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| Rowan Anderson |
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Prestige and major prize money.
The Saudi Cup is the most valuable race in the world and the carnival meeting runs on 24-25 February with horses from 15 different racing nations set to compete over the two days.
King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh will host 16 races on its dirt and turf tracks, and the highlight of the meeting, the $20 million Group 1 Saudi Cup, looks set to be contested by runners from five different countries.
The markets are coming in to shape with the competition as follows.
The Gun Runner colt is already a multiple Grade One winner having won the Santa Anita Derby and Pennsylvania Derby last year. Last year was a big year with him heading into this feature after being a dominant winner by close to five lengths over Forbidden Kingdom in the Group 1 Malibu Stakes at Santa Anita in December.
Trained by Bob Baffert also and will be looking to go better than last year finishing second. This year gets the guidance of master hoop of Frankie Dettori in his final year in the saddle. The son of Tonalist won the Group One Dubai World Cup last year with Dettori in the saddle which bodes well for this run.
Firming in markets and flying the flag for Japan Jun Light Bolt comes back to the track after winning the Group One Champions Cup. Trained by Yasuo Tomomichi he also has a Group Three victory in Hanshin.
Trained by Koichi Shintani he ran second last start in Group One company. The 4YO tasted Group One success in Meydan last DWCC taking out the UAE Derby. For this ride Australian hoop Damian Lane will be retained from that win.
Another member of the Japanese contingent he is trained by Yoshito Yahagi and in his last start, a Sha Tin Group One, he only beat home two of the field. He has second placings in a Tokyo Group One and Sapporo Group Two along with successes in a Group One in 2021 and took out the Dubai Turf last year in a dead heat.
Trained by Noriyuki Hori the American Pharoah progeny has recorded five wins from seven starts including twice winning the Group One February Stakes in the past two years.
Last year when he won this race it was history making and a win that will never be forgotten. He will now aim to become the first horse to win the Group 1 contest more than once. Last year during his Saudi campaign he won both starts; the first by one length to Great Scot and then the Saudi Cup by half a length to Country Grammer.
Another Japanese runner who has major race success last year in the Grade One Satsuki Sho. Trained by Tetsuya Kimura will be keen to challenge.
Micheal Stidham trains this Godolphin 5YO by Tapit who last year won the Group One Clark Stakes at Churchill Downs.
Trained by Steven Asmussen for the Winstar Farm LLC ownership this Quality Road colt has won a Custodian Of The Two Holy Mosques.
Trained by Bhupat Seemar this gelded son of Dubawi has won a Listed class race in Meydan as well as second placings in a further three Listed and Group company races through the UAE.
The final of the Japanese flag flyers this Deep Impact entire is trained by Hideaki Fujiwara. Won in Group Two company in 2020 in Tokyo.
Trained by Na Almindeel for owner Salif Ali she is the local hope. She has seen success in Riyadh including in the Gulf Cup so knows the track.