G3 Neom Turf Cup

by Alan Carasso, Heather Anderson & Jill Williams Following the Thursday scratching of Meisho Hario (Jpn) (Pyro), Japan is left with a team of four as they look for back-to-back victories in the world's richest horserace, the $20-million G1 Saudi Cup at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh. After fielding five starters in the first three runnings of the 1800-metre contest--a pair of sixth-place efforts were the best they could do--no fewer than a half-dozen jetted in from the Land of the Rising Sun 12 months ago, and the results were...

Listed winner Missed The Cut (Quality Road) is pleasing trainer George Boughey in advance of a try in the G3 Neom Turf Cup on the G1 Saudi Cup undercard on Saturday. "He has come a long way in a short space of time," said the trainer, who saw the son of Quality Road breeze on the Riyadh track ahead of the extended 10-furlong test on Saturday. "There was a rapid rise through the summer last year, possibly too much too soon when we took him out to France for a...

Trainer William Knight confirmed GSW Sir Busker (Ire) (Sir Prancealot {Ire}) will bypass the Saudi World Cup in favor of the 10-furlong G3 Neom Turf Cup in Riyadh Feb. 25. According to Knight, keeping the 7-year-old on the turf was the main deciding factor in settling on the gelding's next appearance. "We have talked long and hard about this, which one to go for? I promise you it has changed daily!" said Knight. "I've spoken to a couple of the jockeys about the dirt out there and taken advice from...

Group 1 winner Pyledriver (GB) (Harbour Watch {Ire}), who finished 11th in the G3 Neom Turf Cup on the Saudi Cup undercard in Riyadh on Saturday, is in good order and remains in the mix for the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic on Dubai World Cup night on Mar. 26. Breaking widest of all from gate 14 on Saturday, the 5-year-old entire never appeared comfortable while trapped well off the fence for most of the race. He eventually tired and dropped back before being impeded by a rival that had fallen...