Missed The Cut In Good Form In Advance Of Saudi Test

Listed winner Missed The Cut (Quality Road) is pleasing trainer George Boughey in advance of a try in the G3 Neom Turf Cup on the G1 Saudi Cup undercard on Saturday.

“He has come a long way in a short space of time,” said the trainer, who saw the son of Quality Road breeze on the Riyadh track ahead of the extended 10-furlong test on Saturday.

“There was a rapid rise through the summer last year, possibly too much too soon when we took him out to France for a Group 2.

“We are just taking our time with him. He comes here in super shape, so we are looking forward to it.

“His last run is obviously good form. Algiers (Ire) (Shamardal) has taken his form to a whole different level on the dirt at Meydan and this is a whole different kettle of fish.

“It is a tight 10 1/2 furlongs around the turf on Saturday. He has plenty of pace and he should go pretty well.”

A winner at Royal Ascot in 2022, the 4-year-old entire was fifth in the G2 Prix Guillaume d'Ornano in August and defeated subsequent dual Group 2 winner Algiers by a short head in the Listed Churchill S. over the Lingfield all-weather on Nov. 12.

“He is a very good-looking horse and he's only sort of furnishing now,” added Boughey. “He was very raw last year and his demeanour has improved. His behaviour is better and he is certainly going the right way. I hope he can be a flag-bearer for the yard. He has got to go and do it on the world stage and his work is getting that way.

“I think he could be versatile ground and trip-wise. He has got a dirt pedigree as well, so it wouldn't be a surprise to see him step onto an all-weather surface in the pretty near future.”

Missed The Cut, who will have former champion jockey Oisin Murphy in the irons on Saturday, races for Babington, St Elias & Hudson as well as co-owner Lane's End Farm.

“We will take one step at a time, but he has a top-side dirt pedigree and we will certainly be exploring that soon, whether it will be in Dubai or America. He is obviously part-owned by Lane's End Stud and that will be where we want him to end up [in America].

“He has got to go and prove it. He is a stakes winner now, but is certainly going the right way. We have had a bit of a headache through his career so far with jockey changes.

“Oisin is a world-class rider and I think we might be able to get a bit of consistency with him. He doesn't, at the moment, have a top-class 10-furlong horse to ride this year, so it would be good to nail him down and hopefully they can create a good bond together.”

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Creative Force Rerouted From Saudi Arabia To Al Quoz Sprint After Spiking A Temperature

Godolphin's Group 1 winner Creative Force (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) has been removed from consideration for the $30.35-million Saudi Cup meeting after spiking a temperature, and will instead target the G1 Al Quoz Sprint in Dubai next month.

“Creative Force spiked a temperature earlier today and following unsatisfactory blood tests, it has been decided that he will not travel to Saudi Arabia,” Godolphin tweeted. “He will now be aimed at the Al Quoz Sprint on Dubai World Cup night.”

Trained by Charlie Appleby, the 5-year-old gelding won the G1 British Champions Sprint S. in October of 2021. Last year he placed three times at that tier when second in the Platinum Jubilee S. at Royal Ascot in June second up, then ran fourth in the July S. His latest efforts were a pair of thirds–defending his title on QIPCO British Champions Day, and in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint at Keeneland in November.

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Emblem Road Returns To Defend Title As One Of Over 1400 Entries For 2023 Saudi Cup Festival

Emblem Road (Quality Road), the victor of the $20-million G1 Saudi Cup last year, is back to defend his title, as over 1,400 nominations were received for the $35.35-million extravaganza at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh Feb. 24-25. Locally owned and trained, Emblem Road will be seen in action on Friday over 1600 metres, as a prep for the nine-furlong Saturday cornerstone in just over a month's time. If he is successful on Feb. 25, he would become the highest-earning Thoroughbred in history with over $20.2 million in prize-money.

The supporting card is also filled with sought-after prizes, with a quintet of Group 3 races for Thoroughbreds, as well as a pair of group races for Purebred Arabians on tap over the two-day festival. Multiple countries have nominated strong contingents, including Japan, America, and the UAE, as well as UK, Ireland, France, Germany, and Argentina. A total of 47 top-level winners have been handed entries.

Successful in four of the six group races on last year's Saturday card, the Japanese have nominated another strong battalion to further burnish their international strike rate. Although they have yet to land the Saudi Cup, it is surely only a matter of time. Yoshito Yahagi's 2022 G1 Dubai Turf scorer Panthalassa (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) and Tetsuya Kimura's G1 Japanese 2000 Guineas hero Geoglyph (Jpn) (Drefong) are both nominated. Jun Light Bolt (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}) already holds a berth in the big dance after booking his ticket in the G1 Champions Cup at Chukyo in December. Cafe Pharoah (American Pharoah), named the Japanese Champion Dirt Horse earlier this week, also has a Saudi Cup nom.

Godolphin's 2022 GI Breeders' Cup Turf hero Rebel's Romance (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) for Charlie Appleby has signed on, as has Jane Chapple-Hyam's multiple Group 1 winner Saffron Beach (Ire) (New Bay {GB}), who was purchased for 3.6 million guineas by Najd Stud at the Tattersalls December Sale with the Cup in mind. GI Breeders' Cup Mile hero Order Of Australia (Ire) (Australia {GB}) represents Aidan O'Brien, while Argentina's flag will be flown by Nino Guapo (Arg) (Catcher In The Rye {Ire}) for trainer Maria Munoz.

The impact of the Saudi Cup continues to expand, and Laws Of Indices (Ire) (Power {GB}), who now races for Australian-based trainer Annabel Neasham, is the first Australian-trained horse to enter. He captured the G1 Prix Jean Prat during his European tenure, and has proved just as lethal Down Under, with placings in both the G1 Toorak H. and G1 George Ryder S. He exits a meritorious third in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Mile on Dec. 11.

The American challenge for the feature is expected to be robust and will be headed up by horses owned–completely, or in part–by Amr Zedan. Country Grammer (Tonalist), campaigned in partnership with WinStar Farm and Commonwealth, covered himself in glory last February when beaten just a half-length into second by Emblem Road, and he used the effort as a stepping stone several hundreds of miles to the east when taking out the G1 Dubai World Cup. Country Grammer ran out a facile winner of the GII San Antonio S. in his most recent appearance Dec. 26. 'TDN Rising Star' Taiba (Gun Runner) is also ticketed for King Abdulaziz, having backed up in trip to impressively win the GI Runhappy Malibu S. on the same program as the San Antonio.

Also possible to represent the red-white-and blue is Rich Strike (Keen Ice), last year's GI Kentucky Derby hero; the progressive Law Professor (Constitution) and Juddmonte's Fulsome (Into Mischief), a good third to Proxy (Tapit) and the Saudi Cup-entered West Will Power (Bernardini) in the GI Clark S. in late November.

America could field a handful of horses for the sprint races to be held on both surfaces. The in-form Sibelius (Not This Time) is among the entries for the $1.5-million G3 Riyadh Dirt Sprint and could be joined by the likes of Juddmonte's GI Breeders' Cup Sprint hero Elite Power (Curlin), while the latter's stable companion Casa Creed (Jimmy Creed) could get the chance to atone for his narrow runner-up effort in the G3 1351 Turf Sprint.

The most valuable undercard race is the 3000-metre G3 Red Sea Turf Cup, and it could mark the much-awaited return of G1 Gold Cup hero Subjectivist (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}). Other UK-trained notables are Quickthorn (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) and Trawlerman (Ire) (Golden Horn {GB}).

Winners of the Dirt Sprint in 2021/22, Japan sends last year's five-length victor Dancing Prince (Jpn) (Pas De Trois {Jpn}) back to defend his title. He is not the only representation from the Land of the Rising Sun, as G3 Capella S. hero Remake (Jpn) (Lani) earned an automatic berth with his tally in last month's Group 3.

Japanese Filly Triple Tiara heroine Daring Tact (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}) holds an entry in the 2100-metre $1.5-million G3 Neom Turf H. over 2100 metres, but she does not face an easy task, as her countryman Panthalassa is cross-entered here. Godolphin's Real World (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) could also make some noise for Saeed bin Suroor.

Dual Group 2 winner Bathrat Leon (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}), also trained by Yahagi, goes up against defending champ Songline (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}) in the 1351 Turf Sprint. Charlie Appleby's Creative Force (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) will attempt to find the winner's circle for the first time since taking the G1 British Champions Sprint S. in 2021, but he did run a close second to stablemate Naval Crown (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) in Royal Ascot's G Platinum Jubilee S. last June.

One of the supporting races is the $1.5-million G3 Saudi Derby, won exclusively by America and Japan throughout the first three editions, each of whom could offer strength in numbers. Karl Burke's Holloway Boy (GB) (Ulysses {Ire}), the first debutante to win at Royal Ascot since 1996, is a possible runner.

Besides the main action on Feb. 25, the day prior features 14 jockeys–seven men and seven women–competing in the International Jockeys Challenge. There is also the $500,000 Saudi International H. that day, which is designated especially for horses trained in countries that are not classified as Part I by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities.

Tom Ryan, Racing Advisor to the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia, said, “Last year's meeting could not have been more successful, with Emblem Road making history by becoming the first Saudi Arabian-trained winner of the Saudi Cup. There was also the remarkable success of Japanese horses, who took home four group races, and the strength of the Japanese entry has continued to grow this year.

“These were results that resonated throughout the racing world and we are confident that many more memorable stories will be created again this year showcasing the highest level of horse racing.

“Once again we're delighted with the depth of the international entries, from 22 different countries across five continents, which goes to show the reputation and global standing the Saudi Cup meeting has quickly established after just three years.

“With The Obaiya Arabian Classic being promoted to Group 1 status and the Al Mneefah to Group 2 this year, we now have a Group 1 for Thoroughbreds and another for Purebred Arabians. This is a hugely proud moment for everyone at the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia.

“We look forward to welcoming horsemen and women, and horse racing fans from all over the world to Riyadh next month for what promises to be another unforgettable Saudi Cup meeting.”

For the complete list of entries, please click here.

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Subjectivist Eyes Return On Saudi Cup Undercard

Not seen since Royal Ascot success two years ago, Group 1 winner Subjectivist (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) could return on the Saudi Cup undercard in Riyadh next month, according to trainer Charlie Johnston.

“Entries closed yesterday morning for the Saudi Cup meeting and Subjectivist has been entered in the [G3] Red Sea Turf H.–[the] 1 mile and 7-furlong race,” Johnston said.

Winner of the 2021 G1 Gold Cup June 17, the now-6-year-old was previously victorious in the 2020 G1 Prix Royal-Oak at ParisLongchamp on Oct. 25 and the 2021 G2 Dubai Gold Cup at Meydan in March of 2021. During his win at the Royal Meeting, he sustained a potentially career-threatening leg injury. While there were initially hopes he would return to defend his Gold Cup crown, it did not happen by the summer.

Subjectivist is now back in full work mode, and while Johnston is taking a day-to-day approach, he is pleased with what he has seen so far.

Reporting on Subjectivist's progress, “He's been back in work since early October and has been cantering all the way through December and into January now. There's still a long way to go–we haven't started to turn the screw just yet with any faster work.

“Every day the fingers are crossed watching him, but so far so good.”

Just this week, Johnston took over the training licence fully from his record-breaking father Mark. He has already celebrated a pair of winners.

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