Locally-based Al Haram earns Derby points with Saudi Derby win

Al Haram closed from near the rear of a 14-runner field to run down game pacesetting American shipper Obliteration and win the Saudi Derby by 1 1/4 lengths on Saturday at King Abdulaziz Racecourse.

Saudi-based Al Haram, an Ireland-bred son of Iffraaj and Liberamente, by Tagula, now is unbeaten after four starts having won his two previous outings by about 12 combined lengths. Thamer Aldaihani trains Al Haram and Ricardo Ferreira piloted him to victory in Saturday’s $1.5 million contest.

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Obliteration ran a very strong race in defeat. Going to the lead under Joel Rosario in this one-turn mile, Obliteration was hooked in upper stretch by favored Satono Voyage but stayed on gamely, eventually coming back along the fence to retake the lead in the 150 yards – a lead that was short-lived. Al Haram, handling kickback like an old pro, had only a couple horses behind him halfway down the backstretch but advanced steadily, split rivals, and sustained his run to the wire in a race where no other horses closed much ground.

Al Haram ran 1,600 meters over the Riyadh dirt in 1:38.45 and paid $15.60 on the American tote. Satono Voyage held third, three-quarters of a length behind Obliteration.

The Saudi Derby is part of the European/Middle East Road to the Derby, a series of races culminating in the U.A.E. Derby on the Dubai World Cup undercard. The leading points earner in the series earns an automatic spot in the Kentucky Derby, with the winner earning 100 points.

Al Haram, who earned 30 points for his victory on Saturday, was not nominated to the Triple Crown before the Jan. 26 deadline. If his connections decide to pursue the Triple Crown, he will have to be nominated before the April 6 deadline for a fee of $6,000.

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