Country Grammer points to Dubai World Cup for next start
Country Grammer, second for the second straight year in the $20 million Saudi Cup, will go on to Dubai to try and win the $10 million Dubai World Cup for the second year in a row.
Racing wide and rallying late under Frankie Dettori, Country Grammer finished fastest Sunday at King Abdulaziz Racecourse but fell just short of wire-to-wire winner Panthalassa. The horse travels from Saudi Arabia to Dubai, where he’ll prepare for another run at the World Cup on March 25, trainer Bob Baffert said via text message Sunday.
Taiba, the shorter-priced Saudi Cup starter for Baffert and owner Amr Zedan, checked in seventh after racing close to the early pace in the one-turn, 1,800-meter contest. Both Taiba and Havnameltdown, who was narrowly beaten in the Saudi Derby, Baffert said, are headed back to California.
Trainer Bill Mott’s two Saudi runners both ran winning races, but only one of them won. Elite Power, likely improving upon his Breeders’ Cup Sprint victory in November, won his sixth straight race in the $1.5 million Riyadh Dirt Sprint, overpowering the competition. Elite Power is expected to return to the U.S. as will Casa Creed, who followed his brutally close second-place finish a year ago in the $1.5 million 1351 Turf Sprint with another brutally close second-place finish in the same race. Casa Creed finished strongly after racing wide on the turn and just failed to catch front-running winner Bathrat Leon. Casa Creed is expected to target the Grade 1 Jaipur in June at Belmont Park, a race he won in 2022.
Gunite, a clear second behind Elite Power, will travel to Dubai for the Golden Shaheen on the World Cup undercard, said trainer Steve Asmussen, who at this point has no other runners for the World Cup card.
Panthalassa dead-heated for first last March in the Dubai Turf; he could start in that race again next month but also is under consideration for the World Cup. The Japan-based horses Café Pharoah, Geoglyph, and Crown Pride finished third, fourth, and fifth, respectively, in the Saudi Cup and it wouldn’t be surprising to see any among that trio travel to Dubai.
Bathrat Leon upset the Godolphin Mile last year and could move from his 1351 Turf Sprint success back out to a one-turn mile in a repeat bid.
Silver Sonic, another Japan-based runner, is expected for the Dubai Gold Cup after winning the Red Sea Turf on Saturday.
Plans were uncertain for Mostahdaf, who was awesome capturing the Neom Turf Cup for co-trainers John and Thady Gosden, though the 5-year-old also could be considered for the Dubai Turf.
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