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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