Nearly 1000 Entries for Inaugural Saudi Cup Program

 

Midnight Bisou heads the American contingent for the $20-million Saudi Cup | Sarah Andrew

By Alan Carasso

The inaugural US$29.2-million Saudi Cup program, to be held at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in the capital of Riyadh Saturday, Feb. 29, has attracted 964 entries from connections of horses from all corners of the globe.

The meeting’s centerpiece is the $20-million Saudi Cup at 1800 meters on dirt and attracted over 140 nominations from 60 different trainers from four continents, representing 16 countries.

The world’s richest horse race has entries from Argentina, Bahrain, Japan, Korea, Poland and Turkey, but American runners figure to take all the beating. Midnight Bisou (Midnight Lute), a shoe-in for the champion older female Eclipse Award, heads a trio of ‘Killer Ms,’ a group that also includes likely champion 3-year-old Maximum Security (New Year’s Day) and Eclipse finalist and ‘TDN Rising Star’ McKinzie (Street Sense). Other names of note from the U.S. include ‘Rising Star’ Gift Box (Twirling Candy), his stablemate Higher Power (Medaglia d’Oro), Mo Forza (Uncle Mo), Seeking the Soul (Perfect Soul {Ire}), GI Belmont S. hero Sir Winston (Awesome Again), GI Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile winner Spun to Run (Hard Spun), Tacitus (Tapit) and Tax (Arch).

Some interesting names appear among the foreign entries, including champion Japanese dirt horse Chrysoberyl (Jpn) (Gold Allure {Jpn}; Korean-based Blue Chipper (Tiznow), third in the Dirt Mile; fellow Korean star Dolkong (Afleet Alex); Godolphin turf stars Benbatl (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Ghaiyyath (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}); GI Belmont S. and G1 Dubai World Cup runner-up Gronkowski (Lonhro {Aus}); Magic Wand (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}); and Japanese turf G1SW Mozu Ascot (Frankel {GB}).

“The response to the Saudi Cup from the international racing community has been fantastic,” said Tom Ryan, Director of Strategy and International Racing for the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia. “We couldn’t be happier with the entries that we’ve received and we are now fully focused on putting on a spectacular first Saudi Cup race day to live up to the calibre of these entries.”

Stayers Go For Night’s Second-Biggest Pot…

At US$2.5 million, the Red Sea Turf H. is the night’s next-richest event, for which weights have already been assigned.

Last seen getting the better of Stradivarius (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) in the G2 QIPCO British Champions Long Distance Cup at Ascot in October, Kew Gardens (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) could make his 5-year-old debut in the 3000-meter test. The 62kg (136 pounds) highweight could square off with the likes of 2018 G1 Melbourne Cup hero Cross Counter (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}, 61.5kg); the now Dubai-based 2018 G1 Investec Derby runner-up Dee Ex Bee (GB) (Farhh {GB}, 61.5kg); and the globe-trotting Prince of Arran (GB) (Shirocco {Ger}, 59kg), placed in the Flemington feature in 2018 and 2019.

More Big Names On the Undercard…

A potentially more attractive and logical spot for Benbatl is the Neom Turf Cup, to be held over 2100 meters of the newly installed turf course at the King Abdulaziz Racetrack. Aidan O’Brien has given reigning Investec Derby hero Anthony Van Dyck (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) an entry, as well as stablemate Circus Maximus (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), Magic Wand and Mount Everest (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Japan’s Deirdre (Jpn) (Harbinger {GB}), who traveled the world with credit in 2019, is also nominated to the $1-million race, as is Jockey Club Oaks Invitational winner Edisa (Kitten’s Joy). The Todd Pletcher-trained Channel Cat (English Channel) and Mo Forza could fly the U.S. flag.

The $1.5-million Riyadh Dirt Sprint (1200m) is headlined by top American short-tracker Imperial Hint (Imperialism) and fellow American-bred Firenze Fire (Poseidon’s Warrior). Gladiator King (Curlin), last-out winner of the G3 Dubawi S. at Meydan, has been entered alongside Kimbear (Temple City), who took the G3 Al Maktoum Challenge-Round 1 over 1600 meters Jan. 9. Blue Chipper has proven equally adept at sprint trips, having won the Keeneland Korea Sprint, while multiple Japanese GSW sprinter Copano Kicking (Spring At Last) has also been given a longshot entry.

Bound For Nowhere (The Factor) and Shekky Shebaz (Cape Blanco {Ire}) could take in the $1-million 1351 Turf Sprint at that about seven-furlong trip, while the $800,000 Saudi Derby (1600m) has attracted recent GIII Sham S. runner-up Azul Coast (Super Saver), ‘TDN Rising Stars’ Chestertown (Tapit) and Shoplifted (Into Mischief) from the Steve Asmussen barn and Japan-based, but American-conceived Danon Pharaoh (Jpn) (American Pharoah).

For the complete entries click here  (by TDN)

STELLAR CAST GATHERS FOR FIRST SAUDI CUP DAY WORTH USD$29.2m   32 Group or Grade 1 winners in Saudi Cup alone and total 964 entries for new race day King Abdulaziz Racecourse, Riyadh, Tuesday, January 14, 2020: The first running of the USD$29.2m Saudi Cup race day has attracted an impressive entry, including no less than 32 Group or Grade 1 winners in the big race alone, across an eight-race card. Held at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh on Saturday February 29, 2020 the Saudi Cup kicks off a new era in Saudi Arabian horseracing, highlighted by the creation of the first turf track in the country’s history. The Saudi Cup which, with a $20m prize purse, assumes the mantle of the world’s most valuable race, has attracted more than 140 nominations, representing four continents, 16 countries and more than 60 trainers around the globe. Entries to the featured 1800m (9f) contest on the dirt have been made by the connections of 143 horses and feature multiple Grade 1-winning mare Midnight Bisou (USA), trained by Steve Asmussen, Grade 1 Cigar Mile winner and four-time Grade 1 star, Maximum Security (USA), prepared by Jason Servis, and the Bob Baffert-trained Breeder’s Cup Classic runner up, McKinzie (USA). The first turf races to ever be held in Saudi Arabia have received an impressive list of entries. The 2100m (10.5f) $2.5m Neom Turf Cup entry list includes Aidan O’Brien’s incredibly tough mare, Magic Wand (IRE), who ended a hectic Australian campaign with victory in the Group 1 Mackinnon Stakes in November, as well as her stablemate, Anthony Van Dyck (IRE), the Epsom Derby winner. Recently successful in the Singspiel Stakes at Dubai’s Meydan Racecourse, Benbatl (GB), trained by Godolphin’s Saeed Bin Suroor, has intriguingly been entered for both the 2100m Neom Turf Cup as well as the Saudi Cup on the dirt. Also holding an entry in the Neom Turf Cup is Japanese star and Goodwood Nassau Stakes winner, Deirdre (JPN), trained by Mitsuru Hashida, who is currently based in Newmarket, UK. A very strong Red Sea Turf Handicap held over 3000m (1m7f) boasts entries from O’Brien’s multiple Group 1 winning Kew Gardens (IRE), the globetrotting Prince of Arran (GB) and the Charlie Appleby-trained Melbourne Cup winner, Cross Counter (GB). Meanwhile the Purebred Arabian entries in the 2000m (10f) $1.9m Obaiya Arabian Classic on the dirt are headlined by local star, Tallaab Al Khalediah (KSA), one of three entries trained by Saudi Arabian, Saad Bin Mutlaq. Tom Ryan, Director of Strategy and International Racing for the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia was thrilled by the strong levels of global interest in the race day. “The response to the Saudi Cup from the international racing community has been fantastic,” he said. “We couldn’t be happier with the entries that we’ve received and we are now fully focused on putting on a spectacular first Saudi Cup race day to live up to the calibre of these entries.” Entries will now be whittled down to final fields, based on ratings allocated by former BHA senior handicapper, Phil Smith. Newmarket Racecourse Clerk of the Course, Michael Prosser has also joined the Saudi Cup team for the event as they build towards the February 29 race day gathers pace. For the full list of entries and handicap weights please click here.   THE SAUDI CUP           Saturday 29th February           King Abdulaziz Racetrack, Riyadh, KSA           Entries Close: Tuesday, 7th January 2020         Total Prizemoney: $29,200,000                       Race Age Distance Surface Purse The Jockey Club Local Handicap 4yo+ 1800m  9f Dirt $500,000 The Riyadh Dirt Sprint 3yo+ 1200m  6f Dirt $1.500,000 The 1351 Turf Sprint 4yo+ 1351m  6 3/4f Turf $1,000,000 The Saudi Derby 3yo 1600m  8f Dirt $800,000 The Neom Turf Cup 4yo+ 2100m  10 1/2f Turf $1,000,000 The Obaiya Arabian Classic 4yo+ 2000m  10f Dirt $1,900,000 The Red Sea Turf Handicap 4yo+ 3000m  15f Turf $2,500,000 The Saudi Cup 4yo+ 1800m  9f Dirt $20,000,000 For more information about Saudi Cup weekend including tickets and hospitality options please visit: www.thesaudicup.com

by thesaudicup