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| Rowan Anderson |
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When Frankie Dettori recently announced his retirement the racing world knew the Italian would be hoping to go out in a trademark bang.
“In my final year as a jockey I want to go to as many places as possible and being able to compete in the IJC at The Saudi Cup is a huge event that I’m delighted to be a part of,” Dettori said.
He has been named overnight as one of four confirmed riders for the Saudi Cup International Jockeys Challenge.
The International Jockeys Challenge features four handicap races, each run for $400,000, with a further $100,000 prize fund for the challenge itself.
The jockeys are made up of seven international female riders, five international men and two local men with the jockeys receiving 15% of prize money won in each of the four races.
All races will consist of 14 runners and five reserves, with all 14 jockeys riding in each race.
Two races will be staged on dirt and two on turf, with the distances ranging from 1200m to 2100m.
The IJC takes place at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh on February 24 with the other named riders being last year’s winner Caitlin Jones along with Joao Moreira and Chantal Sutherland making their first trips to Saudi Arabia.
This will be Dettori’s eleventh seasonal appearance in Saudi which has seen him ride six winners from 72 rides.
With what is to be his final year in the saddle the hoop commented on the importance of this appearance in the International Jockey’s Challenge, held on Saudi Cup weekend.
“This will be one of my final chances to share a weighing room with some of the world’s greatest jockeys, and I look forward to seeing who else I’m going to come up against. Joao Moreira has been confirmed, as has last year’s winner Caitlin Jones, so the competition already looks pretty fierce!”
“I know both the dirt and the turf tracks well having ridden in Riyadh quite a lot over the years, and it’s a place I enjoy riding at as it’s very fair and the surfaces are always in great condition. It’s also a great warm-up event for the big Group races on the Saturday, and of course The Saudi Cup itself, which I’d love to win.”
Australian rider Caitlin Jones won last year’s IJC and has been invited back to defend her title.
“It’s hard to believe it’s nearly been a year since I rode in the International Jockeys Challenge. It was extra special to ride alongside Glen Boss during his last hurrah and have him standing on the podium with me. That’s a memory I will never forget,” Jones said.
“I hadn’t had much experience on a dirt track, but it was a great surface to race on. You could travel wherever you were and if you were good enough you could win from anywhere. There wasn’t a lot of kickback, it’s an elite surface on every level. They’ve done a wonderful job with it.
“I couldn’t be happier to have been asked to come back and try to retain my title – it would be pretty cheeky if I managed it, wouldn’t it?! I’ll be going out there with every intention of taking it out a second time, but you need a lot of luck with the horses you get drawn. I can’t wait to be back competing in Saudi Arabia again.”
Brazilian talented hoop, Joao Moreira, has been named Four-time Hong Kong Champion Jockey and as another of the high-profile names to be confirmed to ride in the four-race challenge he is excited at the possibilities.
“I’m excited and looking forward to riding in the International Jockeys Challenge. This is a great opportunity for me to ride in a place I’ve never been before, and I wouldn’t miss a chance to ride at a different racecourse and to get that stamp on my CV.
“I’ve heard the infrastructure is good over there and I’ve no doubt that the event they are going to put on will be top-class. Whoever is there, I’m sure they are going to see some great riders doing their best and putting on a very good show.
“Frankie’s just a brilliant rider, he’s the best. Getting the chance to ride with him once again is fantastic.”
Adding to the long list of growing female talent internationally is confirmed rider Canadian Chantal Sutherland, who has ridden over 1,200 winners, including three Grade 1s to date, and is set to take her first rides in Saudi Arabia.
“It’s a huge opportunity which I’m super excited about. I’ve never been to Saudi but it’s always been on the bucket list as I love these jockey challenges. I’ve had a really good year in Florida so far and I can’t wait to head over.
“To ride against the likes of Frankie [Dettori] and Caitlin Jones is a real honour. I know Frankie well and have ridden against him plenty of times – he’s a lot of fun and the crowds always love him. Anyone of us could win it, but I’m going to give it my all – I’d love to come out on top. I was obviously very lucky to come second in the Breeders’ Cup Classic a few years ago, but if I could win the IJC it would top that.
“Racing in Saudi is getting bigger and bigger and everyone I’ve spoken to has been really positive about it. The prize money is absolutely amazing, and I’m really excited to be part of it all.”