Magnitude launches what could be huge campaign in Saudi Cup

Trainer Steve Asmussen reported that the talented Magnitude traveled beautifully through a five-furlong team workout Thursday morning at Fair Grounds. The real traveling, though, begins Sunday, when Magnitude ships from Louisiana to Florida, and then, the next day, boards a flight bound for Saudi Arabia. His destination: the $20 million Saudi Cup on Feb. 14.

Magnitude will be starting for the first time since the most important win of his career, the Grade 2 Clark Stakes on Nov. 28, his first try against older rivals. Magnitude flopped in the Travers Stakes, but look at his string of Beyer Speed Figures in the other four of his last five outings: 108, 104, 102, 101.

It’s the kind of 3-year-old pattern that can lead to a breakout 4-year-old season. It’s at least somewhat reminiscent of the way Gun Runner – trained by Asmussen for Magnitude’s owner, Winchell Thoroughbreds – ended his 3-year-old campaign of 2016: 102, 104, 101, and a 111 winning the Clark. All Gun Runner went on to do in 2017 was win the Breeders’ Cup Classic on the way to being named Horse of the Year.

To be sure, no one is anointing Magnitude the next Gun Runner, but the bare fact connections are undertaking this trip for his 4-year-old debut says something.

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As for the Thursday drill, it came later in the week than planned owing to a cold snap in New Orleans that limited training for several days. Magnitude, breezing with Duke of Duval, was timed in 1:00.40.

“I was just wanting one more solid work in him before he left,” Asmussen said. “I thought it was outstanding. Good horses work good, right? He [galloped] out strong and handled beautifully.”

Asmussen won the inaugural Saudi Cup in 2020 with Midnight Bisou after the Saudi Jockey Club disqualified victorious Maximum Security following the doping scandal that led to the horse’s trainer, Jason Servis, going to prison. Asmussen also sent Midnight Bourbon to finish third in the 2022 renewal, while the Asmussen-trained Skelly finished second in the 2024 Riyadh Dirt Sprint. Obliteration will travel with Magnitude and race in the Saudi Derby on the Saudi Cup undercard.

Closer to home, Asmussen is targeting the Feb. 28 Gotham, a one-turn Aqueduct mile, with Noble Affair. The 3-year-old debuted Dec. 27 at Fair Grounds, finishing third in a turf sprint. He came back Jan. 24 with a sharp dirt-sprint maiden win that produced a strong 93 Beyer. By Vekoma, Noble Affair campaigns for Wathnan Racing after being purchased for $600,000 last spring at a 2-year-old sale.

“He’s done nothing but show a lot of talent,” Asmussen said. “He was pretty aggressive like several that have come out of training sales.”

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