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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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Malibu Winner Charlatan Likely To Skip Pegasus, Aim For Saudi Cup

Charlatan, who returned to the races after an absence of eight months with a dominating 4 ½-length victory in the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif., on opening day Dec. 26, will likely make his next start in the world's richest race, the $20-million Saudi Cup at 1 1/8 miles in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Feb. 20, Bob Baffert said Sunday morning.

The winner receives $10 million.

Charlatan had his first workout Saturday since the Malibu, going four furlongs in 49.80.

The 4-year-old son of Speightstown was making his first start in the seven-furlong Malibu since crossing the wire on top in the first division of the G1 Arkansas Derby last May 2, only to later be disqualified on a medication violation that is under appeal.

The dazzling chestnut colt has reached the finish line ahead of his rivals by a combined margin of 26 1/2 lengths, an average of better than six lengths per race.

“That's the plan right now,” Baffert said of the Saudi Cup. “I've got another week to make up my mind, but he'd be coming back a little quick for the other race ($3-million Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park Jan. 23) off a long layoff, and he ran so hard (in the Malibu), I worry about that.

“The thing I like about the Saudi race is it's a one-turn mile-and-an-eighth and Charlatan is so fast. It's a challenge, but it's $20 million.

“That's a lot of money.”

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Charlatan Likely to Saudi Cup Next

After Charlatan (Speightstown) worked a half-mile Saturday in :49.80 at Santa Anita, trainer Bob Baffert reported that his Grade I winner will likely make his next start in the Feb. 20 Saudi Cup. Charlatan is coming off a dominant win against a quality field in the Dec. 26 GI Runhappy Malibu S., his first after being sidelined following the GI Arkansas Derby May 2.

Charlatan has been invited to the GI Pegasus World Cup on Jan. 23 at Gulfstream, but will likely pass that race. Should Charlatan pass the Pegasus, the role of favorite will go to Knicks Go (Paynter), who will be ridden by Joel Rosario.

“He breezed today and it was a very, very nice work,” Baffert said of Charlatan. “We are leaning toward the Saudi Cup. I don’t want to bring him back too quick. He came out of the Malibu really well. He always showed that he was a brilliant horse.”

Continued Baffert, “When he won the Malibu he wasn’t really super keyed up for it. He ran a lot better than I thought he would. I thought he could win and I thought he would run well.”

So far as his top 3-year-old colts go, Baffert has begun plotting a course for Life is Good (Into Mischief) and Medina Spirit (Protonico), the one-two finishers in the GIII Sham S.

“Life is Good came out of his race really well,” he said. “We are looking, maybe, at the [GII] San Felipe [S. Mar. 6] for him. That could change. He will be nominated to everything, but it will either be the San Felipe or the [GII] Rebel [S. Mar. 13] for him.”

“I don’t know what we’re going to do with Medina Spirit. He will also be nominated to everything. What I usually do this time of year with horses like him that are breezing, they are all nominated everywhere and whoever breezes the best gets on a plane.”

Gamine (Into Mischief), the leading contender for the Filly & Mare Sprinter title, recently returned to the Baffert stable after spending time at Trifecta Farm and has yet to resume serious training. She won the GI Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint in her most recent start.

“We gave her a little break and it looks like she filled out a bit,” Baffert said. “I’ll probably aim her for the [GI] Derby City Distaff S. at Churchill during Derby week.”

In Varda (Distorted Humor), Kalypso (Brody’s Cause) and Frosteria (Frosted), Baffert has a trio of contenders on the road to the Apr. 30 GI Kentucky Oaks. He said Varda and Kalypso will likely go next in the GII Las Virgenes S. Feb. 6. He said he would find a maiden race for Frosteria before putting her back in stakes competition.

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Saudi Aim For Prince Of Arran

Fresh off placing in his third consecutive G1 Melbourne Cup when third at Flemington on Nov. 3, Saeed bel Obaida’s evergreen 8-year-old gelding Prince Of Arran (GB) (Shirocco {Ger}) is to race on the Saudi Cup card in late February before heading to Dubai. Prince Of Arran finished third behind Call The Wind (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in the Longines Turf Cup on the Saudi Cup card last year. First up, though, is likely to be a prep race at Kempton, according to trainer Charlie Fellowes.

“He’s going to Saudi Arabia, provided everything is fine,” said Fellowes. “He’s come back in looking too well, but he didn’t go out until late. He’s come back with a proper belly on him, so I’ll have to get some proper work into him.

“I think I’ll give him a prep run before Saudi, which I’ve not done before, but I just feel he needs it this year, so he might go to Kempton for a Fast-Track Qualifier over two miles in early February. That is two weeks before the Saudi Cup and it would work absolutely perfectly, so he’d run there, go to Saudi the following week and then off to Dubai.”

“I just feel he needs the run this year,” Fellowes added. “He loves Kempton, two miles there is perfect for him and should he win that–who knows what will happen with the pandemic–but it gives us the option of Finals Day if he gets qualified. It will open up a few doors as well as helping me get him fitter.”

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