The fourth running of the Saudi Cup (G1) Feb. 25 at King Abdulaziz Racecourse features a rematch of the first two finishers from 2022 plus a potent sextet from Japan and a few wild card possibilities.
Bob Baffert trains the only American horses in the field, last year's runner-up Country Grammer and Taiba , and said after the barrier draw he doesn't know what to expect from the opposition, especially the Japanese runners.
"I don't know anything about them," Baffert said from his Santa Anita headquarters. "But the Japanese have got it down pretty good now. They won just about everything there last year."
Taiba got gate 2 for the 1 1/8-mile Cup and Baffert said he "hoped he would draw a little more outside. 'Country' got number 10. But now that's a problem for the jockeys. They'll figure it out."
Mike Smith rides Taiba and Frankie Dettori gets on Country Grammer.
Country Grammer did everything but win the 2022 Saudi Cup. The Tonalist entire hooked up with Midnight Bourbon in a stirring stretch duel but, just as he was drawing clear of that one with victory in sight, along came the local horse, Emblem Road, to pass them both and keep the $10 million winner's share home in the Kingdom.
Country Grammer went on to win the $12 million Dubai World Cup (G1) with Dettori taking over for Flavien Prat, then posted three straight runner-up finishes in California before winning the San Antonio Stakes (G2) Dec. 26 at Santa Anita.
"He loves it there," Baffert said of Country Grammer and King Abdulaziz Racecourse. "He's doing well. Shipped well."
Taiba won three grade 1 races as a 3-year-old, including the Santa Anita Derby (G1) in his second career start, and finished best of the 3-year-olds in the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1). He finished out of the money only once, in the Kentucky Derby (G1), where he was 12th.
"There's a lot there," Baffert said of Taiba. "He's not going to wow you in the morning but when he gets in the gate, the light goes on."
"It's a real challenge when you go to the Saudi Cup," Baffert added. "It's one of the toughest races in the world. I thought we had it won twice but I haven't won it yet. It's exciting, though. It adds value to these horses and I think it's very important for Americans to support these races."
The six Japanese runners all have credentials but all also have question marks about the surface or distance of the race.
Jun Light Bolt, a 6-year-old by King Kamehameha, was relatively disappointing through much of his career while contesting mid-level turf events. He came to life when introduced to the Japanese dirt strips, winning his last three starts including the Champions Cup (G1) at Tokyo Racecourse Dec. 4. Ryan Moore has the mount and starts from gate 6.
"Several front-runners drew inside so there is going to be plenty of early speed," said Jun Light Bolt's trainer, Yasuo Tomomichi. "From gate 6, I believe he can settle anywhere the jockey wants to be."
Crown Pride, by Reach the Crown, won the 2022 U.A.E. Derby (G2), then contributed to the scorching pace that set up Rich Strike's upset victory in the Kentucky Derby, where he finished 13th. He's had three races since the Derby, finishing second each time, most recently in the Champions Cup behind Jun Light Bolt.
Cafe Pharoah, a 6-year-old son of American Pharoah out of the More Than Ready mare Mary's Follies, has been a serious customer going a mile on the dirt and won the 2021 and 2022 editions of the February Stakes (G1) at Tokyo Racecourse. Only two of his seven career wins have come at longer trips and those were against lesser company.
Geoglyph and Vin de Garde make their first start on dirt.
Geoglyph, a 4-year-old by Drefong, has not won since the Satsuki Sho (Japanese Two Thousand Guineas, G1) in April of 2022 and appears to be looking for a jumpstart. Vin de Garde, a 7-year-old by the late Deep Impact, raced only twice in 2022, finishing third in the Dubai Turf (G1) and 15th in the Yasuda Kinen (G1) June 5 in his most recent race. He was 12th in the Breeders' Cup Mile (G1T) at Keeneland in 2021.
Panthalassa is a 6-year-old son of Lord Kanaloa. He won the Dubai Turf last March at Meydan but finished 10th in the Hong Kong Cup (G1) in December in his most recent start. He has made only one start on dirt, finishing 11th in a minor stakes in 2020 at Nakayama Racecourse.
Hopes are high among the locals after last year's dramatic win.
Emblem Road is joined by stablemate Scotland Yard, a 4-year-old Quality Road colt, in his repeat effort. Emblem Road, a 5-year-old also by Quality Road, has run only once since his dramatic upset in the 2022 Saudi Cup under Wigberto Ramos—that a warmup for the 2023 Cup in which he defeated 18 overmatched rivals Jan. 13. Alexis Moreno takes the reins this year and starts from post 8.
"I'm so happy with the number eight," Moreno said. "He's a late horse from the gate, so I can be outside easily. He's doing very well, he's run well and I hope he can do it again."
Scotland Yard started his career on the Louisiana-Kentucky circuit with trainer Steve Asmussen but was unable to find the winner's circle in four starts. Sold to HRH Prince Saud bin Salman Stables for $255,000 at the Fasig-Tipton July Horses of Racing Age Sale, he won his first Saudi start in December and started 2023 off with a bang with victories in the King Faisal Cup and the prestigious Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Cup, both at King Abdulaziz Racecourse.
Remorse, a 6-year-old Dubawi gelding, finished sixth in the 2022 Dubai World Cup. He was last seen finishing third in the Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2 (G2) over the same course Feb. 3 for up-and-coming trainer Bhupat Seemar.
Lagertha Rhyme and Sunset Flash complete the lineup.
The draw for @thesaudicup pic.twitter.com/MLQZ4xDTOc
— Byron King (@BH_BKing) February 22, 2023
