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Buick and Foley Join STC International Jockeys’ Challenge

William Buick and Shane Foley are two of the jockeys that will take part in the second STC International Jockeys' Challenge at Riyadh in Saudi Arabia on Feb. 19. The second $20-million Saudi Cup, part of the $30.5 million Saudi Cup card, is set for Feb. 20.

“My first time riding in Saudi was around 12 years ago, I've been in and out since then,” said Buick, who rode in the original turf trials at King Abdulaziz Racetrack in January of 2020. “Last year I came over for the turf trials, which went very well indeed. The Saudi Cup raceday itself was a massive success. There were winners from all over the world, and the races were really competitive. For the organisers of a big meeting, that's your dream–competitive racing and a level playing field.

“I'm really looking forward to the international jockeys' challenge. I love these competitions. I think I've won the Mauritius one once – I've taken part in Hong Kong a few times, and there was also one the JRA used to do on Japan Cup weekend. This will be my first time riding in the Saudi challenge, and I really like the look of the format–four races, everyone riding in each race and the points system. It's simple but it works.”

“I really enjoy riding abroad and think it's massively important,” added Foley, who was runner-up in the 2020 Irish Jockeys' Championship. “The racing in Saudi Arabia is a big and growing operation as far as owners are concerned, and all it takes is to kick on with one there and you could bring an owner back to Ireland for your stable.

“I rode in the Japanese jockeys' challenge in 2018–which was a good experience–and I've ridden against some of these jockeys, like Pierre-Charles Boudot and Jessica Marcialis in the Arc and Breeders' Cup weekends. It's nice to be associated with these high-quality names and events, and I'm really looking forward to it.”

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Knicks Go Headed to Saudi Cup; DWC Possible

Coming off a dominant win in the GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational, Knicks Go (Paynter) is scheduled to make his next start in the $20 million Saudi Cup on Feb. 20 in Riyadh.

“As long as he breezes well this weekend, we're going to the Saudi Cup,” trainer Brad Cox said. “We plan to ship him out Monday [Feb. 8].”

Cox said the decision became easier when it became clear that Knicks Go came out of the Pegasus in perfect shape.

“The owners [the Korea Racing Authority] would like to go to the Saudi Cup and they've made that clear. I looked for a reason not to run him back in four weeks and he's given me no indication that would not be a good idea. That's why I've said I want to see him breeze one more time before we put him on a plane. He really rebounded from the Pegasus in great shape and in good order. He's not giving me any reason to not run him, so we're going to press forward.”

In Saudi Arabia, Knicks Go may be going up against the only horse in training that could possibly beat him. Charlatan (Speightstown) is being pointed to the race for trainer Bob Baffert and is coming off a dazzling win in the GI Runhappy Malibu S.

“It will be a good match-up between those two,” Cox said. “Our horse does have to make the adjustment back to one turn and we don't know how he will handle that. I do like that he handled not having any Lasix at Gulfstream just fine. That's a positive and one thing we have going for us. He's in great form right now and, hopefully, we can keep him that way.”

With explosive early speed, Charlatan and Knicks Go have the same running style, which could cause a problem for both.

“Sure, that is a possibility,” Cox said when asked about the potential of a speed duel. “It will be up to the jockeys. Once the post positions are drawn, we'll have to handicap the race and we will know more after that.”

Joel Rosario will ride Knicks Go in the Saudi Cup and Mike Smith has the mount on Charlatan.

While some may believe running in both the Saudi Cup and the Mar. 27 Dubai World Cup may be asking too much of a horse, Cox said the $12 million race at a mile-and-a-quarter is also a target.

“Dubai is definitely under consideration,” he said. “The team that we have shipping over to Saudi Arabia has been told to pack enough clothes for several weeks. As long as he runs well in Saudi Arabia and comes out of it in good order, we will turn our attention to Dubai.”

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Shane Foley, William Buick Confirmed For Saudi International Jockeys Challenge

Irish Flat Jockeys' Championship runner-up Shane Foley is one of three more jockeys added to the 14-rider line-up for The Saudi Cup's International Jockeys Challenge, which is scheduled to take place on Friday, Feb. 19 in Riyadh.

Foley, who rode 92 winners in Ireland last year, will be joined by international Group 1-winning jockey William Buick and Sweden's top female jockey, Malin Holmberg, while the likes of Pierre-Charles Boudot, Jessica Marcialis and last year's winner Sibylle Vogt have already been confirmed.

“I really enjoy riding abroad and think it's massively important,” said Foley. “The racing in Saudi Arabia is a big and growing operation as far as owners are concerned, and all it takes is to kick on with one there and you could bring an owner back to Ireland for your stable.”

“I rode in the Japanese Jockeys Challenge in 2018 which was a good experience and I've ridden against some of these jockeys, like Pierre-Charles Boudot and Jessica Marcialis in the Arc and Breeders' Cup weekends. It's nice to be associated with these high-quality names and events and I'm really looking forward to it,” the 32-year-old Irishman added.

Foley is hoping to stay in Saudi for the $30.5million card on the Saturday, as well.

“We have Barbados going for owner Mr Zhang in the Long Distance Turf Handicap on Saturday and if he can reproduce his St Leger run then he will be bang there. I'm just hoping the ground is not really firm. He'll handle nice quick ground but if it gets too firm that will be the only negative, but I've heard the ground last year was beautiful.

“It would be massive and for the owner as well. He's a big supporter of mine and I've been retained by him for the last couple of years. He's always stood by me and he has invested quite heavily in the game. Last year he had his first Group 1 winner with Lucky Vega, and it would be great to have a winner out on Saudi Cup day for him as he's a proud and competitive man.”

Retained Godolphin rider Buick will be familiar with the track at King Abdulaziz Racecourse having ridden at the turf trials in January 2020, and he is very much looking forward to competing this year:

“My first time riding in Saudi was around 12 years ago, I've been in and out since then. Last year I came over for the turf trials which went very well indeed. The Saudi Cup raceday itself was a massive success. There were winners from all over the world and the races were really competitive. For the organizers of a big meeting, that's your dream – competitive racing and a level playing field,” said Buick.

“I'm really looking forward to the International Jockeys' Challenge. I love these competitions. I think I've won the Mauritius one once, I've taken part in Hong Kong a few times and there was also one the JRA used to do on Japan Cup weekend. This will be my first time riding in the Saudi IJC and I really like the look of the format. Four races, everyone riding in each race and the points system. It's simple but it works.”

With engagements on the Saturday too, Buick is expecting a busy couple of days at the Riyadh track:

“I should have a couple of nice rides at the meeting. Space Blues will be heading out there for the Turf Sprint all being well. He's on the right track at the moment and is a Group 1 winner so we're excited about him. Secret Advisor is entered in the Long Distance Turf Handicap and he had some nice form in Dubai last winter. He backed that up with a solid campaign in Europe. The track, trip and ground should be perfect for him so we're looking forward to it.”

Holmberg's stock is on the rise having won both of Norway's 1,000 and 2,000 Guineas last year. That marked a huge moment in her career that helped the Swede gain an opportunity to ride in Dubai this winter.

“During the winter of 2019/20 I thought to myself this year I'll either make it or quit after the season,” said Holmberg. “So I changed my diet a lot and started to work on my fitness more than ever before. And, of course, without the support of the trainers and owners I wouldn't have been able to get opportunities in the Classic races this year.

“I'm enjoying life in the UAE and to be riding here is great for learning and developing my own riding. It's a good learning experience as I'm surrounded with top jockeys from around the world.

“I'm really happy to get the chance to ride in Saudi Arabia, it's been a dream of mine that I never thought would come true.”

This year's International Jockeys Challenge will take place on Friday, Feb. 19 – the day before the $20million Saudi Cup. Jockeys will be made up of seven international women, two local men and five international men. The prize money in each of the four races will be $400,000 and there is a $100,000 prize pot for the Challenge with $30,000 going to the winner.

10 of the 14 riders have now been confirmed:

Sibylle Vogt, 25 (SUI)

Jorge Ricardo, 59 (BRA)

Jessica Marcialis, 30 (ITA)

Maria Lujan Asconiga, 27 (ARG)

Nieves Garcia, 43 (SPA)

Pierre-Charles Boudot, 28 (FRA)

Nanako Fujita, 23 (JPN)

Malin Holmberg, 30 (SWE)

Shane Foley, 32 (IRE)

William Buick, 32 (UK)

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Freddy Head-Trained Call The Wind To Defend Title In Saudi Long Distance Turf Handicap

Call The Wind is on course to defend his crown in the $2.5million Long Distance Turf Handicap The Saudi Cup meeting later this month.

The French raider, ridden by experienced jockey Olivier Peslier, was a cozy 2 1/2-length winner of the 3000m (about 1 7/8 miles) contest 12 months ago when beating Mekong and Prince Of Arran. Subsequent Melbourne Cup hero Twilight Payment was back in seventh.

It proved to be the start of a profitable year for the 7-year-old son of Frankel as he went on to win two Group races over 3000m at Deauville later in the season.

Call The Wind's trainer Freddy Head is looking forward to a return to the King Abdulaziz Racetrack in Riyadh for the two-day Saudi Cup meeting.

He said: “The horse is in very good form. He's wintered well and everything is fine with him at the moment.

“He won nicely last year and I was very pleased with him. He's got a bit more weight this time and I've not seen which other horses he is likely to be up against but I think we have a good chance of winning.

“He liked the track so everything is in order. The reception we got in Saudi Arabia was very good and we had everything we could have wanted. I'm really looking forward to him running there again.”

The Long Distance Handicap will be run on Saturday, Feb. 20, taking place on the same day as the $20million Saudi Cup, the world's most valuable race.

The meeting will kick off on Friday, Feb. 19 with an eight-race card featuring the International Jockeys' Challenge where some of the world's best male and female riders will go head-to-head.

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