Big Call Ready for Saudi Debut.
Both thoroughbred and Pure-Bred Arabian horses with French trainers have travelled to King Abdulaziz racecourse in Riyadh to compete in the two-day Saudi Cup meeting, this Friday and Saturday.
Big Call is the sole thoroughbred representative and will contest the Red Sea Turf Handicap (G3) over 3000m carrying 56.5kg. He was last seen in the Prix Royal-Oak (G1) at Longchamp in October where he finished sixth. Two starts ago Big Call won the Prix Gladiateur (G3) over 3100m, also at Longchamp.
After trackwork earlier this week, trainer Christophe Ferland spoke positively:
'The preparation went well. Big Call did a little canter on the dirt. He looks in great shape. All lights are green. After he won the G3 at Longchamp, we tried our luck in the G1, but the weather was bad, and the track was very heavy. He has American blood (by Animal Kingdom) which is not compatible to such ground conditions. Big Call is a six- year-old and Saudi Arabia and Dubai offer races that will suit him on a good surface over longer distance'.
Following drawing barrier four, his trainer stated:
'He is in good shape, working well and has travelled well. He is used to these long journeys, and he seems to have acclimatised. We expect a good performance. The track looks perfect. I believe he is capable of doing something on Saturday.'
Big Call is well a well-travelled horse. He commenced his career in Ireland winning at his only start, a maiden at Limerick for trainer Joseph O'Brien before being exported to Hong Kong where he had three starts and was well-beaten each time. Returning to Europe in 2021 to the Christophe Ferland stable at La Teste in the south-west, after a ten-month absence from the racetrack he commenced the next phase of his career at small provincial French tracks where he ran third first-up before winning over 1600m in October. He steadily progressed wintering at Cagnes-sur-Mer in the south before scoring at Longchamp over 2400m in a Class 1, a race one level below black type last April. An unplaced return run in a Listed race at Deauville in early August over 3000m was followed by his G3 win.
Ferland has engaged leading French rider Maxime Guyon for the ride and spoke highly of King Abdulaziz racetrack and facilities:
'Maxime showed his form in Qatar as well as France where he has been riding winners since the start of the year. The facilities in Riyadh are impressive and whilst still in development, the stands and the track are perfect. I heard horses galloping on the grass and the sound is perfect. Same for dirt, horses have a very good action even if they are not accustomed to the surface'.
The horse Ferland considers as the one to beat is top weight Subjectivist. He has not been seen since winning the 2021 Ascot Gold Cup (G1) over 4000. Trained in the UK by Charlie Johnston, despite not having raced for 20 months, he cannot be dismissed first-up, despite having 62kg.
He has drawn in thirteen and Charlie Johnston said:
'With such big prizemoney, we wanted to try our luck. With so much money at stake, top class horses are bound to come. We are touching wood with Subjectivist, but he looks in good shape. He remains difficult to know where he is: he has not raced since his victory in the Gold Cup 2021, and we are not pushing our horses in training. We have made sure to have him at his best without taking any risks. We are keeping our fingers crossed.'
