The banner wasn't there. That's because jockey Junior Alvarado was sporting royal blue and white aboard the eventual winner.

Despite reporting by several Middle Eastern news outlets–namely Arab News and the Saudi Gazette–which either listed Peacock secondarily as the owner, or in the case of latter, totally omitted his name, rest assured, said the San Antonio-based breeder and owner, he is still firmly in control.

“I think it was a misunderstanding and probably due to not fully comprehending the nature of the business agreement,” said Peacock, when he was reached by phone on Monday afternoon. “This is a two-race lease for a minority interest in Senor Buscador, and he is, and always will be ours.”

It is true that after Senor Buscador arrived for the Saudi Cup under the care of trainer Todd Fincher, Peacock did forge a racing license agreement just before the race on Friday with Saudi businessman Sharaf Mohammed S. Al-Hariri.

Peacock says that the terms pertain only to Senor Buscador's time in the Middle East and have nothing to do with breeding rights. The arrangement includes competing in the Saudi Cup and then the opportunity to run in next month's G1 Dubai World Cup at Meydan Racecourse.

In exchange for an undisclosed amount, but one which Peacock confirmed was significant, Al-Hariri's stake is strictly based on the horse's winnings.

The other portion of the deal gave Al-Harari the right to have his silks borne by jockey Junior Alvarado in both races.

“I started to receive all kinds of offers for Buscador when we were invited to go to the Saudi Cup,” the owner explained. “The answer was always 'no thank you' but I understood how important it was to them over there to have their silks in the race, so I thought from a business standpoint, it would be good to mitigate our own risks, hedge our bets, and offer a short-term lease.

Owner Joe Peacock Jr. | Horsephotos

“I think Sharaf took a gamble, a major risk, and I applaud him for that effort. I am happy that it worked out for him.”

After the 6-year-old won on Saturday in Riyadh, there was confusion over why Peacock and his contingent were not allowed to take part in the official trophy presentation.

The owner and his supporters were denied access by the Royal Guard to the area where the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman, conducted the ceremony. Al-Hariri instead received the Saudi Cup trophy.

“I was very disappointed,” admitted Peacock. “I told them I owned the horse, but it wasn't until later that they brought the trophies to us during the press conference. That is the way it goes.”

When asked about the news stories put out by the press in Saudi Arabia, he said, “I'm really over it and not going to spend time thinking about it because I know who we are and what it took to get our horse into this position.”

As of Monday morning, Senor Buscador arrived safe and sound in Dubai after he was joined by a contingent of other Saudi Cup card participants for the two-hour flight. The logistics were organized shortly after the invitation to come to Saudi Arabia was extended, according to Peacock.

Over the next month, Senor Buscador will be housed at Meydan with Fincher assistant Oscar Rojero, who traveled with the horse to Saudi Arabia. Regular workouts will take place, with Fincher making all of the decisions concerning the tab–just as he always does–added the owner.

Dubai World Cup Night is scheduled for Saturday, Mar. 30 with Senor Buscador attempting to become the first dual winner of the Saudi Cup and Dubai World Cup.

Hi, SENOR BUSCADOR!

⁦@thesaudicup⁩ winner has arrived in #Dubai! We can't wait to see him at #DWC24 pic.twitter.com/N34FGzgtRY

— Dubai Racing Club (@RacingDubai) February 26, 2024

The post Senor Buscador’s Peacock Added Investor Before Saudi Cup, Two-Race Lease In Place Through Dubai World Cup appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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The listed winner blew the break, and Moore steered him over to the fence, where they loitered for the majority of the race as Libyan Glass (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}) blitzed up to the head of affairs while pressed by Iron Barows (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}) and Echt (Jpn) (Rulership {Jpn}) perched in third.

The strung-out field began to bunch midway on the last of three turns. Right about the time Iron Barows tackled his countrymate in earnest 500 metres from home, Moore and Tower Of London began to inch around and in between runners with their bid, at times in desperate need of gaps. Luckily, the pair found racing room and, after moving out for clear sailing in the lane, were flying into the final furlong with a full head of steam and dead aim on Enemy closer to the rail, who had capitalised once the Japanese pacesetters threw in the towel.

G2 Yorkshire Cup S. hero Giavellotto (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) was also coming with a strong run and he rushed up to Enemy's throat latch. That duo seemed to have the race at their mercy for a second or two, before Tower Of London, responding gallantly to Moore's efforts, unleashed a determined rally. In the final metres of the race, it was too close to call if Tower Of London would get there, but Moore was able to eke out that extra bit of effort from his mount, who pipped Enemy by a head on the line. Giavellotto was a game third. Of the Japanese, the best finish was by Echt in fifth.

“He's a lightly raced horse,” said Moore afterwards. “He's from a very good family, a brother to Capri and the family have done well for the yard. He'd been working well, they always held him in high regard. We had to be patient and a few horses were dropping back. We eventually got out and he got there at the end. Today was the first time he was able to run on a flat track on quick ground and Aidan has had a lot of faith.”

“In fairness to Aidan, he was quite confident coming out here and Ryan said he was going to take his time,” said MV Magnier. “He's pretty cool, relaxed and nothing fazes him. I haven't spoken to Aidan yet but I'd say the chances are he could go for [G2] Dubai Gold Cup but it'll be up to Aidan and the lads. I've been here for the past few days, it's remarkable the welcome we've got and the people have been brilliant.”

A maiden winner at first asking at two, the full-brother to staying star and G1 St Leger hero Capri (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) won a pair of handicaps at three, and was also second in the G3 Bahrain Trophy S. later in the season. Only fourth in the St Leger at Doncaster in September, he was a distant ninth in the Irish Cesarewitch H. at the end of a the season. Saturday's race was his 4-year-old bow.

Pedigree Notes

Coolmore's much missed Galileo is now the sire of 252 group/graded winners (373 stakes winners) internationally with the victory of Tower Of London. A dozen of Galileo's stakes winners are out of Anabaa mares, the best of them including the previously mentioned Capri, as well as three-time Group 1 winner Lush Lashes (GB), GI Belmont Derby/GI Sword Dancer S. winner Bolshoi Ballet (Ire), and Stone Age (Ire), who has been placed thrice at Group 1/I level.

Mated exclusively with Galileo for her first nine foals, the winning Dialafara foaled seven winners in that bunch, with G3 Loughbrown S. winner Cypress Creek (Ire) and G3 Stanerra S. heroine Passion (Ire) joining Capri and Tower Of London as group winners. Passion was also third in the G1 Irish Oaks and the G1 British Champions Fillies & Mares S. Dialafara's latest produce is a colt by Camelot (GB), who was born in 2022.

Second dam Diamilina (Fr) (Linamix {Fr}) won two group races in France, and was also second in the G1 Prix Vermeille. She is a half-sister to the sire Diamond Green (Fr) (Green Desert), a winner of the G3 Prix La Rochette, and second in the G1 French 2000 Guineas among three Group 1 podiums. G1 Melbourne Cup runner-up Bauer (Ire) (Halling) is also kin to Tower Of London.

Saturday, King Abdulaziz (Riyadh), Saudi Arabia
LONGINES RED SEA TURF H.-G3, $2,500,000, King Abdulaziz, 2-24, NH4yo/up, SH3yo/up, 3000mT, 3:04.43, gd.
1–TOWER OF LONDON (IRE), 131, c, 4, by Galileo (Ire)
                1st Dam: Dialafara (Fr), by Anabaa
                2nd Dam: Diamilina (Fr), by Linamix (Fr)
                3rd Dam: Diamonaka (Fr), by Akarad (Fr)
1ST GROUP WIN. O-D Smith, Mrs J Magnier, M Tabor &
Westerberg; B-Lynch Bages, Ltd. (Ire) & Camas Park Stud;
T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Ryan Moore; $1,500,000. Lifetime Record:
SW-Ire, GSP-Eng, 9-4-1-0, $1,708,396. *Full to Capri (Ire)
(Galileo {Ire}), Hwt. 3yo-Euro at 14f+, Hwt. 3yo-Ire at 11-14f &
14f+, Hwt. Older Horse-Ire at 11-14f, Hwt. 3yo-Eng at 14f+,
G1SW-Ire & Eng, G1SP-Fr, $2,067,692; Cypress Creek (Ire)
(Galileo {Ire}), GSW-Ire & GSP-Eng, $102,373; and Passion (Ire)
(Galileo {Ire}), GSW & G1SP-Ire, G1SP-Eng, $200,604. Werk
   Nick Rating: B+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree
   or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Enemy (GB), 131, g, 7, Muhaarar (GB)–Prudenzia (Ire), by
Dansili (GB). (€420,000 Ylg '18 ARQAUG; €92,000 HRA '21
ARQNOV). O-Tracey Bell & Caroline Lyons; B-Ecurie des
Monceaux & Skymarc Farm, Inc. (GB); T-Ian Williams; J-Richard
Kingscote; $500,000.
3–Giavellotto (Ire), 136, h, 5, Mastercraftsman (Ire)–Gerika (Fr),
by Galileo (Ire). O/B-Societa la Tesa, Ltd. (Ire); T-M. Botti;
J-Oisin Murphy; $250,000.
Margins: HD, 3/4, 4 1/4.
Also Ran: Al Nayyir (GB), Echt (Jpn), First Minister (Ire), Big Call, Pin Your Hopes (Ire), Breakup (Jpn), Libyan Glass (Jpn), Diva Donna (Fr), Iron Barows (Jpn), Roberto Escobarr (Ire), Skazino (Fr). Click for the JCSA chart (R8) and video.

Tower Of London gets there….just!!

Aidan O'Brien's charge wins the Longines Red Sea Turf Handicap under Ryan Moore, although it wasn't plain sailing!

A brilliant run from Enemy, too #TheSaudiCup | #サウジカップ @netkeiba | @JRAVAN_info | @Ballydoyle | @thesaudicup pic.twitter.com/RIqQOsXHIf

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) February 24, 2024

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Sir Alex Ferguson, best known for his Manchester United exploits in another sporting sphere, declared the victory of SPIRIT DANCER (GB) (g, 7, Frankel {GB}–Queen's Dream {Ger}, by Oasis Dream {GB}) in November's G2 Bahrain International Trophy “my best day in racing”, but already that triumph has some stiff competition. In Saturday's $2-million G2 Howden Neom Turf Cup, Ferguson, Ged Mason and Peter Done's determined gelding put his rivals to the sword with a dramatic kick to win by a length in the 2100-metre contest for trainer Richard Fahey.

Japan's Killer Ability (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) was a half-length ahead of the rallying Calif (Ger) (Areion {Ger}) at the line, with Luxembourg (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), who had stayed nearer the pace set by Jack Darcy (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) a neck back in fourth.

When the gates flew, Spirit Dancer was a touch keyed up, tossing his head and was forced to sit three off the fence in midfield as Jack Darcy cut out the running while feeling the heat from Luxembourg, who was ridden forward from the widest alley. Relaxing into a nice rhythm on the backstretch, Spirit Dancer was able to edge a bit closer to the inside, but still had at least six horses to pass on the far turn. Ryan Moore asked Luxembourg to tackle the leader 400 metres from the wire, while Spirit Dancer swung toward the centre of the lane for his bid. He soon gobbled up ground, blew past Luxembourg inside the final furlong and withstood the closing rushes of Killer Ability to his inside and Calif to claim his third group race in good style.

“It's fantastic, after Bahrain you come here and look at the field, the performance from Oisin [Orr] and the horse and Richard, it's unbelievable,” said Ferguson. “Richard made the point he hasn't had a lot of racing, and I think we see the evidence today. Oisin said this morning horse the is improving all the time. I took a gamble a few years ago with a stud in Hemel Hampstead and the results have been very good.

“That puts his win in Bahrain in perspective. Richard gave us confidence but it is one of these things, you are never too confident.”

Mason added, “It's like a dream, I have to pinch myself. For Richard to produce him and win as easy as he did, he was like a steam engine. Sir Alex had a dream this morning and dreamt he'd win.”

“It's absolutely amazing,” said Done. “Super, super trainer. All credit to him and Oisin with a terrific ride. We bought into him as a 2-year-old. If Sir Alex asks do you want a share, what do you say? We turned down a big offer after Bahrain and we all turned it down and what a great decision.”

A three-race winning streak last summer culminated in York's G3 Strensall S. in August for the Ferguson and Niall McLoughlin-bred gelding, and two starts later he won the G2 Bahrain International Trophy in November. Spirit Dancer was fourth in the G1 Jebel Hatta to Measured Time (GB) (Frankel {GB}) warming up for this on Jan. 26.

“We'll send him back to Dubai, said Fahey of future plans. “We'll see how he is in the morning but it's hard not to go back to Dubai. I'll be shocked if he doesn't line up in something on World Cup night.

“Always in my mind I wanted to stretch out to a mile and a half [2400m] but I don't want to make any decisions tonight. Any horse that goes on the international scene, becomes a people's horse, and he's got a huge fan base–the lad that has a share in him has something to do with that!

“As trainers we don't really understand what it means to people and to see the enjoyment gives me huge pride. He gets his head down and gallops to the line.”

Pedigree Notes

The unbeaten champion Frankel is already the recipient of two sire titles in the UK & Ireland, and the 16-year-old's progeny are never far from the limelight. Spirit Dancer is one of 136 stakes winners (93 group) on an international scale for the bay, and one of seven stakes winners out of Oasis Dream mares. The best of that septet is G1 Prix de la Foret heroine Kelina (Ire).

The third foal and one of four winners for his unraced dam Queen's Dream, Spirit Dancer's latest half-sibling is a 2-year-old by Masar (Ire). Second dam Quetena (Ger) (Acatenango {Ger}) was a better producer than runner, as she placed in a listed race in Italy before foaling a quartet of stakes winners. Three of them were group class or better–Italian Group 1 winner and sire Querari (Ger) (Oasis Dream {GB}), fellow sire and G3 Bavarian Classic victor Quasillo (Ger) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), and the stakes-producing Quidura (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) all won at least one race at the group or graded level. The last-named mare triumphed in the GII Ballston Spa S. and GII Canadian S., and GIII Valley View S. and was placed an additional three times at the highest table in the U.S.

Saturday, King Abdulaziz (Riyadh), Saudi Arabia
HOWDEN NEOM TURF CUP-G2, $2,000,000, King Abdulaziz, 2-24, NH4yo/up, SH3yo/up, 2100mT, 2:07.10, gd.
1–SPIRIT DANCER (GB), 125, g, 7, Frankel (GB)
                1st Dam: Queen's Dream (Ger), by Oasis Dream (GB)
                2nd Dam: Quetena (Ger), by Acatenango (Ger)
                3rd Dam: Quebrada (Ire), by Devil's Bag
O-Done/Ferguson/Mason; B-Sir Alex Ferguson & Niall
McLoughlin (GB); T-Richard Fahey; J-Oisin Orr; $1,200,000.
Lifetime Record: GSW-Eng & Bhr, 25-8-6-2, $2,131,263. Werk
   Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus*. Click for the
   eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or the
   free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Killer Ability (Jpn), 125, h, 5, Deep Impact (Jpn)–Killer Graces,
by Congaree. O-U Carrot Farm; B-Northern Racing (Jpn);
T-Takashi Saito; J-Cristian Demuro; $400,000.
3–Calif (Ger), 125, g, 5, Areion (Ger)–Cherry Danon (Ire), by
Rock Of Gibraltar (Ire). (€95,000 RNA Ylg '20 BBASEP;
€400,000 HRA '23 ARQSEP ). O-Victorious; B-Gestut
Brummerhof; T-Fawzi Nass; J-Adrie de Vries; $200,000.
Margins: 1, HF, NK.
Also Ran: Luxembourg (Ire), Jack Darcy (Ire), Grocer Jack (Ger), Alooqaal (Ire), Astro King (Ire), Studley (Jpn), Starcat (GB), Hearts Concerto (Jpn), Bolthole (Ire), The Foxes (Ire).
Click for the JCSA chart (R7) and video.

WOW!

It's another international success for Spirit Dancer who lands the Howden Neom Turf Cup for @RichardFahey, Oisin Orr and Sir Alex Ferguson at @thesaudicup meeting ! #TheSaudiCup pic.twitter.com/0Pn9xU3W4f

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) February 24, 2024

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“It's great going abroad winning these races and it puts us on the international map,” said Appleby. “Huge credit to the team in the yard who work hard all year.”

With Rossa Ryan aboard from a wide post, Annaf found cover early and didn't waste an inch as he edged over to the rail. Staying under the radar, he angled steadily up throughout the running and landed in an advantageous spot, finally slipping through the slimmest of seams to thread the needle on the inside and burst clear late. With a move not for the faint of heart, Annaf finished three-quarters of a length the best with a final time of time of 1:17.88 for the 1351 metres, or approximately 6 3/4 furlongs. The Japanese mare La La Christine closed from the clouds with a spectacular turn of foot, but ran out of ground and secured second as Bahrain's Byline found his best stride late to follow in her wake.

“With Annaf I have always tended to ride for luck. It seems to work for him,” said Ryan. “He lets hard-hitters do the work for him and picks up the pieces.

“The owner and trainer don't put any pressure on me and I know he has pace to get me out of trouble. I didn't have a lot of room but he stuck his head out for me. It's brilliant because I picked this lad up as a spare one day in Lingfield, I had to drop him out and bide my time and the relationship formed from there.”

Ryan rode Annaf for the first time in January, 2023 in a Lingfield handicap and the two embarked on a three-race win skein. They went their separate way for a few months and reunited for a third in the G1 King's Stand S. last June at Royal Ascot. A fourth in a Group 3 at Sandown ensued and the two separated once again before finally reuniting in September. They notched two nose wins, including in the Oct. 7 G3 John Guest Racing Bengough S. at Ascot, and were last seen finishing second on the all-weather at Lingfield Feb. 4.

“Rossa gave him a great ride,” said Appleby. “All down to Rossa, not my training. He keeps improving and keeps surprising us. God knows where we go next. He has got an invite to Japan, so possibly we'll go there next. We always thought he was good horse who'd get better with age and he might not be finished yet. The sky is the limit.”

Pedigree Notes

Haras Du Petit Tellier's Muhaarar (GB), new to the operation for 2024 after standing at Haras des Faune, is the sire of Annaf and 23 other black-type winners. The son of Oasis Dream (GB), himself a multiple Group 1 winner and crack English sprinter, famously sired the exacta in the 2021 G1 QIPCO British Champions Fillies & Mares S. Also among his dozen group winners is last year's G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains winner Marhaba Ya Sanafi (Ire). In addition, his Byline (GB) was third in the 1351 Turf Sprint, giving Muhaarar a one-three finish in Saturday's race.

Damsire Storm Cat, leading broodmare sire in the U.S. three times, has 308 stakes winners out of his daughters, including a long list of champions. Interestingly, two of Muhaarar's 12 group winners are out of Storm Cat-line mares, including Paris Peacock (Ire), a group winner in Ireland in 2022 and graded stakes-placed in the U.S. last year.

Annaf is a fourth-generation Shadwell-bred. His dam, one of the top fillies in Ireland in her day, also produced English stakes winner Mushir (GB), who is by Muhaarar's sire, Oasis Dream. Her last reported foal is the sophomore colt Mitwaa (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}), a winner in Qatar. Shadwell also bred and raced Muhaarar. Fosnic Racing picked up Annaf as an unraced 2-year-old for 16,000gns at the 2021 Tattersalls Autumn Horses-in-Training Sale.

Saturday, King Abdulaziz (Riyadh), Saudi Arabia
SAUDI NATIONAL BANK 1351 TURF SPRINT-G2, $2,000,000, King Abdulaziz, 2-24, NH4yo/up, SH3yo/up, 1351mT, 1:17.88, gd.
1–ANNAF (IRE), 125, h, 5, by Muhaarar (GB)
                1st Dam: Shimah (Hwt. 2yo Filly-Ire, SW & G1SP-Ire,
                                $161,479), by Storm Cat
                2nd Dam: Sayedat Alhadh, by Mr. Prospector
                3rd Dam: Muhbubh, by Blushing Groom (Fr)
(16,000gns HRA '21 TATOCT). O-Fosnic Racing; B-Shadwell
Estate Company, Ltd. (Ire); T-Michael Appleby; J-Rossa Ryan;
$1,200,000. Lifetime Record: GSW & G1SP-Eng, 26-8-3-3,
$1,590,994. *1/2 to Mushir (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}), SW-Eng
& SP-UAE, $171,335. Werk Nick Rating: B. Click for the
   eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or the
   free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–La La Christine (Jpn), 121, m, 6, Mikki Isle (Jpn)–Super
Madame (Jpn), by Tanino Gimlet (Jpn). (¥18,900,000 Ylg '19
JBBAAUG). O-Fujii Kosan Co., Ltd.; B-; T-T. Saito; J-C. Demuro;
$400,000.
3–Byline (GB), 125, g, 7, Muhaarar (GB)–Lauren Louise (GB), by
Tagula (Ire). 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (140,000gns Ylg '18
TATOCT; 110,000gns HRA '20 TATOCT). O-Al Adiyat Racing; B- (GB); T-A. Smith; J-G. Mosse; $200,000.
Margins: 3/4, 3/4, HF.
Also Ran: Win Greatest (Jpn), Matilda Picotte (Ire), Aguri (Jpn), King Gold (Fr), Raaed (Ire), Jumby (Ire), Bathrat Leon (Jpn), Dr Zempf (GB), Art Power (Ire), Mysterious Night (Ire), Cold Front (GB). Click for the JCSA chart and video.

ANNAF for !!

A dream run up the rails under @Rossaryan15 in the G2 @snbalahli 1351 Turf Sprint.

Huge congrats, @MickApplebyUK #TheSaudiCup pic.twitter.com/gFVWvpW8R9

— The Saudi Cup (@thesaudicup) February 24, 2024

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Looking to make it back-to-back successes in the world's richest horse race following the stunning all-the-way victory by Panthalassa (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) last February are Japan's champion dirt horse Lemon Pop (Lemon Drop Kid); reigning G1 Dubai World Cup winner Ushba Tesoro (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}); Derma Sotogake (Jpn) (Mind Your Biscuits), last year's G2 UAE Derby hero and runner-up to White Abarrio (Race Day) in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic; and the MGSW/MG1SP Meisho Hario (Jpn) (Pyro).

Lightly raced for a 6-year-old, with just 14 starts under his belt, Lemon Pop won last year's G1 February S. and ventured overseas for the first time for the G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen. An outpaced 10th behind Sibelius (Not This Time), the chestnut successfully stepped up in trip and wired the G1 Champions Cup in his first try over nine furlongs last December. Connections have opted for the path of greater resistance for his seasonal debut a week from Saturday.

“There's going to be plenty of competition there and that nine furlongs will test him now because we're not absolutely sure that's his best distance,” Godolphin Japan President Harry Sweeney told the TDN's Emma Berry in a recent interview. “But anyway, the option really is either to stay at home in Japan and run in the February S….or to go abroad and run in the Saudi Cup. So that's what we're doing.”

Say hello to four of Team Japan's G1 Saudi Cup contenders!

LEMON POP #レモンポップ
DERMA SOTOGAKE #デルマソトガケ
USHBA TESORO #ウシュバテソーロ
MEISHO HARIO #メイショウハリオ#サウジカップ | #競馬 | @JRA_WorldRacing pic.twitter.com/iloUlALcVU

— The Saudi Cup (@thesaudicup) February 15, 2024

A field of 16 will be drawn Friday for Sunday's February S., a 'Win and You're In' challenge race that offers a berth in the field for the 2024 Breeders' Cup Classic at Del Mar. But while the February does not lack for quantity, the racing calendar dictates that the country's stars are elsewhere.

“In truth, [the Saudi Cup] hurts the February S. a little bit, which is only one of two Grade 1 races in the JRA calendar on dirt,” Sweeney opined. So you have horses like Lemon Pop, Ushba Tesoro, Derma Sotogake all going to Saudi. Whereas in a different era they would all run in the February S.”

The Japanese have been major players in the brief history of the Saudi Cup races, and their other main chances include defending champion Bathrat Leon (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}) in the G2 1351 Turf Sprint; Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}) in the G3 Saudi Derby; and Remake (Jpn) (Lani), who will try to improve on his third-place effort in the G3 Riyadh Dirt Sprint.

The American representatives also touched down in Riyadh late Wednesday evening, including the Saudi Cup-bound White Abarrio, National Treasure (Quality Road) and Saudi Crown (Always Dreaming).

Three of Team USA's G1 Saudi Cup contenders arriving to quarantine at @JCSA_Racing.

SAUDI CROWN
WHITE ABARRIO
NATIONAL TREASURE #TheSaudiCup | – pic.twitter.com/XMtfiinzPl

— The Saudi Cup (@thesaudicup) February 15, 2024

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Owned by the partnership of Done/Ferguson/Mason, the gelding won the G3 Strensall S. last August before taking the G2 Bahrain International Trophy two starts later in November. Given some time off, he made his 7-year-old bow in the G1 Jebel Hatta at Meydan on Jan. 26, running on to be fourth behind Measured Time (GB) (Frankel {GB}).

“I was delighted to get that run in Dubai into him,” said trainer Richard Fahey.

“We were pleased with the run and we were probably just drawn a little bit wide–hopefully the run will put him 100% right for Saudi.

“We're going to run in the Neom. I was keen to go for the big one there [Saudi Cup], but I just felt nine furlongs on the dirt would be sharp enough for him. He's a horse I would probably want to go a mile and a half in Saudi rather than a sharp nine, if that makes sense.”

“Barring problems I'm sure his owners are very keen,” continued Fahey. “Peter Done and Ged Mason are both very keen and Sir Alex is keen as well, so it looks like they are booking and barring problems I would say they will probably be there.

“We certainly enjoyed Bahrain and anything now is a bonus, but we're expecting him to run a big race in Saudi.”

The post Spirit Dancer Confirmed For Neom Turf Cup appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Per Santa Anita Stable Superintendent Jeff Metz, Richard Mandella will send Forbidden Kingdom (American Pharoah) and potentially Planetario (Brz) (Il Doge {Brz}) for starts on the Saudi Cup undercard.

After spending nearly 12 hours in the holding barn at Santa Anita, the Saudi-bound contingent will leave for Los Angeles International Airport at 4 a.m. Wednesday morning. They will go first to Miami via Mersant International where they will be joined by a group of Eastern-based horses for the 13-hour trip to Riyadh.

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Ridden by former U.S.-based jockey Wigberto Ramos from gate 16, Honky Tonk Man–who was second to fellow American-bred Chiefdom (The Factor) when becoming Jerkens's first runner in a 0-90 handicap July 15–raced with the leading group and edged forward to contend for the lead with about a half-mile to race. Matching strides into the stretch in a rematch with Chiefdom Saturday, Honky Tonk Man began to get the upper hand inside the final furlong and went on to score by 1 1/2 lengths (see below, SC 16).

“It is, I must admit, it's a little bit of breathing room for a little while,” a relieved Jerkens told the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia's Shamela Hanley. “He ran a winning race last time. The others we've run since then haven't fared as well, they just didn't get enough out of their works in the morning to be fit enough. But he's a light, little horse, kind of a natural athlete and he was getting over the track better than the majority of my horses, so I was fairly confident in him.”

A winner of two of nine starts in England for trainers Harry and Roger Charlton, Honky Tonk Man was purchased by Najd Stud for 150,000gns ($177,654) at last year's Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale, an increasingly important source of bloodstock for jurisdictions in the Middle East. He was unplaced in a pair of starts at King Abdulaziz Racecourse last January and February before being transferred to Jerkens.

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Of all the results possible in the big race, a Japanese victory would have been right up there as the most desirable for a relatively new fixture on the international racing circuit, as extravagant the prize-money may be.

Nobody understands this better than the County Tipperary native who swapped managing Naas racecourse for his current role as the Racing Advisor to the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia a little over four years ago.

Ryan and his team have worked tirelessly to provide the Saudi Cup fixture with a foothold on the international programme in that time and, along with Panthalassa's Saudi Cup win that spearheaded a Japanese-trained treble on the evening, the victory of Breeders' Cup winner Elite Power (Curlin) and a local success in the Saudi Derby all helped point to the fact that such status is being secured.

“We're in year four now and it's hard to believe that it's been four years since I left Naas racecourse to come out here,” a wide-eyed Ryan said after racing on Saturday.

“Tonight's result gives us a global spread–America won the Saudi Cup in year one, England in year two, the Middle East last year and now Japan. It gives the event an unbelievable spread.”

He added, “I am also delighted for Juddmonte to get their winner [Elite Power in the G3 Riyadh Dirt Sprint ] as they've tried very hard to. I felt very bad about the fact that Mandaloun (Into Mischief) got delayed going back home to America last year after running in the Saudi Cup. Obviously that was out of our control but I was very happy to see Elite Power winning for them tonight.

“On the whole, the event has been fantastic and the enthusiasm for racing in Saudi Arabia is exploding. Our job now is to harness that and hopefully give them a platform for it.”

The progress that has been made in a short space of time can largely be put down to the huge confidence trainers and jockeys have had in the racing surface at Riyadh racecourse, particularly on the dirt track, which was evident when Frankie Dettori described it as 'one of the best in the world' at a press conference on Thursday.

That, along with a developing programme and colossal prize-money, has provided enough of a carrot for the international runners to take up the challenge. A number of those box office names helped make this year's meeting one to remember.

Ryan said, “We've been very well-supported from the outset. The Saudi Cup is the most important race on the card but we had a Breeders' Cup sprint winner here today and the Turf Sprint is a Group 1 in all but name. That race started out as a bit of a play thing at 1,351 metres and now it's a Group 3 but, the quality of field it is attracting, it could be a Group 1.”

He added, “The track was always our core asset–the dirt track in particular. We took a chance here in developing the turf track on the inside and that has matured beautifully. From that point of view, the international riders have been happy from day one to endorse the dirt track as possibly the best in the world. We added the turf track and took a chance that first year with an expansive race programme.”

Whether it was races for Arabian-breds, contests confined to runners who were bred locally, sprints, marathons and everything in between, you name it, there was a race for it in Riyadh. Not only that, chances were that there was a pretty lucrative purse up for grabs as well. Take for example the fact there was an Arabian race on dirt worth $1 million on Friday while Saturday's Group 1 Classic on turf was run for $2 million. Staggering stuff.

A local expert told Nick Luck that one of the main reasons why people follow Arabian racing is that the majority of the runners are seasoned campaigners that tend to be kept in training that bit longer. The Gulf's answer to jumps racing back home in Britain and Ireland if you like. Given the average age for Saturday's 12-runner Group 1 was six, it was hard to disagree with that logic.

However, what our expert failed to tell us about Arabian-breds is that they are flighty little buggers. Just ask the stalls handler who had his leg broken by one of the runners on Friday.

None of the Japanese-trained horses were reported to have wreaked such havoc this week but Panthalassa did win the Saudi Cup as a 6-year-old and that could go some way to explaining the growing affection and association that fans from that part of the world have built up with him.

Not only that, but his stablemate Bathrat Leon (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}) won the 1351 Turf Sprint as a 5-year-old while Japan's third winner of the evening, the Yasutoshi Ikee-trained Silver Sonic (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}), took out the G3 Red Sea Turf H. at the grand old age of seven.

Yoshito Yahagi | Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia

If it's not the horses that send the Japanese racing fans wild, perhaps it's the great characters associated with the game, and they don't come much better than the Saudi Cup-winning trainer Yoshito Yahagi.

Just about the only man who could pull off a grey suit bedecked with a red and white-striped tie and topped off with a bright purple hat, Yahagi let everyone in on the secret behind his hat-wearing habits after Panthalassa's triumph.

“When I started training, nobody knew who I was. That way, how people came to recognise me, was when I started wearing hats. Today, I wore the same hat that I wore to the Breeders' Cup. I have 200 to 300 hats.”

Long gone are the days where Yahagi needs to wear an illuminous hat to get himself recognised. His achievements speak volumes. Similarly, the Saudi Cup has now become a recognised event, and Ryan says that it is here to stay.

“When you think about it, we started in April 2019 with one race and now we have ended up with a two-day festival with people coming from all over the world. Even look at that jockeys' challenge yesterday, that is turning into a proper test–dirt, turf, sprint and middle-distance races–and we have jockeys begging us to get into it. It's become a real spectacle.

“It was great that the locals got a winner. We always felt that the Saudi Derby was probably the race that they could grab a hold of and win. There are just plenty of positives to take from the two days and there was a huge crowd again here tonight. It's really positive.”

He added, “You see the guys here who are so active in the horses-in-training sales back home, in particular looking for those dirt types, and it's very easy to see what pedigrees go on it. For the horses who have been imported, it does take them a little bit of time to acclimatise, we have seen that, but a bit of patience goes a long way.”

Hapipi Go Lucky (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) is one such graduate. A winner for Johnny Murtagh when trained in Ireland, she was sourced at the Tattersalls Horses-In-Training Sale in 2011 for just 11,000gns, but landed a $400,000 handicap for her new connections on Friday.

Such success can only be a benefit to the local owners and trainers, who will doubtlessly feel they have a chance to get in on the action in the coming years. But it's the Panthalassas, Elite Powers and the Country Grammers of this world that will help drive the Saudi Cup's status as a global event, and Ryan has put together a team with a track record of delivering the goods.

“It started from year one–we put the horse at the very centre of our efforts. The trust with the horse and then hopefully the people will follow. A mention for Emer Fallon, a fellow Irish native, she does amazing work with the trainers, who all know her. The jockeys get on great with her as well. She follows the form on a global level and she's really the one who sets the tone for all of this and we just rally around her in terms of the conversations that need to be had to attract people to the meeting.”

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Before the race, the main talking horse had been Charlie Johnston's Subjectivist (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}), who, on his best day, loomed a formidable obstacle to his rivals. The 2021 G1 Gold Cup hero duly claimed pacesetting duties, while under the watchful eyes of Damian Lane and Silver Sonic just behind. Trawlerman (Ire) (Golden Horn {GB}) cruised up to stalk from second, and Lane was content to let his grey save ground against the fence.

Subjectivist displayed plenty of verve from the front, but his lengthy injury-induced break from the races began to take its toll and he appeared vulnerable 500 metres from home. Lane sent Silver Sonic, and he responded to take command by the head of the straight, before fending off the closing Enemy, who made his bid out in the centre of the course. It was another three-quarters of a length back to Get Shirty (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) in third. Subjectivist finished 12th. After the race, Enemy's rider Richard Kingscote weighed in lighter than allowed, but, after a stewards' inquiry, the result was allowed to stand.

Lane said, “I have had great support in Japan, especially the Shadai Race Horse Club. He began well, which is always important from barrier one. I was happy to track Subjectivist, who was always going to set a nice tempo and be a good horse to follow. I needed a bit of luck to get through but once it opened up he finished really well.”

Yasutoshi Ikee said, “This might be the second win for Japan, but it is a first win for me. This is a great achievement for me and I am very happy.

“I didn't talk tactics with Damien today. I brought Orfevre to the Arc twice but he ran second on both occasions, so winning a big race abroad with Orfevre's son, it is a great pleasure. My father trained Stay Gold, his sire's sire, so the feeling with this victory is so special.”

Joe Fanning, aboard Subjectivist, said after the race, “I felt he was keen enough, he has been off for a while and in the end he just got tired. As long as he's OK afterwards, I'm sure he'll be back.”

The Shadai Farm-bred 7-year-old entire did not finish May's G1 Tenno Sho (Spring) after losing jockey Yuga Kawada at the start, running with the field for the entire race and then bounding over a fence after the finish, but he bounced back to take the 3600-metre G2 Sports Nippon Sho Stayers S. over firm turf on Dec. 3 in his Riyadh warmup.

Silver Sonic will be trained with an eye to the 3200-metre G1 Tenno Sho back in Japan, or he will continue to ply his trade in the desert in the Mar. 25 G2 Dubai Gold Cup at Meydan Racecourse. He could face Saturday's runner-up Enemy once again in the latter.

“I'm very grateful to the people of the JCSA who received us so well,” Ikee added. “Silver Sonic travelled over really well and kept his condition, he has been the same as he is at home. We have two options, the Tenno Sho and the other is the Dubai Gold Cup.”

“We knew the distance wouldn't be a problem,” Lane added. “I would never advise a trainer, but the Tenno Sho looks a good option. I'm just grateful to be a part of it all, it's a big thrill as a part of my career and I'm really enjoying it.”

Pedigree Notes

At stud, the Shadai Stallion Station-based dual Arc runner-up Orfevre has been represented by 25 stakes winners (20 group) led by four-time Group 1 winner Lucky Lilac (Jpn), one of a quartet of top-flight winners for the 15-year-old. Bred on the same Sunday Silence-Tony Bin (Ire) cross as standout stallion Heart's Cry (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), Silver Sonic is part of a 36-strong legion of group winners for Tony Bin, who sired seven Group 1 scorers.

The well-credentialed Air Thule (Jpn) earned six victories over the course of four seasons racing, taking a stakes in her native land, third in Singapore's G3 KrisFlyer Sprint, as well as running second in the G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest in 2002. She struck gold with her first foal, the Fuji Kiseki (Jpn) filly Ultima Thule (Jpn), who won both the G2 Centaur S. and G3 Silk Road S. and is already a stakes producer, and the quality continued with her second, 2008 Japanese 2000 Guineas winner Captain Thule (Jpn) (Agnes Tachyon {Jpn}), who also captured two editions of the G3 Asahi Challenge Cup. In 2009, she delivered Crans Montana (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), a stakes winner and Group 3-placed in Japan, and four years later that filly's full-sister, Contessa Thule (Jpn), who was third in the G1 Japanese 1000 Guineas in 2015. Silver Sonic is her 11th foal of 13, and one of 11 winners.

Air Thule's dam, Ski Paradise (Lyphard) was of the highest class in Europe, and scored in the G1 Prix du Moulin while placing in three other Grade/Group 1 events on both sides of the Atlantic. She is the ancestress of seven black-type horses. Royal Ski's Ski Goggle, successful in the 1983 GI Acorn S. and the third dam of Silver Sonic, left three other stakes winners in three countries who were all given a chance as sires in Ski Captain (Storm Bird), Ski Champ (Icecapade) and Ski Chief (Chief's Crown).

Saturday, King Abdulaziz (Riyadh), Saudi Arabia
LONGINES RED SEA TURF H.-G3, $2,500,000, King Abdulaziz, 2-25, 4yo/up, 3000mT, 3:06.46, fm.
1–SILVER SONIC (JPN), h, 7, by Orfevre (Jpn)
1st Dam: Air Thule (Jpn) (SW-Jpn, G1SP-Fr, GSP-Sing, $1,442,676), by Tony Bin (Ire)
2nd Dam: Ski Paradise, by Lyphard
3rd Dam: Ski Goggle, by Royal Ski
O-Shadai Race Horse Co., Ltd.; B-Shadai Farm (Jpn); T-Yasutoshi Ikee; J-Damian Lane; $1,500,000. Lifetime Record: GSW-Jpn, 21-6-3-6, $3,031,870. *1/2 to Ultima Thule (Jpn) (Fuji Kiseki {Jpn}), MGSW-Jpn, $2,086,687; Captain Thule (Jpn) (Agnes Tachyon {Jpn}), GSW-Jpn, $3,960,829; Crans Montana (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), SW & GSP-Jpn, $2,002,758; and Contessa Thule (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), G1SP-Jpn, $499,346. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalog-style pedigree.
2–Enemy (GB), 128, g, 6, Muhaarar (GB)–Prudenzia (Ire), by Dansili (GB). (€420,000 Ylg '18 ARQAUG; €92,000 HRA '21 ARQNOV). O-Tracey Bell & Caroline Lyons; B-Ecurie des Monceaux & Skymarc Farm, Inc. (GB); T-Ian Williams; J-Richard Kingscote; $500,000.
3–Get Shirty (Ire), 125, g, 7, Teofilo (Ire)–Soccer Mom (Ger), by Monsun (Ger). (€30,000 HRA '21 ARQJUL). O-Akela Thoroughbreds Limited; B-Haras du Mont Dit Mont (Ire); T-David O'Meara; J-Joe Fanning; $250,000.
Margins: 2HF, 3/4, NO. Odds: 2.00, 6.00, 18.00.
Also Ran: Big Call, Nate The Great (GB), Sisfahan (Fr), Echt (Jpn), Trawlerman (Ire), Pin Your Hopes (Ire), My Frankel (GB), Al Qareem (Ire), Subjectivist (GB), Master Gatsby (Fr). VIDEO.

It's happening again for Japan!!!

SILVER SONIC シルヴァーソニックtheir second win on the night, bolting up under @LaneDamian in the G3 Longines Red Sea Turf Handicap.#TheSaudiCup #サウジカップ pic.twitter.com/fNqaPI5M3w

— The Saudi Cup (@thesaudicup) February 25, 2023

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