Ed Marnane
This year’s Saudi Cup — the world’s richest race — looks a wide-open renewal at King Abdulaziz racetrack in Riyadh on Saturday, when the globe’s top dirt performers are battling for a staggering winner’s purse of $20 million (R377m).
White Abarrio, last seen winning the Breeders’ Cup Classic, heads a strong US-based team for trainer Rick Dutrow. He has thrived since joining Dutrow halfway through 2023, winning the Whitney before rounding off the season in style by taking out the BC Classic at Santa Anita in good style. Drawn in stall No 1, he will be hard to beat.
Japanese-trained horses have found Saudi Arabia a happy hunting ground with 10 victories since the Saudi Cup fixture was established in 2020, very typical of the success they’ve enjoyed on the globe for the past decade.
2023 UAE Derby winner Derma Sotogake, third in last year’s Saudi Derby, makes the most appeal of the Japan teams on his first start since chasing home White Abarrio at Santa Anita.
He will have to overcome a wide draw in stall No 13, while it’s a concern he sustained a minor eye injury on the flight from Japan earlier in the week.
Lemon Pop, a multiple winner on dirt in Japan, has strong credentials as well. He made all, winning the Champions Cup on home soil and is ideally drawn in stall No 3 for a front runner.
Ushba Tesoro, winner of the Dubai World Cup 11 months ago, is badly drawn and is likely to struggle, given he often gets behind in his races.
National Treasure, front-running winner of the Preakness Stakes, represents Bob Baffert, who has saddled the runner-up in the last three Saudi Cups. Winner of the Pegasus World Cup last month, he possesses bags of early speed and has to be on the shortlist.
In the brief history of the Saudi Derby Japan has a smart record, winning the first two renewals. In this year’s edition it’s hard to see past exciting Forever Young, who arrives in Saudi Arabia with a huge reputation. He can give Japanese trainer Yoshito Yahagi, who is no stranger to success in Saudi Arabia, his first success in the mile contest on dirt.
Forever Young is undefeated in three starts, all on dirt, the most recent when bolting up in the Zen-Nihon Nisai Yushun (Grade 1), earning a lofty rating of 113 which puts him well clear of his 11 rivals on the official figures. He’s the class act of the race and is hard to oppose.
An international field has assembled for the Group 2 Neom Turf Cup, run over 2100m on turf. Aidan O’Brien-trained Luxembourg, winner of three of his nine starts at Group 1 level, is the favourite and has demonstrated he can compete on the world stage. In December, he ran well in the Hong Kong Cup, just failing to catch local champion and Cox Plate hero Romantic Warrior in a driving finish.
Luxembourg, to be ridden by Ryan Moore, sets the standard and will take plenty of beating, despite drawing the widest stall which isn’t ideal.
Japan won the 2023 Neom Turf Cup with Authority and Hearts Concerto is the pick of their three representatives. A first runner in Saudi Arabia for trainer Ryo Takei, he was close third in the Japan Derby last May and returning after a break ran well in Group 2 company last month, shaping nicely when staying on well in the closing stages and leaving the impression he’d benefit for the run. Rated 116, he has the assistance of talented Joao Moreira and is fancied to put up bold show.
The Riyadh Dirt Sprint looks Japan versus the USA with Tuz, representing the UAE, a big player for Bhupat Seemar. Japanese sprinter Remake, third in last year’s Riyadh Dirt Sprint, returns to the Middle East looking to go two places better. He will appreciate the furious early pace and I expect he will be coming home strongly.
Skelly, trained by Steve Asmussen, has blossomed since being gelded and arrives chasing his eighth win in a row. The five-year-old likes to go forward and could be hard to peg back over a track that suits front runners.
Bold Journey is seeking to give trainer Bill Mott back-to-back wins after Elite Power’s victory 12 months ago. By Hard Spun, Bold Journey is a progressive and has won his last three races, the latest at Grade 3 level. He’s a strong finisher and will be suited by a fast pace.
Tuz, a confirmed front-runner, has improved and created a big impression, winning the Dubawi Stakes (Group 3) at Meydan. He won’t find it easy to dominate in this company but UAE sprinters have a decent record in the race, so can’t be overlooked despite being done no favours with a wide draw.
Japan’s Bathrat Leon is back to defend his crown in the 1351 Turf Sprint, the second big prize he has won in the Middle East, having made all to win the 2022 Godolphin Mile. A confirmed front-runner, he may struggle to dominate from his double figure draw and can be opposed.
It’s easy make a solid case for Godolphin’s Mysterious Night trained by Charlie Appleby who won the 1351 Turf Sprint with Space Blues three years ago. The Dark Angel gelding is progressing, winning his last two starts at Meydan, the most recent being the Al Fahidi Fort, Group 2. He’s in great form and looks the one to beat.
SELECTIONS
Race 1
1 IBN TOULON 4 IELAH DOROH 3 ALMOBEER 6 MAYHAMAH
Race 2
2 ASFAN AL KHALEDIAH 6 NAJEEB AL ZAMAN 11 VIZHIR 3 DERGHAM
Race 3
3 MY FRANKEL 1 FINEST SOUND 5 THE COVEX KID 8 SILAWI
Race 4
6 FOREVER YOUNG 5 BOOK EM DANNO 10 SANTONO PHEONIX 1 OASIS BOY
Race 5
1 BOLD JOURNEY 9 SHELLY 10 TUZ 8 REMAKE
Race 6
10 MYSTERIOUS NIGHT 1 AGURI 2 ANNAF 12 WIN GREATEST
Race 7
6 HEARTS CONCERTO 9 LUXEMBOURG 10 SPIRIT DANCER 13 THE FOXES
Race 8
9 ENEMY 2 BREAKUP 5 AL NAYYIR 1 TOWER OF LONDON
Race 9
14 WHITE ABARRIO 4 DERMA SOTOGAKE 9 NATIONAL TREASURE 6 ISOLATE
BEST BET
Race 4 No 6 Forever Young
VALUE BET
Race 7 No 6 Hearts Concerto
BEST SWINGER
Race 5: 1-Bold Journey and 9-Shelly
JACKPOT
(Races 6-9)
R54
Leg 1: 1, 2, 10
Leg 2: 6, 9, 10
Leg 3: 2, 5, 9
Leg 4: 4, 14