A YEAR after Stay Foolish won the Group 3 Red Sea Turf Handicap in Riyadh, the famous silks of Shadai Race Horse Co were again to the fore in the same race as Silver Sonic took the 15-furlong contest by a comfortable two and a half lengths.
Breaking alertly from post one, the eye-catching grey homebred son of Orfevre settled in the perfect position behind a lead set by returning star Subjectivist and tracked by 2022 Ebor Handicap winner Trawlerman.
Jockey Damian Lane asked Silver Sonic for his effort turning for home and the race was put to bed with aplomb.
The Ian Williams-trained Enemy finished second, less than a length in front of David O’Meara’s Get Shirty. It was another nose back to French raider Big Call. Subjectivist, in his first start since taking the 2021 Ascot Gold Cup, faded to finish 12th.
Yasutoshi Ikee, trainer of Silver Sonic, said: “I brought Orfevre to the Arc twice but he ran second on both occasions, so winning a big race abroad with Orfevre’s son, it is a great pleasure. My father trained Stay Gold, his dam’s sire, so the feeling with this victory is so special.”
Ian Williams, trainer of Enemy, said: “He is having a great campaign in this part of the world and, all being well, he will go for the Dubai Gold Cup next.”
Danny Tudhope, who rode Get Shirty, said: “He was done no favours with the wide draw but he’s the kind of horse you need to switch off, so he settled in rear. There wasn’t much pace either. But you have to ride him for luck. He was very strong in the finish and to get third from where he was positioned was a great effort.”
Subjectivist’s rider Joe Fanning added: “I felt he was keen enough. He has been off for a while and in the end he just got tired.”