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| Staff Writer |
The 2024 Saudi Cup lived up to its billing, delivering a night of international competition and local heroes rising to the occasion.
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From Japan's dominance in the Derby and Sprint races to dramatic finishes and unexpected victories, the event showcased the best thoroughbred racing on a global stage.
Senor Buscador secured a narrow victory in a photo-finish against Japanese challenger Ushba Tesoro in a thrilling finish at the Saudi Cup. The win marks a historic moment for the American horse, trained by Todd Fincher and ridden by Junior Alvarado.
Amidst a chaotic race with multiple horses vying for the lead, Senor Buscador and Ushba Tesoro chose a conservative approach, staying far behind the pack. As the race progressed, Ushba Tesoro, the reigning Dubai World Cup champion, surged forward, seemingly on track for another significant victory. However, Senor Buscador, fueled by Alvarado's determined riding, displayed immense grit and resilience, surging past Ushba Tesoro in the final stride to claim the coveted win by a nose.
This victory marks Senor Buscador's first Gr. 1 win, further solidifying its position as a rising star in the racing world. The win also comes after a close second-place finish in the Pegasus World Cup last month, proving its consistency at the highest level. The Saudi Cup victory further underlines the international competitiveness of thoroughbred racing, with horses from across the globe vying for the prestigious title.
Joe Peacock Jr, joint-owner: "The one-turn mile and eighth [1800m] was right up his alley and a track played fair. We can make excuses for him; he puts himself in that position, getting dirt in his face, but he tries to overcome it every time. We thought of The Saudi Cup a couple weeks before the Pegasus. I was so adamant he would prove himself, and he has. This ranks up there. This was big. We were excited about the opportunity. We felt the horse deserved the opportunity. It's amazing."
In a display of resilience and tactical riding, Aidan O'Brien's Tower of London secured a narrow victory in the US$2.5 million Longines Red Sea Turf Handicap. Jockey Ryan Moore expertly guided the horse from the back of the pack, navigating a clear path in the final stretch to edge out Enemy by a head at the finish line.
This win marks a significant achievement for both O'Brien and Moore, adding to their successful day on the Saudi Cup program. The victory also signifies Ireland's continued dominance in international racing following Adayar's triumph in the Saudi Cup.
The race itself was a thrilling display of strategy and athleticism. Despite settling near the back, Tower of London showcased its determination and stamina, surging past the leading pack in the final meters to secure a dramatic victory. This win underscores the horse's exceptional training and breeding, solidifying its position as a force to be reckoned with on the international stage.
Ryan Moore, jockey, Tower Of London, said, "He's a lightly raced horse. He's from a perfect family, a brother to Capri, and the family has done well for the yard. He'd been working well; they always held him in high regard. We had to be patient, and a few horses were dropping back. We eventually got out, and he got there at the end. Today was the first time he could run on a flat track on quick ground, and Aidan has had a lot of faith."
Legendary former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson celebrated another victory, this time on the racetrack, as his homebred horse Spirit Dancer (GB) captured the US$2 million Howden Neom Turf Cup.
The race unfolded strategically, with British horses setting a lively pace, allowing Spirit Dancer, ridden by Oisin Orr, to settle comfortably in midfield. As the final turn approached, Orr guided the horse forward, challenging Luxembourg for the lead. In the final stretch, Spirit Dancer displayed a powerful surge, securing a comfortable one-length victory over Japanese contender Killer Ability.
This win adds to Spirit Dancer's recent success following its victory in the Bahrain International Trophy in November. The win required only 2:07.10 and brought immense satisfaction to the ownership group of Sir Alex Ferguson, Ged Mason, and Peter Done.
Richard Fahey, the trainer, said, "We'll send him back to Dubai. We'll see how he is in the morning, but it's hard not to return to Dubai. I'll be shocked if he doesn't line up in something on World Cup night.
"Always in my mind, I wanted to stretch out to a mile and a half [2400m], but I don't like to make any decisions tonight. Any horse that goes on the international scene becomes a people's horse, and he's got an enormous fan base - the lad with a share in him has something to do with that!
"As trainers, we don't understand what it means to people, and to see the enjoyment gives me huge pride. He gets his head down and gallops to the line."
Annaf, trained by British horseman Mick Appleby, secured a dominant victory in the US$2 million Saudi National Bank 1351 Turf Sprint. This win adds to Appleby's international success following his triumph with Big Evs in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint last year.
Jockey Rossa Ryan employed a strategic approach, keeping Annaf towards the back before gradually making ground and finding a gap in the final stretch. This resulted in a convincing three-quarter-length victory, showcasing Annaf's talent and Ryan's masterful riding.
Appleby expressed his satisfaction with the win, highlighting his team's dedication and praising Ryan's exceptional riding skills.
He said, "As long as he gets a good pace to aim at, he likes coming from behind, and if the pace collapses, he's at his best. It makes it all worth it. Going abroad and winning these races is excellent, putting us on the international map—massive credit to the team in the yard, who worked hard all year.
"Rossa gave him a great ride. It's all down to Rossa, not my training. He keeps improving and keeps surprising us. God knows where we go next. He got an invite to Japan so that we might go there next. We always thought he was a good horse who'd get better with age, and he might still need to be finished. The sky is the limit."
This victory not only cements Annaf's position as a force to be reckoned with but also underscores the continued influence of British trainers and jockeys on the global stage. With their strategic planning, talent, and dedication, they continue to achieve remarkable feats in international thoroughbred racing.
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Remake (JPN) delivered a powerful finishing kick to claim victory in the US$1.5 million Sports Boulevard Riyadh Dirt Sprint, extending Japan's dominance on the Saudi Cup program. Jockey Yuga Kawada perfectly timed his surge, overtaking American challenger Skelly (USA) in the final stretch to secure a convincing 1.5-length win. This marks a redemption for Remake, who finished third in the same race last year.
Koji Maeda, owner of Remake, said, "Physically, he has improved since last year. The trainer and all his staff put everything together and brought the horse here for a brilliant result, which made it special. I came from no background in racing, and now I have 30 Group 1 winners as an owner-breeder. It means a lot. I will bring the trophy back to the hotel and sleep with it tonight."
Koichi Shintani added, "If Remake showed his performance, I was sure he would get there. But as he got beaten last year, it was so disappointing, so we spoke with the staff and tried to improve that performance. He is at an advantage because he can race from anywhere, which is his strength."
Japan's Forever Young, trained by Yoshito Yahagi and ridden by Ryusei Sakai, defied a slow start and broad positioning to claim a thrilling victory in the Saudi Derby. In a close finish, the horse edged out Book' Em Danno by a head, securing its fourth consecutive career win.
Jockey Ryusei Sakai praised Forever Young's determination and fighting spirit, highlighting the horse's unique qualities. Trainer Yoshito Yahagi acknowledged the challenging race but expressed satisfaction with the win, especially considering the horse's discomfort with kickback.
He said, "He didn't have a good start. He was wideout, and it was a tough race, but he won, so we are delighted. He didn't like the kickback, so the jockey kept him wideout. Still, he performed well, so I'm pleased about that. We will head to the UAE Derby before hopefully the Kentucky Derby."
This victory marks Japan's third consecutive win in the Saudi Derby, solidifying their presence as a significant force in international thoroughbred racing. Forever Young's remarkable performance not only brings pride to its connections but also sets the stage for exciting challenges.
King Shalaa, trained by Alban de Mieulle and ridden by Faleh Bughanaim, secured a narrow victory in the US$500k NHC Saudi International Handicap, solidifying Wathnan Racing's presence on the global stage.
While stablemate Silawi initially appeared dominant, King Shalaa unleashed a powerful surge in the final stretch, securing a 1.25-length win over My Frankel. Trainer de Mieulle attributed the success to King Shalaa's overcoming back issues and receiving a favourable weight allowance.
Wathnan Racing celebrated the win as a continuation of their international success, highlighting their commitment to excellence in thoroughbred racing. King Shalaa's victory showcases his talent and reflects the growing influence of Qatari racing on the global scene.
Faleh Bughanaim, the proud jockey of King Shalaa said: "The trainer was very confident in the horse and told me we had a good chance today. When I asked him to go, he gave me a good day. Today is one of the bigger races for me outside of Qatar."
Alban de Mieulle, trainer: "We hadn't been able to run him for the last two months because of back issues. I am delighted. The other horse ran well, too, but as his jockey Mickael [Barzalona] said, it might be too long for him now. He would like it a bit shorter. This is a big challenge, and coming here is very important. I like a challenge anyway, and it's nice to have it. I don't think they will go to Dubai now."
The Al Khalediah family maintained their strong presence at the 2024 Saudi Cup meeting as their homebred Asfan Al Khalediah (KSA) secured the US$2 million Diriyah Gate Development Authority Obaiyah Arabian Classic. This win follows Tilal Al Khalediah's triumph earlier at night, further solidifying the family's success.
Ridden by Abdullah Alawfi, Asfan Al Khalediah showcased his dominance throughout the race. After receiving early support from stablemates, he surged ahead in the final turn and secured a comfortable victory in a time of 2:13.72.
Sami Almutairi's Vizhir (FR) finished second, while Najeeb Al Zaman (FR) finished just behind in a photo finish. Veteran trainer Naser Mutlaq now boasts two champions in his stable, highlighting their impressive performances on dirt and turf tracks.
Abdullah Alawfi, jockey, Asfan Al Khalediah, was excited as he said, "He's a champion horse like every jockey wants to ride. I'm so lucky. I never lose him, and I hope I never lose in the future. What a day this is. I was happy for Adel Alfouraidi that he won the race yesterday [on Tilal Al Khalediah], and I hope we can win many more races together. The horse likes 2000m and the last 200m he flew like a champion. I've no words to say anything else; I'm so thrilled."
Naser Mutlaq, the trainer of Asfan Al Khalediah, said, "Last year, he was running on turf, and it was really good. This year, he switched to dirt. We knew he could, and he's an amazing horse to do both. The jockey knows this horse well and has been riding it for two years, so it was easy for us."
The 2024 Saudi Cup delivered a night of excitement and drama, showcasing the best of international competition and local talent. As the dust settles on this year's event, anticipation is already building for the next chapter in the Saudi Cup's ever-evolving story.
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Winner Race 2024 |