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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: Knicks Go ‘Doesn’t Have To Have The Lead,’ Tactitus Has ‘The Whole Backside To Work Out A Trip’

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) – Anna Lisa Balding was happy with what she saw from the British raider, who was not overly extended in a visit to the dirt track.

“He just had a trot around and then a canter around,” she said. “Her work rider Maddy O'Meara came back with a smile on her face, and that's good enough for me.”

Charlatan (USA) – The Bob Baffert-trained 4-year-old followed his typical routine leading up to a race galloping 2400m over the dirt track.

Mike Smith has the call aboard the son of Speightstown who will leave from post nine for Saturday's race.

“He has raw talent. He's just so good. The one-turn mile and an eighth (1800m) should be just perfect for him,” assistant trainer Jimmy Barnes said.

Chuwa Wizard (JPN) – A light day for the Japanese runner, who did not visit the track and instead walked around the parade ring with assistant trainer Kota Kato in the saddle to familiarise him to the raceday experience.

“Everything has been under control,” said trainer Ryuji Okubo. “We will decide whether he works on the main track or not later today.”

Knicks Go (USA) – Arriving at the track just after 7am, Korea Racing Authority's Saudi Cup contender did an easy canter around the dirt oval under assistant trainer Dustin Dugas.

A three-time Grade 1 winner, the grey son of Paynter enters in the form of his career, fresh off an easy front-running victory in the Pegasus World Cup Invitational at Gulfstream Park.

The victory marked his fourth consecutive victory and made him perfect in four starts for trainer Brad Cox. Previously trained by Ben Colebrook for two wins from 14 starts, he was a Grade 1 winner at two and was second to champion Game Winner in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile.

“At some point toward the end of 2019, they sent him to me from Blackwood (Stables) and (general manager and former Shug McGaughey assistant trainer) Robby Medina in Lexington and warned us he's an aggressive horse who likes to train,” Cox said.

“It really takes a good rider to handle him. He's forward, he's tough and he's eager and that makes him a very good work horse and you lead him over to the races with confidence because of that. The first race he had with us was an (allowance conditions) at Oaklawn and we thought 'if this horse doesn't show up and run, then mentally he's done because you can't train that well and not compete in a two-other-than allowance'.

“Then he showed up and ran big, but had a setback and the owners were talking about retiring him, but I told them we should just give him the time and see how he comes back and if he doesn't then we could just retire him. It was that time of year, around March, when it wasn't like he could go off to stud and get any business, so we brought him back and it worked out well, obviously.”

Showing marked improvement, the $87,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase of 2017 has gone from trying to rate to free-wheeling on the front end—something that has been encouraged by the Cox squad. He has now earned $3,088,995.

“I don't know how anyone else trains but myself, but one thing we do with him and all our horses is we allow them to train on,” Cox explained. “We let them stretch their legs and do strong gallop-outs and keep them happy. Two weeks before the Pegasus, he put in a phenomenal piece of work that gave us the confidence that he would go (1800m), galloping out a mile in 1:39, which at the Fair Grounds (Racecourse) is a very good move. We put draw reins on him and let him gallop. He raced a lot as a 3-year-old, was lightly raced as a 4-year-old and now is totally sound as a 5-year-old and you can see that the way he moves. He floats over the ground right now.”

Jockey Joel Rosario, who is currently in flying form, has been aboard for his past three wins.

Cox continued: “I think Joel fits him extremely well. The first time he sat on him was his Keeneland allowance win and he said 'man, this is a really nice horse' which is funny because I had told him before 'hey, you're just going to have to hold on'.

“Then in the Breeders' Cup, we almost didn't get in the race, but his (speed) numbers stacked up and I actually think he went off as the favourite against a bunch of good horses. The thing with him is he was a G1 winner and won the allowance and Breeders' Cup at Keeneland, but the question was whether he would transfer his form to Gulfstream in the Pegasus, but he was able to get it done.”

Drawing post five in the Saudi Cup, Knicks Go will likely have a good deal of company on the front end from Charlatan

“He doesn't have to have the lead, he's just a really honest horse who likes to be forwardly placed. When the gate comes open, we'll let the jock play the break and place him accordingly,” Cox said. “The post will be important, obviously. I watched the race last year several times and it's hard to get a read on it because the horse on the lead (Mucho Gusto, fourth) was so far off the rail and then (Midnight Bisou, second) was actually glued to the rail, so it's hard to know how the track plays. It seems like two of the better horses obviously have a lot of speed and will make this a very good race.”

Max Player (USA) – The 4-year-old Honor Code colt schooled in the starting gate on Thursday morning with regular exercise Carlos Rosas aboard. After being backed out, the Steve Asmussen trainee galloped once around the dirt oval.

Military Law (GB) – Group 2 winner Military Law had his first look at the track on Thursday morning, having shipped in Tuesday evening and hand-walked on Wednesday morning at the quarantine stables.

The son of Dubawi is in top form, exiting a smart victory in the Al Maktoum Challenge Round 1 at Meydan, defeating multiple top-level winners and proving he could cut back in trip in the process.

“He's quite versatile, but you always want the easiest run possible and down inside wouldn't be bad,” said Maria Ritchie, assistant to trainer Musabbeh Al Mheiri.

“He's come through very well shipping and his work has been very good leading up to the race. We can't ask much more. He's fresh and in great form and I think he has a lot more to show, even though he's six. He's a lot stronger than last season and Antonio (Fresu, jockey) is very comfortable with him – he rides him out in the mornings, as well.”

Fresu and the gingerly campaigned 6-year-old bay gelding will break from post 10 of 14 in the $20 million affair. From 12 starts, he has been first or second eight times. In his lone Group 1 try, he was second to Matterhorn in the Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3 eleven months ago.

Fresu added: “He was good. He seems to be looking around a lot at the new place, but he went really well on the track. When I finished cantering, he was very proud of himself going back to the stable. He was moving great on the surface. I think it's a beautiful track.”

Mishriff (IRE) and Global Giant (GB) – Arrived on track shortly after 7am with their stable-mate and Saudi Derby contender New Treasure.

Thady Gosden, assistant to his father John, said: “They went for a canter on the main track this morning, and fortunately everything was straightforward. They seem to be well in themselves, and I hope everything goes smoothly leading up to the race.”

Simsir (IRE) – The Bahrain International Trophy winner had an easy hack around the dirt course at just past 7am on Thursday. Trainer Fawzi Nass – partner in ownership group Victorious – observed on the apron.

This will be the first time the Aga Khan-bred son of Zoffany runs on dirt. Nass, appropriately, has made a habit of finding useful dirt runners with turf pedigrees including Salute the Soldier, a son of Sepoy who won last week's Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2 at Meydan.

“I do see, looking at him, that he might be able to run on dirt, so I hope that I'm right one more time,” Nass said. “You never know until they really go on it. Obviously, I have seen that transition before.

“We train in Bahrain on the sand track and this is where I've seen it happen and I've seen him move on it. I know this is a different surface from our sand track – it's mixed with wood shavings etc so I hope I'm right in thinking he can run on the dirt.”

Sleepy Eyes Todd (USA) – As has now become a familiar sight, on Thursday morning the Miguel Angel Silva trained Sleepy Eyes Todd spent a good few minutes at the entrance of the dirt track, observing his surroundings before his rider José Sandoval nudged him into action.

“He just jogged one lap,” said his Mexico City-born trainer Miguel Angel Silva. “We just want to keep him fresh. All the exercise he needs to do is that. Right now it's just about keeping him sound and happy and then go for the race. And he does look happy.”

Tacitus (USA) – The Bill Mott-trained striking grey horse made his way onto the dirt track on Thursday morning after spending the previous day doing his work on the training track in the quarantine area.

As is his want, the 5-year-old stood near where the 1800m chute meets the main track and took in the proceedings before galloping off under assistant trainer Neil Poznansky.

“He loves it. That's his thing,” he said. “That's his routine. Just let him do his thing and he's happy.”

Having drawn post seven at the draw on Wednesday evening, Poznansky was pleased noting that with the long run to the turn that jockey John Velazquez will have “the whole backside to work out a trip”.

“The last time Johnny rode him was at Belmont (in the Grade 2 Suburban) and he won by 8¾ lengths,” he said.

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Saudi Cup: Japanese Grade 1 Winner Chuwa Wizard ‘In Really Good Form’

Japan's challenger in Saturday's $20 million Saudi Cup has made his second visit to the Gulf region with hopes from connections that it will be more successful than his first.

Chuwa Wizard had started his 2020 term in flying form in the Grade 1 Kawasaki Kinen, with the son of King Kamehameha clinching a six-length win in what had looked to be a good preparation for the Dubai World Cup at Meydan last March.

However, the cancellation of the meeting from the Covid-19 pandemic saw a 20-strong Japanese contingent, including Chuwa Wizard, flying back home instead.

So Chuwa Wizard reappeared in June, with Christophe Lemaire partnering him to finish third behind Chrysoberyl, last year's Saudi Cup contender, in the 2000m (1 1/4-mile) Teio Sho at NAR-Oi.

In the following JBC Classic, at the same track in November, Lemaire had his mount sitting handily in the field on a rain-affected track but he finished third behind his biggest rival, Chrysoberyl, once again.

But in December, in the Champions Cup at Chukyo, he finally gained not only his first Grade 1 at the top-tier JRA level in Japanese racing, but the edge over Chrysoberyl as he came two and a half lengths clear in an ideal prep for his Saudi Cup challenge.

“He's a very talented horse,” said trainer Ryuji Okubo. “From the tactics we had in the JBC Classic, I decided to change the strategy again in the race. I wanted to make the most of what he had, so I told the jockey (Keita Tosaki) to settle him further back, targeting Chrysoberyl from behind.”

Bred by the Japanese leading breeding operation Northern Farm, Chuwa Wizard has barely put a foot wrong since winning a maiden at Kyoto in February 2018. Since his debut, he has been unplaced only once in his 18 career starts.

Tosaki has partnered Chuwa Wizard in his exercise since he arrived in Saudi Arabia on Monday and is happy with what he has seen.

“He has matured a lot and showed lots of progress every time he races,” the jockey said. “I think he is in really good form and has been the same as how he is at home, feeling good.”

After helping his mount to his most significant victory to date in Japan, Tosaki is keen to make the most of their partnership in what will be a new experience.

“Having riding experiences overseas is nothing but very special for me,” he said. “My last trip to overseas was the Shergar Cup at Ascot (in 2017), and this is my first trip to Saudi Arabia.

“I have had a really good time and it is a great experience to ride here. Even under the difficult circumstances, I am very honored and grateful to have been invited.”

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Saudi Cup Post Positions: Charlatan Drawn ‘Just Perfect’ Near Outside, Knicks Go ‘Right In The Middle’

The post positions have been drawn for Saturday's second running of the $20 million Saudi Cup in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. To be contested over a one-turn 1 1/8 mile course on the dirt track, the Saudi Cup drew a field of 14 including a featured American-trained match-up between Grade 1 winners Knicks Go and Charlatan.

Knicks Go, winner of the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile and Pegasus World Cup in his last two outings, drew post five for trainer Brad Cox. The Korea Racing Authority-owned colt will be ridden by Joel Rosario.

“We like it, it's right in the middle,” said Dustin Dugas, assistant trainer. “He's a speed horse, it's a long way till they get to the turn, Joel (Rosario, jockey) will have a lot of ground to work at before he gets to the turn.”

Charlatan, last-out winner of the G1 Malibu over seven furlongs, draw further to the outside in post nine for trainer Bob Baffert. He will be piloted by jockey Mike Smith.

“I spoke to Bob (Baffert, trainer) earlier and he said anything, six, seven, eight or nine would be perfect,” said assistant Jimmy Barnes. “The one turn mile and an eighth would just be perfect.”

Three other American interests in the race include: Max Player (Post 4, Steve Asmussen), Tacitus (Post 7, Bill Mott), and Sleepy Eyes Todd (Post 8, Miguel Angel Silva).

The full field is as follows:

Chuwa Wizard
Bangkok
Great Scot
Max Player
Knicks Go
Global Giant
Tacitus
Sleepy Eyes Todd
Charlatan
Military Law
Simsir
Mishriff
Derevo
Extra Elusive

Comments from other entrants' connections:

Bangkok (IRE) – (Drawn 2) – Anna Lisa Balding, assistant trainer: “It will be difficult but we'll do as well as we can.”

Chuwa Wizard (JPN) – (1) – Keita Tosaki, jockey: “He is a versatile horse and can run from any position. So the inside draw may help us.”

Derevo (GB) – (13) – See Great Scot

Extra Elusive (GB) – (14) – Roger Charlton, trainer: “I'm happy with the draw for Extra Elusive in stall 14. He hasn't run on the dirt before, and he's probably a horse who doesn't like to be crowded that much, so I think that gives him and Hollie (Doyle, jockey) a good shot down the outside. I'd certainly prefer stall 14 to stalls one or two or three, so so far we're happy and we're going to give it our best shot on Saturday.”

Global Giant (GB) – (6) – Isa Salman Al Khalifa of owner Al Adiyat Racing: “It definitely would be amazing. He has been improving with every start but he would have to run the race of his life to be competitive. It is an honor to be involved. The two winners for Bahrain at last year's Saudi Cup was the highlight of my racing life so far.”

Great Scot (GB) – (3) – Abdullah Mushrif, trainer: “Very happy. More happy with Great Scot from 13. It will be hard for Derevo but inshallah we will win, it's my dream.”

Max Player (USA) – (4) – Steve Asmussen, trainer: “Would have preferred the outside.”

Military Law (GB) – (10) – Musabbeh Al Mheiri, trainer: “Not too bad. In three, four or five would be good, but 10 is not bad. He can't go too fast anyway (early). When you have luck, God gives it to you.”

Mishriff (IRE) – (12) – Thady Gosden, assistant trainer: “We were hoping for a fairly wide draw. The American horses have far more gate speed than ours, so we're very happy with that.”

Simsir (IRE) – (11) – Fawzi Nass, trainer: “It's post 11. It's OK. I'll let Adrie (de Vries, jockey) deal with it.”

Sleepy Eyes Todd (USA) – (8) – Miguel Angel Silva, trainer: “I wanted to be more outside, but it's great. It's not perfect but it's great. We are next to Charlatan, so that is good. We are very excited. We didn't want to be inside so this is good, we are more to the outside.”

Tacitus (USA) – (7) – Neil Poznansky, assistant trainer: “He has Johnny V (Velazquez) on him and the whole backside to work a trip on him.”

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