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| Rowan Anderson |
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As the world’s richest horse race, The Saudi Cup, fast approaches this weekend the true contenders start to rise.
Now with the barrier draw completed the trainers have commented on their hopes for the race.
Cafe Pharoah (JPN) - Two times a winner of the Grade 1 February Stakes in Japan, the six-year-old has been having a steady preparation towards the big race.
He draws 13 as assistant trainer, Naoto Suzuki, commented.
"The course has a long back stretch and therefore I don’t feel any disadvantage in the outside gate. Perhaps it will be better inside as he won’t get in a traffic jam.
"For the first couple of days after he arrived here he was a little bit tired from the long trip.
“He has recovered well by now so his morning work is getting more intensified day-by-day. He had a nice steady canter for a lap on the dirt track and is ready for his fast work tomorrow."
Country Grammer (USA) and Taiba (USA) - Bob Baffert’s pair arrived in Saudi Arabia a few days ago. Trainer Bob Baffert was confident with Country Grammer getting the rail run (10) for a second year.
"He had the rail last year, it didn’t bother him at all. Frankie Dettori knows the horse really well, I’m lucky to have two Hall of Fame jockeys."
Taiba draws the two and trainer Baffert was confident of his chances from there also.
"I think it’s good to have a speed horse inside of him. He likes company, to run with another horse to get him into the race."
Crown Pride (JPN) - Japan’s emerging dirt performer is going to have his third overseas appearance on Saturday, having won the UAE Derby last year and run in the Kentucky Derby. He has been a model of leadership for the Japanese Barn and has shown his fondness for travel. With Australian hoop Damian Lane onboard drawing the three for the race, with trainer Koichi Shintani happy with the draw.
"I’m happy, I’m hoping three is the lucky number for me. I wanted to avoid the extreme outside or inside. He has a lot of early speed so this is ideal to get a good position."
Emblem Road (USA) and Scotland Yard (USA) - Last year’s impressive Saudi Cup winner Emblem Road is being readied for Saturday's feature race alongside stable companion Scotland Yard for local trainer Moutaib Almulawah.
The reigning champion Emblem Road has drawn the eight and jockey Alexis Moreno was happy with the result.
"I’m so happy with the number eight, he’s a late horse from the gate, so I can be outside easily. He’s doing very well, he’s run well and I hope he can do it again."
Stable representative Hisham Abdulwahed said they hoped for around that barrier.
"Eight is good for him. This morning I hoped for maybe seven, so this is very similar. Anywhere from eight to 13 would have been good for him."
Scotland Yard drew the four and Abdulwahed said it would serve him well, they hoped.
"It’s a great draw for him. He goes in front, doesn’t come from behind, so it’s really great. He has done great here in his three races. This is a big race, a tough race, many good horses and he has to prove himself. He has showed a lot of potential and can prove to be a champion. He’s a good jumper and a great horse."
Geoglyph (JPN) - The Japanese 2000 Guineas winner in 2022 had an easy canter on the dirt track.
"I feel relieved that he has travelled to Saudi Arabia safely, which is very important,” Shingo Hashimoto of owners Northern Farm said.
He drew the 12 and trainer Tesuya Kimura said the draw would be favourable for him.
"It’s the first time to run on dirt and we don’t want him to get too much kickback, so the draw should be preferable for me. He should handle the dirt surface pretty well on his pedigree and he’s handling it well in training."
Jun Light Bolt (JPN) - The winner of the Grade 1 the Champions Cup at Chukyo in December arrived last Friday.
"It was a smooth travel so he did not lose much weight, which was good," assistant trainer Hideo Hanada said. "He spent the first couple of days doing only relaxed exercise and I brought him to the dirt course for the first time on Sunday. So far, he has been cantering nice and smoothly on the dirt, so I believe he handles the surface here. He did a starting gate practice yesterday and nothing was wrong. We are going to work him on dirt tomorrow."
He drew the six with trainer Yasuo Tomomichi saying his runner should be able to put in a handy performance with that.
"Several front-runners drew inside so there is going to be plenty of early speed. From gate six, I believe he can settle anywhere the jockey wants to be."
Panthalassa (JPN) - Having shared victory with Lord North in the Dubai Turf at Meydan last year, the six-year-old by Lord Kanaloa is experienced at long-distance travel. He had an easy canter on the dirt track.
"I am very glad that he has travelled to Saudi Arabia without any problem," Yusaku Oka, assistant to trainer Yoshito Yahagi, said.
Trainer Yoshito Yahagi said barrier draws were never any real influence but even with drawing barrier one the instructions will stay the same.
"I never think about the numbers but number one should be a good number. There’s only one instruction - gotta go!"
Remorse (IRE) - Bhupat Seemar’s runner drew the 7 and the trainer commented that based on recent draws it could have been a lot worse.
"We've been really unlucky with posts recently but it's better than 13,” he said.
Assistant trainer Caroline Seemar also commented.
"He got a little hampered in his last race but he’s improved afterwards, shipped over well and seems in great form. He’s a tough little neat horse, if things go his way he won’t be too much of an outsider, fingers crossed."
Sunset Flash (IRE) and Lagertha Rhyme (IRE) –
Lagertha Rhyme has drawn the 11 and trainer Naif Almindeel said being one of the toughest races in the world the barrier draw would be minimal in effect.
"This race we have the best horses in the world, it’s a tough race but we hope our filly will have a good race. Very good [draw]. She’s an on-pace runner."
Sunset Flash drew 5 which the trainer also commented on.
"The barrier - she’s a horse that likes to be midfield or more forward, we’ll see how it goes."
"Both my mares are training well and they will run to their best in The Saudi Cup," trainer Naif Almindeel said.
"This race will be the hardest they have been in, but they are very consistent and finished one-two in the Gulf Cup last time over the mile (1600m). We are very happy to have two runners in the world’s richest race."
Vin de Garde (JPN) - Had an easy canter for one and a half laps on the dirt track and drew the ninth barrier.
"Thanks to the great support from The Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia, everything has been organised and gone well so far and I have trained him as planned since he got in. He is in great form,” Kazuo Fujiwara, assistant to trainer Hideaki Fujiwara, said.
"The draw is not my concern - I believe he will show his great turn of foot."