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On 24th February, the night of the Saudi Cup, Richard Fahey will mount Spirit Dancer, a horse co-owned by Sir Alex Ferguson, the legend of Manchester United, for the US$2 million Gr.2 Howden Neom Turf Cup.
Fahey set his sights on a trip to Riyadh with the stunning son of Frankel, who recently finished fourth in the Jebel Hatta in Dubai. The brilliant 7YO won the Gr. 2 Bahrain International Trophy in November, guaranteeing himself a position in the Saudi Cup lineup.
Fahey said: "He qualified when he won in Bahrain, but this race was in my mind beforehand. I did think about the Saudi Cup itself, but I just thought it (1800 metres) would be sharp enough for him to tackle the dirt. I think if we were to make a race for him, then this would be it.
"It's a $2 million race, so it's not going to be given away, but I'm not terrified by the opposition I will be on the day, but at the moment I'm not.
"I was pleased to get the chance to run into him in Dubai the other day, and I'm just hoping the five weeks there will have helped him acclimatise. I believe he's been training very well, and the team is very happy, so I think we are where we need to be with him. Oisin Orr is going over to ride."
Legendary former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, Fred Done, and Ged Mason are all co-owners of Spirit Dancer; Fahey has confirmed that the three will travel to Saudi Arabia.
"The horse arrives on the 20th, and I'll be there the next day. It looks like the three lads will all be there to watch, and they really appreciate what Spirit Dancer has achieved. They're all very kind and took half the yard out for dinner after Spirit Dancer won in Bahrain."
Fahey also shared some insight into what training legendary athlete Ferguson is like.
"It's been interesting for me to train for someone who's been at the top of his sport, and sometimes he says things that I pick up, which amazes me," he said.
"There are occasions too where Sir Alex will understand what I'm saying in the horse world that he can compare with his football knowledge.
"He's an extremely intelligent man and a genius in his profession, so I'm always a little bit timid about saying things too strongly, but there's not too much I have to explain. He's been in our industry for years and knows there can be good and bad days; footballers can perform one day and not the next for no reason, and horses can do the same."
The Yorkshire-based trainer Fahey is eager to travel to Saudi Arabia and gain a sense of a nation still making ripples in horse racing. This will be Fahey's maiden race in the country.
"I've never actually been to Saudi Arabia," he added. "It's a place that has been impressing me the last three or four years; they're getting to grips with things, investing a lot, and putting up a lot of prize money.
"It's the up-and-coming racing nation with the prize money to back it up. The track there is exceptional, and I'm looking forward to seeing it. We do sell a lot of horses out there, so I'm interested to see the set-up too."