Seven-figure turf stakes kick off Saudi Cup card

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – The undercard stakes program for the inaugural Saudi Cup attracted quality for two key reasons – high prize money and confidence in both surfaces at King Abdulaziz Racetrack.

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The eight-race card begins with three races on the new turf course at King Abdulaziz. The remainder of the card is on dirt, including the $1.5 million Saudia Sprint, race 7, and $20 million Saudi Cup, race 8.

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Here is a look at the first six races on the card.

Race 1

$1 million Mohamed Yousuf Al Naghi Cup, 2,100 meters turf

Deirdre, a world-traveling 6-year-old mare bred in Japan, is among the most probable winners on the Saudi Cup card. An eight-time winner of more than $5.2 million, Deirdre is making her first start since December. She is a Group 1 winner in England and Japan who outclasses the field. Her trainer is Mitsuru Hashida.

Aside from Deirdre, the field is primarily Grade 2- or Grade 3-caliber horses. Among her opponents are Trais Fluors, 11th at 63-1 odds in the Breeders’ Cup Mile; Intellogent, sixth last summer in the Arlington Million; and Royal Youmzain. There is no American representation.

Race 2

$1 million STC 1351 Turf Sprint, 1,351 meters turf

American shippers Ghoul and Legends of War entered this turf sprint at a distance that translates to about 6 3/4 furlongs. The presumptive favorite is Charlie Appleby-trained Glorious Journey, a Group 2 winner in England and Dubai. The 9-year-old Suedois, based in Dubai, won the Grade 1 Shadwell Turf Mile in 2017 at Keeneland.

Peter Miller trains Ghoul, the top American runner in the Turf Sprint. He was a top sprinter in Brazil whose career sputtered in North America prior to being transferred to Miller from Mark Casse.

Ghoul showed speed and faded his first five starts in North America, then improved for Miller and jockey Joel Rosario. Ghoul took back off the pace in his California debut in a second-level allowance and uncorked a blistering turn of late speed to win going away. He was second across the wire next out in a minor stakes.

“If he can run back to either of his last two starts, he should be very competitive,” Miller said.

Ghoul’s current class is undetermined, as is his effectiveness at the longer distance.

Legends of War, trained by Doug O’Neill, won a Grade 3 turf sprint last fall at Kentucky Downs. All things being equal, Glorious Journey could be tough while Ghoul has an upset chance.

Race 3

$2.5 million Longines Turf Handicap, 3,000 meters

The second-richest race on the card behind the Saudi Cup, the Longines Turf Handicap is a race for stayers at a distance that translates to just short of two miles. Not surprisingly, the field includes no Americans.

Cross Counter, the Appleby-trained 5-year-old gelding who won the Group 1 Melbourne Cup in 2018 and Group 2 Dubai Gold Cup last March, is the favorite. Dee Ex Bee, with a pair of runner-up finishes last summer in Group 1 marathons in England, also is a contender.

Longshot bettors might fiddle with Prince of Arran, a 7-year-old gelding who finished third, beaten a head, in November in the Melbourne Cup in Australia. He has won six races, including a Group 3; his trainer is Charlie Fellowes.

Freddie Head trains Call The Wind, a Group 1 winner in 2018 and Group 1-placed in 2019. Head said this week: “I think I’ve got a better horse this year. My horse, he stays.”

Call The Wind is a gelding who Head acknowledged “likes a bit of give in the ground, but he’s got good form” on firm.

The new turf at King Abdulaziz presumably is quick.

Race 4

$1.9 million Obaiya Arabian Classic, 2,000 meters

This will be the richest-ever Arabian race, and it attracted the world’s top-ranked of the breed. Tallaab Al Khalediah breaks from post 2 and is likely to be heavily favored in the field 14.

Race 5

$500,000 Jockey Club Local Handicap, 1,800 meters

Ala Swab is the top-rated runner in this 14-horse field restricted to local runners. Aljamee and Be Azn Allah are the chief challengers.

Race 6

$800,000 Samba Saudi Derby, 1,600 meters

Billy Batts from the West Coast and Rowdy Yates from the Midwest are the American shippers in this race, which is run at essentially a one-turn mile.

Runner-up last fall in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf and comeback winner of a turf sprint stakes at Santa Anita, Billy Batts recently was sold by Rockingham Ranch to local Saudi owner Mohammed Al Zahrani. Miller is his trainer.

Billy Batts will be making his first start on dirt.

“He trains very well on it, and he’s got tactical speed,” Miller said. “And his pedigree says he should be able to run on the dirt.”

Steve Asmussen trains 5-for-8 Rowdy Yates, last-out winner of the $100,000 Riley Allison Derby at Sunland Park.