Ed Marnane
The opening day of the two-day Saudi Cup is headlined by the Diriyah International Jockeys’ Challenge at King Abdulaziz racecourse, in Riyadh, on Friday.
The event carries a prize-fund of $100,000 and is made up of 14 riders — seven male and seven female — from all corners of the globe who will compete in the four-race series.
The overall champion receives $30,000.
The opening leg, a 1600m handicap on dirt for Saudi-breds, is wide-open and German rider Frida Valle-Skar has her first ride inSaudi Arabia aboard Saebout, winner of four of her 14 races.
Last year Valle-Skar made history when she partnered Matilda to victory in the German 2000 Guineas at Cologne, the first female rider to ride the winner of the Classic. Saebout was a winner, over the track, last month and has the benefit of a good draw in stall No 4.
Race 3, the second leg, is restricted to four-year-olds and is run over a distance of 1400m on dirt. Irish champion jockey Dylan Browne McMonagle, who is enjoying a terrific winter stint in Hong Kong, rides the consistent and reliable Mumterah, a winner at King Abdulaziz racetrack two starts back.
She has run well in defeat since and holds sound claims in competitive event.
The action switches to the turf for third leg, Race5. Top-weight Fearnot, now under the care of Sami Alharabi, was a progressive three-year-old for Clive Cox last year, winning at Wolverhampton and twice at Ascot.
He signed off for the year when a good fourth inthe Superior Mile on his Group 3 debut at Haydock.
Fearnot, by Invincible Spirit, was an expensive recruit at the Tattersalls Horses-In-Training Sale for his new owners. He made an encouraging start to his career in the Middle East on the back of a near six-month-break when fourth last month.
He’s entitled to be sharper for the run and has the assistance of the red-hot Billy Loughnane, who is continuing to bang in the winners in Britain.
The final leg of the Diriyah International Jockeys’ Challenge, Race 6, is another competitive handicap, over a distance of 2100m onturf. A low draw is always a bonus round the tight, sharp bends of King Abdulaziz turf track, and Kortez Bay, drawn in stall No 2, appeals under Frida Valle-Skar.
Formerly trained in Ireland, he has struggled to find his form since arriving in Saudi Arabia last year, but his latest run when third in a 13-runner handicap was an improved effort.
The pick of the undercard is the fifth running of the Al Mneefah Cup for Arabians, the final race. The Group 1 event, run over 2100m on turf, sees last year’s winner, UAE-based RB Kingmaker, aiming for back-to-back wins.
Trained by Helal & Tahnon Alalawi for National Stables, he is a multiple winner at the highest level and can see off the challenge of old rival Nabucco Al Maury, the runner-up 12 months ago.
RB Kingmaker has the services of top French rider Christian Demuro, who steered the seven-year-old to victory last year.
The card opens with the Fillies Mile and the racehas drawn a maximum field of 20, in which US-bred Teduom is the filly to beat.
Winner of two of her seven races, she won the 1000 Guineas last month and the Street Sense filly is fancied to emulate Ameerat Alzamaan, the daughter of Ghaiyyath who pulled off the same double 12 months ago.
Race 4, the Sarawat Cup, is a valuable race for locally bred three-year-olds and Almad’agi will be tough to beat. He is the highest rated horse in the 18-runner field and winner of two of his four races at the track.
He is stepping down in grade after finishing a creditable third behind 103-rated Thayaf in a Grade 1 last month.
Best Bet: 5 Rb Kingmaker [Race 8]
Best Value: 12 Kortez Bay [Race 6]
Best Swinger: 17 Teduom and 2 Alghalyah [Race 1]