Saudi Derby

Making his first start in his home country since last December and racing for the first time since finishing a tough-luck third to Mystik Dan (Goldencents) and his family relation 'TDN Rising Star' Sierra Leone (Gun Runner) in the GI Kentucky Derby, Susumu Fujita's Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}) cemented his status as one of the favorites for the Nov. 2 GI Breeders' Cup Classic with a tough victory in the $817,292 Listed Japan Dirt Classic at Ohi Racecourse Wednesday evening. Sent off the $1.70 (7-10) favorite despite the...

Third at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in February in the G3 Saudi Derby behind Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}) and Book'em Danno (Bucchero), who have each distinguished themselves on the world stage since that day, Bentornato (c, 3, Valiant Minister--Her Special Way, by Put It Back) took advantage of his own moment to shine Saturday in the GII Gallant Bob Stakes at Parx. The Florida-bred and Leon King Stable Corp. colorbearer captured his first graded stakes after a string of black-type wins in Florida last year while also keeping his...

Atlantic Six Racing LLC's Book'em Danno (Bucchero) breezed five furlongs in 1:02 Sunday morning at Tampa Bay Downs, the quickest of 12 moves at the distance, and connections have confirmed that they are moving forward with plans to contest the $1.5-million G3 Saudi Derby on the Saudi Cup undercard Saturday, Feb. 24. The work was the first for the New Jersey-bred gelding since a 12 1/2-length victory in the seven-furlong Pasco S. Jan. 13. "It was an easy breeze and he finished well by himself," part-owner Jay Briscione texted. "We...

Bred in New Jersey, Book 'em Danno (Bucchero) is a 3-year-old, has been beaten only once in five starts, has won three stakes and is coming off a career-best effort when beating up on five inferior rivals in the Jan. 13 Pasco S. at Tampa Bay Downs. With most owners and trainers, to have a horse like that would mean they'd be hyper-focused on getting to the GI Kentucky Derby. But not trainer Derek Ryan or the partnership that races under the name of Atlantic Six Racing LLC. They're headed...

The Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia (JCSA) has released the names of the 1162 entries--including 41 Grade I/Group 1 winners--from no fewer than 15 racing jurisdictions around the world for the US$33.5 million Saudi Cup meeting to be held at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024. Prize money is up by $2.25 million as compared to the 2023 renewal, reflecting the upgrades of the Neom Turf Cup (2100mT) and 1351 Turf Sprint to international Group 2 status. One of the two races for Purebred Arabians--the Al Mneefah...

Karl Burke plans to have two runners at the valuable Saudi Cup meeting at the end of February. The Yorkshire trainer will aim to send his Chesham S. winner and Group 1-placed Holloway Boy (GB) (Ulysses {Ire}) as well as G2 Prix Chaudenay winner Al Qareem (Ire) (Awtaad {Ire}). Longer-term plans for Holloway Boy centre on the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket in May, which will be his next target after the $1.5million Saudi Derby Burke said, "It was always in my mind to give him a prep run before the...

Pinehurst (Twirling Candy--Giant Win, by Giant's Causeway), winner of last year's GI Del Mar Futurity and this year's G3 Saudi Derby, will be offered on Fasig-Tipton Digital in a one-horse auction beginning Thursday, Nov. 17 at 12 p.m. ET and concluding Tuesday, Nov. 22 at 2 p.m. ET. Pinehurst is being offered by ELiTE, agent, as a racing or stallion prospect. The bay, bred on a similar cross to Gun Runner, was a debut winner at Del Mar last August and followed up with a 4 1/2-length victory in the...

The Saudi Derby had been won by horses based in Japan in each of its first two runnings and the island nation swept the first three races on Saturday's Saudi Cup undercard. Given a positive ride by Flavien Prat over a racing surface that seemed kind to front-runners, Pinehurst (Twirling Candy) had his full battling qualities on display and withstood a late charge from Sekifu (Jpn) (Henny Hughes) to register a half-length success in the $1.5-million test, upgraded to Group 3 level for the first time in 2022. Off to...

By Emma Berry and Kelsey Riley A line-up worthy of its new Group 1 status, the Saudi Cup has attracted runners from seven nations, with Classic winners from two continents likely to be the leading players in the field of 14. The major fly in the ointment for defending champion Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}) appears to be his draw in stall 14, but he wasn't much closer to the rail last year when winning from gate 12. He has really impressed in mornings this week, appearing relaxed and looking...

by Alan Carasso Making his first afternoon appearance on the dirt at career start number seven, Pink Kamehameha (Jpn) (Leontes {Jpn}) provided his home country and trainer Hideyuki Mori with a second victory in as many runnings in the Al Rajhi Bank Saudi Derby at King Abdulaziz Racecourse Saturday. Cowan (Kantharos) made up a stack of ground after blowing the break to just miss and won a photo for second from New Treasure (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}). Full Flat (Speightstown) won for Japan last year. When entries were taken Saturday,...

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia—The world is a much different place 12 months on from the inaugural Saudi Cup meeting when the full horror of the Coronavirus crisis was only beginning to become apparent. So many of racing's key events have been disrupted since then and, with many countries still in lockdown or under severe travel restrictions, it is no small wonder that this year's meeting is able to proceed, even though the attendance will be markedly reduced from last year. Eschewing the obvious travel complications, a posse of 27 European-trained horses...

Jane Chapple-Hyam's Albadri (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}) will take part in the $1.5-million Saudi Derby on the $20-million Saudi Cup undercard on Feb. 20. A winner on debut, the bay colt raced exclusively in stakes company in his next four starts, with his best finish a fifth in the G3 Tattersalls S. in September. His final 2020 appearance was a sixth in the G3 Horris Hill S. two starts later on Oct. 24. In his latest run, he handled the Southwell synthetic well and saluted by a length in a...