Reef Runner cashes hefty check with perfect trip in 1351 Turf Sprint

Reef Runner has reached millionaire status since he was gelded last spring.

On Saturday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Reef Runner won the richest race of his career in the Group 2, $2 million 1351 Turf Sprint at about 6 3/4 furlongs.

The victory was worth $1.2 million and increased Reef Runner’s earnings since last summer to $1,516,675. He has finished first in five of six starts since he returned to racing in August after being gelded.

In the 1351 Turf Sprint, Reef Runner (who paid $21.10 in American pools) stalked early pacesetter Shin Forever and the California-based runner Zio Jo. Fifth on the turn, Reef Runner was well-placed. Jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. moved Reef Runner into second behind stretch leader Lazzat with a furlong remaining.

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Racing outside of Lazzat, the 4-5 favorite ridden by James Doyle, Reef Runner took the lead in the final sixteenth and won by a neck. Reef Runner was timed in 1:18.23.

Ortiz described Reef Runner’s performance as a “perfect trip.”

“I felt James had some horse,” he said. “I tracked him. I felt I had some horse. He gave me a good kick.”

Lazzat, winner of the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot in Britain last June, finished three-quarters of a length in front of 7-1 Comanche Brave of Ireland.

There were two other American-based horses in the race.

Time to Dazzle, a 5-year-old mare trained by Mark Casse, finished fourth by a length. Zio Jo, trained by Doug O’Neill, faded from contention to finish 12th.

Reef Runner, a 5-year-old Florida-bred by the Yes It’s True Stallion Big Beast, won for the eighth time in his 23rd start in the 1351 Turf Sprint. Reef Runner has earned $1,827,580.

Since last summer, Reef Runner has won such races as the Grade 2 Eddie D Stakes on the hillside turf course at Santa Anita in September, and the Janus Stakes at Gulfstream Park on Dec. 20 in his final start before the trip to Saudi Arabia.

Owned by Arkansas residents Alex and Joann Lieblong, who attended Saturday’s race, Reef Runner finished first in the Grade 3 Green Flash Handicap at Del Mar last August, but was disqualified and placed second for causing interference early in the five-furlong turf race, a controversial decision. Reef Runner finished fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Del Mar in November.

Royal Champion wins Neom Turf Cup

Royal Champion, racing in his sixth country, won the richest race of his career in the Group 1 Neom Turf Cup, a $3 million race at 1 5/16 miles.

The Neom Turf Cup was second in prize money on Saturday’s program to the $20 million Saudi Cup.

Royal Champion, an 8-year-old Irish-bred gelding trained by Karl Burke for the estate of Sheikh Mohammed Obaid, won his second consecutive seven-figure race on Saturday. Last November, Royal Champion won the Group 2, $1 million Bahrain International Trophy at 1 1/4 miles on turf in Bahrain.

In the Neom Turf Cup, Royal Champion (who paid $5.80 as the favorite in American pools) was never far from the front under jockey Oisin Murphy. Racing off the rail, Royal Champion stalked pacesetter Yamanin Bouclier before taking the lead with a furlong remaining.

Murphy urged Royal Champion clear in the final furlong, to a win by 4 3/4 lengths over 16-1 Facteur Cheval. Survie, the 5-2 second choice, closed from the back of the field of 11 to finish third, beaten 6 1/4 lengths.

Royal Champion has won 9 of 24 starts. He is a multiple stakes winner in Britain, where Burke is based, was second in the Grade 1 Canadian International at Woodbine in 2023 in his only start in North America, and second in a Group 2 in Australia in 2024. Last September, Royal Champion was third in the Group 1 Irish Champion Stakes in Ireland.

Burke said after Saturday’s race that Royal Champion will be considered for the Group 1 Dubai Duty Free at 1 1/8 miles on turf in Dubai on March 28.

Son and Lovers takes Red Sea Handicap

Sons and Lovers won his debut in a seven-figure race in the Group 2 Red Sea Turf Handicap at 1 7/8 miles, the longest race on the Saudi Cup program.

Ridden by top Irish jockey Dylan Browne McMonagle for Irish trainer Joseph O’Brien, Sons and Lovers ($27.20) was always near the front and won by a half-length over 20-1 Tabletalk. Tarriance (8-1) finished third.

Tabletalk and Tarriance are based in Britain.

Sons and Lovers, a 5-year-old British-bred gelding by the Deep Impact stallion Study of Man, has won 3 of 13 starts. The win in the $2.5 million Red Sea Handicap was worth $1.5 million for the HOS syndicate of Andrew and Margaret Heffernan of Ireland.

The HOS syndicate also owns Ethical Diamond, the upset winner of the BC Turf at Del Mar in November.

There were no American-based runners in the Neom Turf Cup or Red Sea Handicap.

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