After three running’s of the Saudi Cup meeting, the stature and importance of the day continues to grow.
This year will see another milestone achieved when the feature race – the US$20m Saudi Cup (G1) making it the World's richest race – will be offered globally to fans as part of the 'World Pool', a collective of the worlds' leading pari-mutuel operators combining their totalizator pools
Whilst the Saudi Cup (G1) will be the feature race, it is just one of sixteen contests across Friday and Saturday with prizemoney on offer totalling US$35.5m. Fifteen different countries are expected to be represented over the two-day meeting with racing conducted on both the turf and dirt tracks.
The International Jockey's Challenge takes place on Friday and some of the world's best jockeys will compete in four races to accumulate points to be crowned the Champion. Australian jockey Caitlin Jones has returned to defend this Championship title she won last year.
This year Japan will have twenty horses competing in the thoroughbred Group races on Saturday.
Saudi Cup (G1)
Run over 1800m on dirt, the Saudi Cup (G1) will see four countries represented. The local hero Emblem Road will be attempting to make it back-to-back wins. Bred in the USA, this son of Quality Road will again be ridden by Panamanian Alexis Moreno.
Japan has taken this meeting to heart and will potentially field six of the thirteen runners. Proven international G1 winners Panthalassa (Dubai Turf) and Jun Light Bolt (Champions Cup) head the Japanese contingent. The four other runners are Geoglyph, Café Pharoah, Crown Pride and Vin De Garde.
Panthalassa is a six-year-old by Lord Kanaloa with all six victories having been on turf while only racing on dirt at Nakayama (JPN) in 2020 when well beaten. He is trained by Yoshito Yahagi who won the Red Sea Turf Handicap (G3) last year. In his favour he will
be racing anti-clockwise, one turn and with his natural speed, he should be on the pace throughout the race. He has failed to win since his Dubai Turf success last March.
Jun Light Bolt gained automatic entry into the Saudi Cup when he won the Champions Cup (G1, 1800m) at Chukyo in December completing three victories in a row. Trainer Yasuo Tomomichi switched the horse from turf to dirt last July where he was beaten at his first race on the surface, though there were excuses. He is by King Kemehameha, a noted producer of dirt track performers. Jun Light Bolt has not raced since the December victory.
Geoglyph is trained by Tetsuya Kimura who previously tasted success at the meeting having won the Neom Turf Cup (G3) last year with Authority. Whilst Geoglyph is yet to be tried on dirt, he is a turf G1 winner and is by proven dirt-track sire Drefong however his current form is below par.
Café Pharoah is by American Triple Crown winner American Pharoah and is a three-time G1 winner including last start over 1600m in October. He has won the February Stakes (G1, 1600m) twice and been successful to 1900m.
Crown Pride is well-travelled and the winner of last years' UAE Derby at Meydan before competing in the Kentucky Derby where he finished thirteenth. He has been second at his past three starts including in the Champions Cup (G1, 1800m) behind Jin Light Bolt.
Vin de Garde has won to G2 level in October 2020 but is yet to win since and this looks too tough.
The USA will be represented by two Bob Baffert trained horses Country Grammar (second in the race last year) and Taiba, a last start strong victor of the Malibu Stakes (G1).
Following his second in this race last year, Country Grammar went on to win the Dubai World Cup a month later. He is a last start winner tackling a G2 at Santa Anita in December following two G1 placings. Frankie Dettori who scored in both races will again be riding.
Taiba is a three-time G1 winner, including last time when he won the Malibu Stakes. Prior to that, he was third in the Breeders Cup Classic.
Emblem Road surprised everyone when winning the race last year at 99/1. He heads the local representatives and returned to the track to defend his title with an impressive 4L victory in a Conditions race on 11 January. That was his first race since disappointing in France last July attempting the Grand Prix de Vichy (G3) on turf where he finished fifth.
Scotland Yard originates from the United States and he remains undefeated in all Saudi Arabian starts to date. Prepared by local trainer Moutaib Almulawah, he is also a Domestic G1 winner of the King Faisal Cup and Listed Custodian Of The Two Holy Mosques which gained him automatic entry to the Saudi Cup.
Two other local horses in the race are the only two mares engaged in Lagertha Rhyme, second last start after six straight victories, two over the 1800m Saudi Cup distance and Sunset Flash, winner of sixteen of her thirty-nine starts. In 2022 Sunset Flash raced twelve times for nine wins, two seconds and a fifth (in the G3 Dirt Sprint at this meeting last year). She arrives having defeated Lagertha Rhyme last start in the Gulf Cup.
The United Arab Emirates will be entering Remorse who represents trainer Bhupat Seemar. He is placed in G1 company but appears to perform better tackling easier level races.
Selections
1. Country Grammar
2. Taiba
3. Jun Light Bolt
