Juddmonte's Mandaloun on Course for Gr.1 Saudi Cup Win Almost 12 Months After Prince Khalid’s Passing

Once again, the two giants are poised to face off against each other in the US$20m Gr.1 Saudi Cup. 

"We're hoping for a really big year from Mandaloun and it will be nice to start it off on a big note in the Saudi Cup," said trainer Brad Cox.

Juddmonte’s General Manager has stated earlier,” The family (of the late Prince Khalid bin Abdullah) wants to have a crack at the Saudi Cup. It's a very important race for them.”

The Saudi challenge will be far more formidable than anything the two have faced in New Orleans, with a full field of well-qualified international runners expected none more accomplished than Mishriff.

“Mandaloun just touched down in Riyadh and I should arrive on Thursday afternoon,” said O’Rourke. 

“We will not get ahead of ourselves as the Saudi Cup was his #1 plan. If all goes well on 26th and the horse is healthy enough to progress then Brad can make the recommendation to the family to proceed to Dubai but no decision is needed until then,” said Juddmonte’s chief. 

The Group One winner is a homebred son of Into Mischief out of the Empire Maker mare Brooch. 

“We have been big fans of Into Mischief from the start. His offspring (and those of his sire Harlan’s Holiday) display a good nick with the Unbridled broodmare sire line and we had a lot of Empire Maker mares to breed,” said O’Rourke

“Mandaloun’s dam is by Empire Maker and Mandaloun was a lovely looker from the beginning, so it is nice when a well-laid plan bears fruit. 

“He is a lovely blend of Into Mischief speed and toughness and Empire Maker classic ability and handsome looks. 

Eclipse Award-winning trainer Brad, believes their 4YO has an advantage in the one-turn mile-and-an-eighth configuration at King Abdulaziz Racetrack. 

"It's a little something we don't get much here in America. It's a one-turn mile and an eighth," Cox said in an interview with Bloodhorse. "We'll get it at Belmont. I'm confident he'll be able to handle it."

The Saudi track has drawn rave reviews from American trainers and plays quite differently from the dirt surface at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai. 

“He ran his heart out in the Kentucky Derby Gr1 and Haskell Invitational Gr1 yet on speed figures his recent prep in the Louisiana Gr3 suggests that is his fastest run which encourages us that he is still improving, said O’Rourke about Mandaloun’s best race. 

Although O’Rourke has always singled out Empire Maker as his favorite horse and Arrogate’s 2017 Dubai World Cup run is his favorite race. “Arrogate’s performance to win the Dubai World Cup Gr1 left everyone speechless, and it was so fun afterward to see so many fans of Prince Khalid and Juddmonte join in the winner's enclosure celebrations,” he said. 

Prince Khalid Abdulla, the erstwhile owner of Juddmonte Farms was one of the most prolific owner-breeders the sport has ever known — able to count legendary horses such as Frankel, Enable, and Dancing Brave among his long list of successes.

In memory of the legendary owner, the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia has launched Prince Khalid Bin Abdullah Cup which had its inaugural run in January, earlier this year. Both his family and the Jockey Club found it befitting that the event was held on the turf track and over the 2,100m distance at which some of his most famous horses excelled.

“It’s hard to single out any one thing to miss most about such an iconic individual but we are being encouraged by the family to honor his memory by doing for Juddmonte what he loved best and that is winning.

“Prince Khalid obviously inspired me. He had unwaveringly high standards in morals, in family, in business, and thankfully in horses!” said O’Rourke. 

Looking ahead Garrett O’Rourke has a simple plan for the vast and quality-driven Juddmonte operation, “Hopefully unchanged from where we are today.”