Thunder Snow took a step toward the $10 million Dubai World Cup when he beat North America by a neck to win the Group 2, $250,000 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2 on Thursday night at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai.

Thunder Snow could be on course for the March 31 World Cup – if his connections choose to go there. Thunder Snow now has three wins and a second over the Meydan dirt track, but his official rating of 118 on turf was higher going into Thursday’s race than his dirt rating, and the $6 million Dubai Turf over about 1 1/8 miles on the World Cup card also could be an option.

The Saudi Arabian General Sports Authority announced late Tuesday that it intended to create a major new Thoroughbred racing event called the King Abdulaziz Horse Championship, but no details of the event were revealed.

The Sports Authority announcement said the event would be worth $17 million, but it’s unclear whether that number represents prize money for one race or a gross total for a series of races. Nor is anyone certain when the first edition of the race or races would take place.

Jorge Ricardo, a 56-year-old rider based in Brazil, broke the record for most all-time wins by a jockey when he took the fourth race on Wednesday at San Isidro racecourse in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

The win gave Ricardo his 12,845th victory in a nearly 40-year career, breaking the record held by Russell Baze, the U.S. rider who retired in 2016 at the age of 57. No other U.S. rider is within 3,000 official wins of the pair.

Jorge Ricardo, a 56-year-old rider based in Brazil, won a race on Monday at Hipodromo da Gavea in Rio de Janeiro, registering the 12,844^th victory of his career, a mark that matches the world record set by retired U.S. rider Russell Baze.

Ricardo, who has had numerous setbacks over the past eight years as he sometimes battled head-to-head with Baze for the world record, is scheduled to ride next on Wednesday at San Isidro in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in a bid to break the record.  

HAPPY VALLEY SELECTIONS

(Wednesday, February 7)

:: Hong Kong: Free PPs, picks, and analysis

Brett Davis
Race 1: 2-6-9-5
Race 2: 5-7-3-6
Race 3: 7-3-1-5
Race 4: 8-9-7-2
Race 5: 11-3-2-6
Race 6: 2-8-4-3
Race 7: 12-4-9-2
Race 8: 9-5-2-1
Best Bet - Race 4: #8 Sharpmind 
Longshot - Race 8: #9 Right Honourable  
Best Play - Race 5: Trio 11/2,3,6,9

Marvel Hero has struggled in Hong Kong this year, going winless in nine starts. At least, the 6-year-old gelding has kept good company.

Marvel Hero was fourth in the Group 3 January Cup at Happy Valley Racecourse on Jan. 10 behind Eagle Way, a two-time group stakes winner. More recently, Marvel Hero was second to Dinozzo in a minor handicap at Happy Valley on Jan. 31. Dinozzo returned to win the Group 3 Centenary Vase Handicap at Sha Tin on Sunday.

The focus Thursday night at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai is dirt, with the seven-race card headlined by the Group 2 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2 and supported by the Group 3 Al Shindagha Sprint.

HAPPY VALLEY SELECTIONS

(Wednesday, February 7, 2018)

:: Hong Kong: Free PPs, picks, and analysis

RACE 1: #6 The Legend, #4 Glenealy Prize, #2 Fine With Me, #2 Victory Follow Me

RACE 2: #1 Cloud Nine, #6 Happy Rocky, #7 Garlic Yeah, #3 Good Days

RACE 3: #7 Rickfield, #8 Victory Boys, #1 Marvel Hero, #2 Packing Dragon

RACE 4: #6 Gouten Of Garo, #7 Hero Time, #8 Sharpmind, #1 Happy Bao Bei

Eagle Way can win his third Group 3 race in Hong Kong with Sunday’s $383,582 Centenary Vase Handicap at 1 1/8 miles on turf at Sha Tin Racecourse, if he can repel challenges from two promising 4-year-olds: Ruthven and Rivet.

All three are trained by John Moore and figure to dominate the betting in a field of seven.

Eagle Way, who will carry 131 pounds, won the Group 3 January Cup at 1 1/8 miles on turf at Happy Valley on Jan. 10, ending a four-race losing streak for the 5-year-old gelding. Moore described Eagle Way as in fine condition after a workout Thursday.

Benbatl was a very good 3-year-old last year in Europe, but his star is really rising this winter in Dubai.

Three weeks after an easy win in the Singspiel Stakes at Meydan Racecourse, Benbatl won with even greater ease Thursday in the Group 2, $250,000 Al Rashidiya Stakes. Benbatl got home by 3 3/4 lengths over Bay of Poets, and the sectional timing backed up his visually impressive performance.