 |
|
| Sumita Pawar |
 |
The anticipation of the Saudi Cup, has already started to build up with the arrival of the New Year. As the new season approaches, horses and their trainers are gearing up for a chance to compete, and one of the champions has been revealed to be entering the unexplored terrain.
Jack D'Or who has persistently triumphed over the Turf, the grounds present a new challenge. The 6YO will be among the horses competing for the crown across the 1,800-meter course.
The World Horse Racing announced that Kenichi Fujioka-trained Jack D'Or would be competing in the US$20 million feature. The 6YO son of Maurice will be making his dirt debut in the world's richest race.
Panthalassa, the 2023 Saudi Cup champion, held a dominant force on the turf course, with victories in the October Stakes, Dubai Turf, Japan Cup, and more. Jack D'Or holds a similar pattern with his records, having recorded his wins on Turf, including Gr.1 Osaka Hai. Having recently lost momentum, Jack D'Or looks to further his career map with the Saudi Cup.
Jack D'Or made his horse racing debut in 2020, and after participating in several Gr.1 and Gr.2 races, the 6YO has 16 starts and eight wins. In 2023, Jack D'Or recorded only one win in the Osaka Hai at Hanshin, leaving behind the favorite Stars On Earth by a nose to clinch a long-awaited victory. The horse racing champion eyes a comeback with the Saudi Cup, hoping to add another trophy to his collection.
“When I saw his good run off the home turn, I felt he would win. The autumn target would be the Tenno Sho Autumn, and I would like to choose the steps to it,” trainer Fujioka had stated after the win.
Unfortunately, the race did not produce the desired outcome. Jack D’Or's previous victory came in the 2022 Sapporo Kinen, where the 6YO triumphed over Panthalassa, securing his 7th win. Building on this success, Jack D'Or now aspires to make a remarkable comeback in horse racing at the Saudi Cup.