5:35 Saudi Cup (Local Group 1) (1m1f
THOUGH there are no European runners, it is a high-quality international field for the Group 1 Saudi Cup in Riyadh today. (5.35pm). It is headed by a strong American and Japanese challenge to take on last year’s surprise local winner Emblem Road.
Bob Baffert sends the top two older horses in his barn, Dubai World Cup winner Country Grammer and last year’s Grade 1 Pennsylvania Derby winner Taiba, who warmed up by winning the seven-furlong Malibu Stakes at Santa Anita in December.
Country Grammer and Dettori prepared with an easy win in the Grade 2 San Antonio Stakes at Santa Anita in January.
Dubai Turf winner Panthalassa looks the main Japanese challenger. Fellow challenger Geoglyph took the scalp of subsequent dual Grade 1 winner Equinox at Nakayama last April.
“He has a lot of potential. It is hard to predict how he will react on this new surface, but in terms of quality, he has a good chance,”rider Christophe-Patrice Lemaire said this week.
“He is by Drefong, an American horse, so we expect him to run good and to adapt to the surface.”
With Baffert’s record when travelling abroad, the ultra consistent Country Grammer, never out of the first two in his last six races, should grab another big desert success in going one better than last year against Emblem Road.
On the rest of the card, group action begins at 2.05 with the Group 2 Neom Turf Cup over a mile three and a half furlongs.
A strong British interest comprises of George Boughey’s Missed The Cut with Oisin Murphy on board, Mostahdaf from the John & Thady Gosden yard, Sir Busker (William Knight/Ryan Moore) and White Moonlight (Saeed bin Suroor).
Songline will spearhead a strong Japanese challenge with jockey Christophe Lemaire confident she can retain her Turf Sprint title.
She won the Group 3 seven-furlong contest last year, part of a fantastic four-timer for the French-born rider.
Songline will take on 10 rivals including the Richard Hannon-trained Happy Romance and Lusail and the Charlie Hills pair of Pogo and Garrus.
Lemaire said mid-week that it will take a good one to beat her. “I rode her this morning and she looks in great condition,” he said. “I am very happy with her and so is her trainer. She will be the one to beat again.”
The daughter of Kizuna went on to win the Grade 1 Yasuda Kinen at Tokyo in June, but has not run since disappointing in a Grade 2 in September.
A Grade 1 winner at a mile and six furlongs last season, Casa Creed, represents the US and Bill Mott.
In the Longines Red Sea Turf Handicap over a mile and seven furlongs, Subjectivist will make his comeback having been off the track since cantering all over his rivals in the 2021 Ascot Gold Cup.
The son of Teofilo will take on 12 rivals, including the John and Thady Gosden-trained Ebor winner Trawlerman, Ian Williams’ Meydan handicap hero Enemy, Karl Burke’s Prix Chaudenay scorer Al Qareem and Nate The Great from the Andrew Balding yard.
The 2021 German Derby winner Sisfahan is also an interesting runner.
Bob Baffert runs Grade 2 San Vicente Stakes winner Havnameltdown with Frankie Dettori in the Saudi Derby but it looks destined for Japan with four runners Continuar, Derma Sotogake, Ecoro Ares and From Dusk. Derma Sotogake, son of Mind Your Biscuits, looks the best.
The Dirt Sprint is a tasty event between the two Americans, Bill Mott’s Breeders Cup winner Elite Power (Frankie Dettori) and the talented Gunite trained by Steve Asmussen.