Local Runner Al Haram Outkicks Shippers in Saudi Derby

The $1.5 million Saudi Derby (G3) looked like a showdown between American-trained Obliteration and Japan's Satono Voyage (JPN)—until the local boy, Al Haram (IRE), arrived late on the scene to steal the show and the 30 Kentucky Derby (G1) qualifying points granted to the winner. The points are part of the Euro/Mideast Road to the Kentucky Derby. Al Haram, an Iffraaj (GB) colt, looked to have let his speedier rivals get loose at the top of the stretch in the 1,600-meter (about 1-mile) Derby. But it's a long stretch at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh, and Al Haram and jockey Ricardo Ferreira started gobbling up that ground. By the 100-meter mark, it was a contest. Fifty meters later, it was all Al Haram posting his fourth win from as many starts, defeating Obliteration by 1 1/4 lengths with Satono Voyage by another three-quarters of a length back in third. The other American runners were never in the mix. Acknowledgemeplz finished seventh, Very Connected eighth, and My World 11th. "I was confident they would come back but I kept my mind relaxed," said Ferreira, who rides in Spain during the European season before wintering in Saudi. "The last 400 meters, I thought we would win." Ferreira said he is convinced Al Haram can go farther but his connections weren't talking about the prospects of going on to the 1 3/16-mile UAE Derby (G2) March 28 in Dubai, much less beyond that. That race bestows 100 points on the winner in the Euro/Mideast Road to the Kentucky Derby, making it effectively a "Win and You're In" for the May 2 Run for the Roses. "I hope, but it is not my decision," he said. "It would be good for Saudi Arabia and for me." "He's an amazing horse. Three wins and now the big race," Ferreira said. "It was a fast race but we didn't change any tactic. The mile is short for him. I hope with more distance, 1,800 meters (about 1 1/8 miles), he can be a little more comfortable." The winner was clocked in 1:38.45 for the distance. He paid $15.60 for a $2 win wager in an international pari-mutuel wagering pool. Obliteration, trained by Steve Asmussen, was on the lead for most of the race with Satono Voyage in close attendance before the local star took over. "He ran good," jockey Joel Rosario said of Obliteration's effort. Al Haram won on debut Nov. 13, won again Jan. 3 in the Saudi Broadcasting Authority Cup and earned a spot in the Derby with a victory in the Two Thousand Guineas two weeks later. All of his wins were by daylight margins, and all were accomplished going 1,600 meters on the King Abdulaziz dirt. Obliteration, campaigned in one-turn races throughout his career, came to the Saudi Derby as the only one of the four Americans without any points in the main Road to the Kentucky Derby standings, but the 15 he earned in the Saudi Derby will not transfer to that U.S. part of the series. My World had 10 points, Very Connected had 6 points, and Acknowledgemeplz had 2. Satono Voyage, an Into Mischief colt, is No. 2 on the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard thanks to his victory in the first leg of the series, the Cattleya Stakes at Tokyo Racecourse in November. The 9 points he earned Saturday also do not transfer. Neither Al Haram nor Satono Voyage is an early Triple Crown nominee, though they and other horses could still be nominated for $6,000 before the late-nomination deadline April 6.