Kong Derby success last year in next month's G1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup, where he may square off with reigning Hong Kong Horse of the Year, Exultant.

“Stewards' Cup first and then maybe next month's Gold Cup,” Lui said, all but ruling out an overseas tilt this year: “Not this season (to going overseas) but that's another plan.”

The bay will seek back-to-back G1 victories in Sunday week's HK$12 million feature in what will be his fifth run this term as he shoots for his 12th consecutive win after surpassing the great Beauty Generation's 10 Hong Kong wins in a row last month.

“Sometimes you have to worry that he doesn't race too much, there aren't many races for him so he's fresh – Vincent (Ho) said he was a bit fresh this morning.” Lui said.

Lui was pleased with the Australian-bred's wellbeing and he remains buoyant of a positive result in 12 days' time.

“The way he has won his last few races – he can win,” Lui said.

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Mark Your Calendar: 2021 Queen’s Plate To Be Held August 22

Woodbine Entertainment announced today that the 162nd running of the $1 million Queen's Plate, first jewel of the Canadian Triple Crown of Thoroughbred racing, will be held on Sunday, Aug. 22, 2021 at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto.

Contested annually to showcase Canada's finest 3-year-old Thoroughbreds, The Queen's Plate is one of the country's premier sporting events and North America's oldest continuously run stakes horse race.

Held at the end of June in past years, The Queen's Plate was moved to late summer in 2020 and run on Sept. 12 without spectators due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the spectator restrictions, the beloved one-eyed champion Mighty Heart captured the hearts of sports fans across the nation that tuned in via an engaging Queen's Plate at Home digital experience. The historic 2020 Queen's Plate produced the third highest wagering handle in its history.

“While it is clear the impact of COVID-19 will continue to be felt into the new year, we are optimistic that this timing for The Queen's Plate could give us the best opportunity to welcome guests back at Woodbine Racetrack for the most exciting event on the Canadian horse racing calendar,” said Jim Lawson, President and CEO of Woodbine Entertainment. “We look forward to the 2021 racing season and the opportunity to restore The Queen's Plate as one of the top social events in Toronto.”

Details regarding attendance and ticket sales will be announced in the coming months, along with Woodbine's full Thoroughbred stakes schedule for the 2021 meet, which is expected to begin on Saturday, April 17.

“Woodbine has successfully demonstrated our commitment to the health and safety of our staff, participants and guests throughout these unprecedented times,” said Lawson. “We will continue to practice our industry-leading guidelines and entertainment offerings to ensure another world-class Queen's Plate experience in 2021.”

Nominations for the Canadian Triple Crown are due Monday, Feb. 1, 2021.

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Cox Holds Heavy Hand In Silverbulletday

When you have a barn loaded with bluebloods for legendary owners, sometimes paths are going to cross. Such is the case for trainer Brad Cox in Saturday's $150,000 Silverbulletday at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots. The four-time defending Fair Grounds champion has entered Juddmonte Farms' homebred Sun Path to compete against Godolphin's homebred Divine Comedy and seven others in the 1-mile 70-yard stakes for 3-year-old fillies. The Silverbulletday offers 17 qualifying points (10-4-2-1) for the Longines Kentucky Oaks (Grade 1), and the race should give a glimpse into the best of the locals for the March 20 Fair Grounds Oaks (G2).

Juddmonte Farms' homebred Sun Path (post 9 at 2-1 with Florent Geroux) is the much more fancied of the Cox runners. She is two-for-three on the track and is long on pedigree as well, as the daughter of Munnings is a full-sister to last year's Fair Grounds Oaks winner Bonnie South for these same connections. Sun Path was second on debut at Keeneland in October, broke her maiden at Churchill Downs in November, then won an allowance here Dec. 18 by an eye-popping 12 ¾ lengths.

With entries taken a week out and a lightly raced filly who showed she's still on her game when she threw down a 4-furlong bullet work in :47 4/5 over the track Jan. 9, Cox decided not to keep Sun Path in the barn.

“She worked well Saturday and we have to enter seven days out,” Cox said of Sun Path. “Her last race wasn't super taxing on her and she's had two nice works since, so we decided to run her back. Hopefully she can continue her progression to what we hope is the Kentucky Oaks. She drew outside but I think if we get a trip, she'll be tough.”

Divine Comedy (post 6 at 8-1 with Shaun Bridgmohan) is much more of an unknown commodity, though her two-turn debut resulted in an easy 5 ¼-length maiden special weight win here on Dec. 18. The daughter of Into Mischief was sixth sprinting on debut at Churchill in September but she clearly relished the added distance and turn she got last time, which was no surprise to her trainer.

“The ground helped her more than anything,” Cox said. “She just kind of found herself on the lead doing all the work and she stayed on. We always thought she'd be better with distance and she was. She'll need to step up in her third career start, but she's had two good works since her last race and I think she's ready to move forward.”

As much as undefeated filly who has won her two races by a combined 6 ¼ lengths could be one, Live Oak Plantation's Souper Sensational (post 1 at 5-2 with Declan Carroll) is the wildcard in the Silverbulletday. The daughter of Curlin cost $725,000 as a yearling and has looked the part in a pair of wins over Woodbine's Tapeta surface for trainer Mark Casse, which includes the Oct. 17 Glorious Song by four lengths. Souper Sensational shows six works over the Fair Grounds main track and Casse's assistant David Carroll, who has been readying her for her local debut, admits the Silverbulletday will go a long way in determining what path to take in the future.

“Based on how well she performs will dictate her campaign after that,” Carroll said. “We feel she can be special, it's just a matter of at what distance and whether dirt will be part of that. The most important thing you hope for is talent and she's already shown that. She deserves to test the waters against really nice, 3-year-old fillies on the dirt. If she handles this well, it opens up more avenues for her.”

Joel Politi's Littlestitious (post 8 at 6-1 with James Graham) tried two turns in the Dec. 1 My Trusty Cat, traveling seven furlongs at Delta Downs and she drew off by 10 ¼ lengths for trainer Tom Amoss. Two starts back in October at Keeneland, the daughter of Ghostzapper broke her maiden in her fourth career start, and she clearly moved up last time, though she meets much tougher in her local debut, which will be her first start past seven furlongs.

Completing the Silverbulletday field from the rail out: Brad King, Jim Cone, Scott Bryant, and Stan and Suzanne Kirby's Moon Swag (post 2 at 20-1 with Adam Beschizza), fourth sprinting in the local December 19 Letellier for trainer Brendan Walsh; Lothenbach Stables' homebred Charlie's Penny (post 3 at 8-1 with Brian Hernandez Jr.), third in the Letellier for trainer Chris Block; Rigney Racing's Minute Waltz (post 4 at 8-1 with Gabriel Saez), third going a mile November 28 at Churchill in an optional-claimer for trainer Phil Bauer; John Dewberry's Princess Theorem (post 5 at 12-1 with Rafael Santana Jr.), fifth November 28 in Churchill's Golden Rod (G2) for Walsh; and Miacomet Farms and Michael Pietrangelo's Barista (post 7 at 12-1 with Miguel Mena), who won a December 31 off-the-turf optional-claimer here for trainer Jimmy Baker.

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