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| Rowan Anderson |
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Hours out from the worlds most richest horse race, the Saudi Cup, and it is sure to throw up an action packed running with a field filled with stars.
Taiba should start the race as favourite to win the $20 million feature with stablemate Country Grammer looking to atone and build on his second placing last year.
Cafe Pharoah (JPN) - Cantered for 2000m on the training track on Friday morning.
“He continues to be in good condition after galloping on Wednesday, so he doesn’t need any more strong work. I do not see any dramatic change from him but it is a good sign,” assistant trainer Naoto Suzuki said.
Crown Pride (JPN) - Trotted for a lap followed by an easy canter for two laps on the training track.
“The horse is already aware that the race is close, so I decided not to take him to the dirt track this morning and instead I gave him a conditioning flat work. He cantered really nicely and knew what he needed to do. He is fit,” Masafumi Matsuda, assistant trainer for Koichi Shintani said.
Geoglyph (JPN) - Tetsuya Kimura was supervising his runner, who warmed up for two laps on the training track before having a canter around the dirt track.
“He is very fresh, keeps good condition and so far, so good. Hopefully he will give his best run,” trainer Kimura said.
Jun Light Bolt (JPN) - Big-race jockey Ryan Moore had his first contact with his mount, cantering for a lap on the dirt track.
“He concentrated on cantering and seems to be in his best condition. He also handled the surface well. I am delighted that connections offered me a ride on a horse with serious chance. I'm looking forward to a big run with him,” Moore said.
Lagertha Rhyme (IRE) and Sunset Flash (IRE) - Trainer Naif Almindeel reported no late issues with his locally-trained pair.
“With the big race not too far away you want to keep things as normal and quiet as possible, to have the same routine,” he said. “No news is good news. The horses are calm, but we are very excited.”
Panthalassa (JPN) - Had an easy canter to stretch his legs on the dirt track. Trainer Yoshito Yahagi supervised his trainee and said.
“I told the rider to get the feel of him during his canter and he looked very well. We will see how the races will be run on the dirt track tonight and would like to reconfirm the condition of the surface in the races.”
Remorse (IRE) - Friday morning was another easy one for Al Rashid Stables’ Remorse, as the Group 1-placed son of Dubawi had an easy circuit of the King Abdulaziz Racecourse dirt track under assistant trainer Caroline Seemar.
Winner of the Listed The Entisar Stakes in December, Remorse went in tandem with fellow Al Rashid Stables silks-bearer Freedom Fighter, who runs in the Riyadh Dirt Sprint presented by Sports Boulevard and comes into this after a good third in the Group 3 Al Shindagha Sprint last month.
“Both horses did a nice easy hack, same as yesterday, but super-chilled and relaxed today on their third day on the track," Caroline Seemar said. "Remorse is just taking it all in; same for Freedom Fighter. We purposely went a little bit late to have the whole track to ourselves and it worked out well. We can do no more. We are in good shape.”
Taiba (USA) and Country Grammer (USA) - Bob Baffert’s Saudi Cup duo went out Friday morning each with exercise rider Humberto ‘Beto' Gomez aboard.
The pair each did an easy maintenance circuit of the King Abdulaziz Racecourse dirt track in advance of the world’s most valuable race.
“All was pretty straight-forward today,” Jimmy Barnes, assistant trainer, said.
“Country Grammer came out first and just had an easy gallop around the track. He looks good. Taiba was waiting for him back at the gap – he left the barn about 15 minutes after we did – so that [Gomez] could get on him. We have a pretty good system of timing things out and just having one rider. He did an easy gallop and then stood in the gate.”
It has been reported regularly that Taiba is a lazy work horse, so it came as a slight surprise that the three-time Grade 1-winning son of Gun Runner was full of energy coming onto the track, even appearing to enjoy the media presence.
“He’s just super-lazy when he works," Barnes added. "Him coming out like that is just him sometimes. He is feeling good.”
Vin de Garde (JPN) - Last year’s Dubai Turf third is returning from an eight-month layoff and will make his first appearance on the dirt. He had a final preparation for the big day over a lap and a half of the dirt track under Kazuo Fujiwara, assistant to trainer Hideaki Fujiwara.
“He had a gate schooling this morning, and we made sure that he had been tuned up, full of energy and a fit horse. I am confident of his good condition at the moment,” Kazuo Fujiwara said.