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| Staff Writer |
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Jimmy Jerkens is priming his stable for a scorching second season in Saudi Arabia, as the multiple Grade One-winning American trainer sets his sights on surpassing last year's impressive tally of 18 winners.
Having saddled seven winners from 47 runners at Saudi's summer racecourse in Taif, Jerkens is brimming with confidence ahead of the Riyadh season, which kicks off this Thursday.
"It's always the aim to beat last season's total and keep doing better," Jerkens said. "It's a long meet though and I'm sure it will be up and down like it always is."
The trainer's cautious optimism stems from a strong finish at Taif, where his horses demonstrated peak fitness without being overworked.
Jerkens is looking to hit the ground running at King Abdulaziz Racecourse with several promising newcomers. Ancestral Land, who showed improvement in Taif, is primed for a breakthrough in the 0-1 category. Another exciting prospect is Tchaicovsky, a 3YO by Bated Breath, also set to contest a 0-1 race in the opening week.
One horse generating particular buzz is Tireless, a recent acquisition for HRH Prince Faisal bin Khaled bin Abdualaziz's Red Stable operation. The Not This Time colt, purchased for US$140,000 at the Kentucky Racing Age Sale, is expected to make his debut within the month.
"We're hoping to have a good season with him," Jerkens said. "He's not a plodder, he's got some speed. He can lay up in a forward position as long as the race is long enough."
Several of Jerkens' established stars are set to shine once again. My Frankel, last season's domestic Gr.1 Crown Prince Cup winner, is back in training after overcoming foot issues. The former Sir Michael Stoute-trained gelding will be joined by stablemate Derevo, another ex-Stoute runner expected to excel on Riyadh's dirt surface.
Italian Group Three winner Grocer Jack presents an interesting conundrum for Jerkens, who must carefully navigate the horse's campaign to maintain his eligibility for top-tier turf contests.
The Gr.1 Crown Prince Cup, won last year by My Frankel, stands as one of the season's most prestigious prizes. Previous winners of this 1 1/8-mile dirt contest include the likes of Mishriff, who went on to claim the 2021 Saudi Cup and Dubai Sheema Classic.
The Riyadh season, spanning from October 17, 2024, to March 15, 2025, promises a packed schedule of 62 race meetings featuring 710 races. With his stable in fighting form, Jerkens is poised to make a significant impact on the Saudi racing scene.