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| Rowan Anderson |
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The first race on an eight race card kicks off in two hours and the preview for each race on this Saudi Cup card is as follows.
Albathaly for trainer Fahad Saad in this one. He won four straight before heading for a spell which has now been for 735 days. Has won first up and will appreciate being fresh.
Samlla is second up and coming off a 45-day let up. Trained by Francois Rohaut he has won seven of his nine career starts as well as a further two placings. With the bloodline of Assy from Al Shahania Stud he will be a great chance to register the hat trick.
Missed the Cut out of the George Boughey stable will start as one of the shortest favourites on the card. However, in this one I am looking to the John & Thady Gosden trained 5YO Mostahdaf to win here. Has won first up in the Group Three Gordon Richards Stakes over 2002m. Ignore last run that saw him finish last in the Group One Arc D’Triomphe, you can never keep anything from Shadwell out of winning chance discussions.
Decent quality field but looking to Songline to make it two consecutive victories in the race. Returning from a 167 day spell the Japanese trained mare had one start last prep and will be looking fresh and fit to go here.
Close to one of the best quality fields on the card outside of the Saudi Cup race itself. Subjectivist won the 2021 Meydan Dubai Gold Cup as well as the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot before an injury forced the Teofilo x Reckoning entire to be spelled. Trawlerman is the Ebor hero having taken out the feature last year and should well and truly be in the finish. The Japanese trained entire, Silver Sonic, is the current favourite heading in but I see the Ian Williams trained Enemy as being the smoky chance here. Second up off a 50-day let up the gelded son of Muhaarar is a definite chance in this field and could it be a case of getting his own back against Trawlerman following their battle in the Ebor.
Havenameltdown is short favourite to win here with Frankie Dettori onboard. A Bob Baffert trained colt who won easily at Santa Anita last start resuming. A Japanese trained trio in Continuar, Derma Sotogake and From Dusk will be looking to show the dominance the land of the rising sun has had on international tracks. An interesting prospect is Es-Unico with the 3YO War Secretary x Energia Get It colt in his second start following a second placing on debut in Meydan. With riding duties in the hands of the ‘Magic Man’ himself, Joao Moreira, for trainer A Cintra Pereira this could be another case of an impressive run to pull off one great upset in Group company here.
Dancing Prince with Australian hoop Damian Lane onboard will share favouritism in the markets with the William Mott trained Elite Power with Frankie Dettori on board. Elite Power won the Qatar Racing Breeders' Cup Sprint last start when devouring ground to come over the top of the leading few. An interesting prospect is Meraas trained by Chad Summers who won last start and will be ready for this. Resumes off a 57-day let up, loves the dirt and Summers is not a stranger to pulling off major upsets on foreign tracks, ala Mind Your Biscuits.
THE BIG DANCE! The world’s most valuable race is here and well the field is worthy of a race of such magnitude! Taiba is favourite and has been for a while now, trained by the great Bob Baffert he loves thumping his opponents when sent out as favourite. Emblem Road returns to attempt to make it two straight victories in the Saudi Cup and talk around him doing so continues to grow. There are plenty of other chances here but for mine it is Country Grammer’s year with Frankie Dettori in the saddle – talk about a farewell to Saudi fitting enough for one of the greatest to ever ride. Last start he won by 4.5 lengths at Santa Anita in the Group Two San Antonio Stakes. He came second last year before going on to win the Dubai World Cup and the son of Tonalist will be looking to atone here.