Leon Penate Hoping To Reign For Spain

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia—At the inaugural Saudi Cup meeting 12 months ago, the International Jockeys' Challenge broke new ground in allowing female jockeys to compete against their male counterparts. Hollie Doyle will notch another milestone on Saturday when she becomes the first female to ride in the Saudi Cup aboard Extra Elusive (GB), fulfilling her obligation as the retained rider for Arab owner Imad Al Sagar.

That spirit of inclusivity has been extended further this year by the introduction of the Al Rajhi Bank Saudi International Handicap. Run over 2,100 metres for 4-year-olds and up, the $500,000 race on Friday's card is specifically for horses trained in countries outside Part One of the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities, which incorporates the major racing nations. Ten of the 13 runners hail from either Saudi or its neighbour Bahrain, but three European horses have made the trip—two from Spain and one from the Czech Republic.

The Spanish raiders, Noray (Fr) (Naaqoos {GB}) and Federico (GB) (Acclamation {GB}) are both trained by Enrique Leon Penate, who has already done his bit to advertise the racing of his home nation to a wider audience. In 2013 he took his erstwhile stable star Noozhoh Canarias (Spa) (Caradak {Ire}) to compete first at France's Arc meeting, where he finished runner-up to Karakontie in the G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere, then on the following spring to run sixth in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket.

“This is the first race I have seen with these kind of conditions and it is a fantastic opportunity for us,” says the 38-year-old, who trains 36 horses in Milagro in northern Spain, roughly an hour from the border with France. “We started speaking about this back in September and hoped we would have the chance to bring a horse.”

The trainer appears to have several bases covered. In the 9-year-old Noray and 8-year-old Federico he brings two horses with opposing running styles who between them have won 25 races. The front-running Noray, whom the trainer also owns, won four of his six starts last season, all at the country's premier racecourse, La Zarzuela in Madrid. He will be ridden by Spain's leading jockey, the Czech-born Vavlav Janacek.

Leon Penate says, “Noray is one of the top horses in Spain. He has been competing at the top level since he was three, and at his distance he is one of the best horses in the country. He has a big heart and he is a horse who really enjoys his training. Our season started late last year because of Covid and he finished the year very well with three wins. He keeps himself in good form.”

Four of the gelding's wins have come in France, where his trainer was based for a while and which is still a relatively easy journey from Leon Penate's new stable in the Navarra region. The trip to Riyadh is by far the biggest of his life but the seasoned campaigner, with 45 starts under his belt, has taken it in his stride.

“He handled the travelling really well and hasn't missed a meal. He's taken everything calmly. He's very professional and this is why he can compete at this type of meeting,” Leon Penate adds.

While Noray has one style of running—”He will lead,” declares the trainer—his stable-mate Federico is likely to act as the whipper-in. The latter will be one of Hollie Doyle's mounts on the day which also features the International Jockeys' Challenge.

“Federico is a totally different horse to Noray,” he continues. “He is a bit more one-paced but he likes to make his run from the back. It's good to have horses with two different chances in the race. If they go too fast from the start it will suit Federico.”

A year younger but still a veteran by Flat racing standards, William Armitage's Federico has made 40 starts, winning 10 times, including his most recent outing in Madrid at the end of October. He was also runner-up in the prestigious Gran Premio de San Sebastian.

“This is very important to us,” says Leon Penate, whose former major flag-bearer Noozhoh Canarias is now at stud at Spain's Yeguada Torreduero.

“Noozhoh was very competitive in one of the strongest 2000 Guineas in many years,” he recalls. “How lucky we were to have the chance to run with Kingman (GB) and Night Of Thunder (Ire). We were very pleased with his run and over time we have looked back and only felt more proud.”

Noozhoh Canarias is not the only top-class horse with whom he has been associated as Leon Penate also served a stint in Britain working for James Fanshawe and David Loder.

He says, “My years in Newmarket were the happiest times of my life, especially as I rode Soviet Song (Ire) every day for James Fanshawe.”

There may well be more happy days to come this week. With the Spanish turf season already underway, Friday's meeting at La Zarzuela will feature a live broadcast of the Saudi races, with the eyes of Spain's racing fraternity fixed on the Leon Penate team. 

“For us it is a pleasure but also a responsibility, but I know everybody will be cheering for us. There has been a lot of attention on these horses coming out here,” says the trainer. 

“Just to come here and enjoy the moment is fantastic. All I am worried about is focusing on making sure my horses are in 100% form.”