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Santa Anita Hcp Tampa Bay Derby Saudi Cup Day Sovereign Awards Finalists Pegasus World Cup |
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 Jockey Ryusei Sakai celebrates aboard Forever Young after winning the Saudi Cup. |
The Saudi Cup at King Abdulaziz Racecourse is the richest horse race in the world. Conditions were ideal for racing in Riyadh on Saturday night, with clear skies, a race time temperature of 27 C (81 F), the main track rated fast and turf course good-to-firm.
 Down the stretch in the Saudi Cup. |
Nysos battled with 100-1 longest shot Thundersquall early while pressed by 19-1 Bishops Bay and Forever Young through fractions of 25.03, 48.07, and 1:12.70. Turning for home, jockey Ryusei Sakai sent Forever Young to gain the lead through 1 mile in 1:37.77, and easily held off Nysos to win by a length in 1:51.03. It was a long 3 3/4 lengths back to 54-1 Tumbarumba third.
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# Horse Jockey Win Place 3 Forever Young Sakai 2.70 2.02 8 Nysos Prat 2.60 13 Tumbarumba Doyle 15.10 Winning Time: 1:51.03 $1 Exacta 3-8 4.60 $2 Trifecta 3-8-13 134.90 $1 Superfecta 3-8-13-2 446.60Results Chart from Racing Post |
Left: Forever Young in the winner's circle after the Saudi Cup. Winning trainer Yoshito Yahagi said, "He gave me an unbelievable feeling all the time through the race. Of course I had a lot of pressure on me before the race as he was the best in the field. I think it's not my training that makes him this great horse, I think the horse is just made like a champion and I have little to do with it. Of course our next target is the Dubai World Cup, so that is what we have to concentrate on now. And then, well I have no idea. Last year, it didn't work out in the Dubai World Cup, he just wasn't good enough. We will try our best to win it this year. Ryusei Sakai was my apprentice, my stable jockey and he developed and improved as he grew up. And he has become a really good jockey for us."
Right: Jockey Ryusei Sakai and trainer Yoshito Yahagi swap hats while they celebrates.
Left: Forever Young parades for the facs after the race. Winning jockey Ryusei Sakai said, "He's an amazing horse, two times in the Saudi Cup, and I just trust him. I had no worries, there was no pressure, this is my job, the same every time. I'm very proud of him and I want to thank everyone who supported all the team."
Right: The trophy presentation for the Saudi Cup
The $2 million Saudi National Bank Riyadh Dirt Sprint (G2) featured a field of 13 older horses going 1200 meters (about 6 furlongs) on the main track, with the winner also earning automatic entry into the Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) on October 31. Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) runner-up Imagination was sent off as the 4-5 favorite over 5-1 second choice Self Improvement, 8th in the Chatham Stakes at Sha Tin, and 8-1 third choice and local hope Muqtahem, winner of 5 straight including the Prince Fahad bin Jalawi Cup last out.
Imagination was bumped at the start and trailed early as Just Beat the Odds set the pace under Irad Ortiz Jr. pressed by Muqtahem and stalked by 88-1 Transferred. Into the lane, Imagination was sent outside for room by Flavien Prat and he rallied to win by 3/4 lengths over Just Beat the Odds in 1:12.00. It was another 3/4 length back to Muqtahem third.
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# Horse Jockey Win Place 5 Imagination Prat 3.60 2.70 6 Just Beat the Odds Ortiz Jr. 9.70 8 Muqtahem Aldaham 4.30 Winning Time: 1:12.00 $1 Exacta 5-6 23.80 $1 Trifecta 5-6-8 128.30 $1 Superfecta 5-6-8-1 564.00Results Chart from Racing Post |
Left: Imagination in the winner's circle. Winning trainer Bob Baffert said, "I usually hate the stretch here, but today I liked it. Usually when they hit the 100m mark, my horses start gassing out, but he was just getting going. Brilliant ride by Prat. You have to have a really good horse to win here and they have to show up on this big night. I'm just happy for the whole crew, the ‘Avenger Crew', winning owner. Shout out to my wife Jill watching at home and I'm a grandfather now, so shout out to Porter, my new grandson. It's all very exciting."
Right: The trophy presentation. Winning jockey Flavien Prat said, "He broke a step slow and then I got squeezed but I felt very confident when we hit the turn, he was travelling very well and kicked on good. I think he's going to keep improving. Bob always loved him, it took him a bit of time to figure it out but with time he's just getting better and better."
Kicking off the graded stakes action was the only age-restricted race on Saudi Cup night, the $1.5 million Zood Realty Saudi Derby (G3), for 3-year-olds going 1600 meters (about 1 mile) around 1 turn on the main track. Satono Voyage, winner of the Oxalis Sho and Cattleya Stakes at Tokyo, was sent off as the even-money favorite in the field of 14 over 5-1 second choice My World, winner of the Nashua and Jerome Stakes at Aqueduct, and 6-1 third choice Al Haram, winner of the Saudi 2000 Guineas, the main local prep.
Jockey Joel Rosario sent 14-1 Obliteration to the lead out of the chute while pressed by 43-1 Acknowledgemeplz and stalked by 10-1 Best Green and 74-1 Union Security. Turning for home, Al Haram, unhurried early under Ricardo Ferreira, came out for room and rallied to win by 1 1/4 lengths over Obliteration in 1:38.45. It was another 3/4 lengths back to favorite Satono Voyage third.
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# Horse Jockey Win Place 2 Al Haram Ferreira 15.60 4.20 7 Obliteration Rosario 8.50 8 Satono Voyage Tosaki 2.70 Winning Time: 1:38.45 $1 Exacta 2-7 87.80 $1 Trifecta 2-7-9 343.30 $1 Superfecta 2-7-8-13 3,471.90Results Chart from Racing Post |
Left: Al Haram in the winner's enclosure. Sheikh Faisal Al Sabah, son of owner Sheikh Abdullah Homoud Almalek Al Sabah said, "He's a champion, he's an amazing horse. From the beginning here in Saudi Arabia he's been fascinating us. He showed his class today and hopefully the next stop the UAE Derby. Hopefully he is good enough to be in the Kentucky Derby, he's a very good horse."
Right: the trophy presentation. Winning jockey Ricardo Ferreira said, "It was very special because I think this horse is the best one I have ridden in my life. The stable have done a really good job. This horse has improved race by race. He wants a little more distance. I think he's better with 2000m but this was the goal for this weekend, to win this race. He doesn't jump well but he comes step by step. When we came outside in the stretch, he was amazing. I thought I could win for the last 400m. It's a dream, and I hope I can get more winners for the stable. It has been a brilliant campaign here in Riyadh."
The longest race on Saudi Cup night is the $2.5 million Longines Red Sea Turf Handicap (G2), a 3000 meter (about 1 7/8 mile) marathon around three turns of the 1 1/8 mile turf course. Prix Chaudenay (G2) winner Tennessee Stud was sent off as the 9-5 favorite in the field of 12 over 2-1 second choice Epic Poet, second in the Al Khail Trophy (G3) at Meydan, and 8-1 third choice Struve, 10th in the Japan Cup (G1) last out.
Jockey Ryan Moore sent Tennessee Stud to the rail to lead first time by while pressed by 20-1 Burdett Road and stalked by Tarriance and 12-1 Sons and Lovers. Into the lane jockey Dylan McMonagle sent Sons and Lovers to the front and he held off late-running 20-1 Tabletalk to win by 1/2 a length in 3:11.56. It was a neck back to Tarriance third, while favorite Tennessee Stud tired late to finish 10th beaten 5 3/4 lengths.
# Horse Jockey Win Place 4 Sons and Lovers McMonagle 27.20 8.60 2 Tabletalk Ryan 11.00 12 Tarriance Murphy 3.70 Winning Time: 3:11.56 $1 Exacta 4-2 193.60 $2 Trifecta 4-2-12 3,283.40 $1 Superfecta 4-2-12-11 14,903.80Results Chart from Racing Post |
Winning trainer Joseph O'Brien said, "He's really developed well and it's obviously a career-best tonight. It was his first time at the distance and he was a little bit keen early and Dylan gave him a lovely ride and got him to relax down the back straight. Dubai is a legitimate possibility for his next run. I'm delighted for the ownership. They love racing on the international stage and this is hopefully a horse who has his best days ahead. It's a special win. We've had horses place here before, but it's a real privilege to come to Saudi and places like here to compete. It's even more special to win."
Winning jockey Dylan McMonagle said, "My job was easy and he did it really well. He got two or three lengths out of the gates and I didn't really want to be there. I was very happy to get a lead (from Tennessee Stud) as I was worried that he might have done too much, but he's a horse who's got form over shorter, so I knew he was going to quicken good. When I got there, he waited, but he was good and tough when the challenges came to him."
The $2 million Qiddiya City 1351 Turf Sprint (G2) featured a field of 13 older horses sprinting 1351 meters (about 6 3/4 furlongs) around one turn of the turf course. British Champions Sprint (G1) winner Lazzat was sent off as the 4-5 favorite over 2-1 second choice Panja Tower, fifth in the Golden Eagle Stakes (G1) at Randwick, and 7-1 third choice Reef Runner, 4th in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1) before winning the Janus Stakes at Gulfstream.
Jockey Keita Tosaki sent 47-1 longest shot Shin Forever to the lead while pressed by 22-1 Zio Jo and stalked by 15-1 Marvelman and Reef Runner. Turning for home, Shin Forever tired badly as Lazzat gained a short lead midstretch. Reef Runner, confidently ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., outfinished Lazzat through the final 1/16 to win by a neck in 1:18.24. It was another 3/4 length back to late-running 7-1 Comanche Brave third.
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# Horse Jockey Win Place 9 Reef Runner Ortiz Jr. 21.10 7.80 5 Lazzat Doyle 2.40 2 Comanche Brave Moore 4.20 Winning Time: 1:18.24 $1 Exacta 9-5 42.80 $1 Trifecta 9-5-2 304.10 $1 Superfecta 9-5-2-13 918.60Results Chart from Racing Post |
Left: Reef Runner in the winner's circle. Winning trainer David Fawkes said, "I thought Irad did a great job. He had him in a perfect position the whole time. He told me where he was going to be sitting and that is where he was. He is a trier. I wasn't bothered about the draw at all as it is so far around the backside. I love coming to a place and win the first time. Everything was perfect. The horse trained excellent, it means a lot to me. I know we beat a really good horse from France. I think we might go to Dubai if we get invited."
Right: The trophy presentation. Winning jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. said, "He broke excellent and without using him, I was forwardly placed. I couldn't drop in because I had the Japanese horse right next to me, so I stayed outside of him. Then James [Doyle on Lazzat] went ahead, so I followed him and was able to stalk in behind him. Then, turning for home, I was biding my time and when I hit the clear and asked him, he gave me a good kick, like he always does."
Jockey Norihiro Yokoyama sent 33-1 Yamanin Bouclier to the lead first time by while pressed by 10-1 Galen and stalked by 16-1 Facteur Cheval and Royal Champion. Turning for home, jockey Oisin Murphy sent Royal Champion to the front and he drew off to win by 4 3/4 lengths over Facteur Cheval in 2:06.22. It was another 1 1/2 lengths back to Survie third.
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# Horse Jockey Win Place 6 Royal Champion Murphy 5.80 2.80 3 Facteur Cheval Barzalona 9.10 11 Survie Moore 3.00 Winning Time: 2:06.22 $1 Exacta 6-3 39.20 $1 Trifecta 6-3-11 149.30 $1 Superfecta 6-3-11-7 884.90Results Chart from Racing Post |
Left: Royal Champion in the winner's circle. Winning trainer Karl Burke said, "It was superb. He's a very forward-going horse, he's quite keen at home - he's not a runaway but we just wanted him to get in a nice rhythm behind a decent pace. Once he gets a bit of cover he just travels lovely and Oisin has pulled it off fantastically well. I was so confident once he was turning in in that position. He's a horse with a turn of foot who keeps galloping and stays the trip really well."
Right: The trophy presentation. Winning jockey Oisin Murphy said, "He was amazing. I feel really sorry for (regular rider) Clifford Lee, Karl Burke's stable jockey, who is recovering from an injury at the moment. Karl came here with a lot of confidence and the horse was excellently prepared and push-button. This is a very big race, God rest His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Obaid and I'm glad his horses are still carrying on his legacy."
 Michael Scofield wins the Tuwaiq Cup |
Left: Michael Scofield in the winner's circle. Winning jockey Oisin Murphy said, "They were very confident. I had a beautiful run. The pace was very fast and I thought the leader had got away. They are quite high-quality horses and there are 20 of them so it's very competitive and it takes some bit of riding."
Right: Michael Scofield returns after the race. Murphy added, "But I was on the right horse and he ground it out when I switched him to the outside, but it took him ages. It's nice to win a race for the connections. I ride a lot for them and I'm very happy."
 . wins the Obaiya Classic |
Left: First Classs in the winner's circle. Winning trainer Doug Watson said, "Wow, that was some race and one great horse. Prize money-wise, this was the biggest win of my career and equal [in importance] to when we went 1-2-3 in the Godolphin Mile. We have taken Drafted and Isolate over and learned from those, but this horse has always been very special. Before he ran three weeks ago, he looked like he was really getting to where he was before the Kahayla [in Dubai] last year and then right after the race, his coat came really well and he was just perfect."
Right: The trophy presentation. Winning jockey Connor Beasley said, "He's a fantastic horse, he's getting a bit long in the tooth nowadays but he's still enthusiastic and it's just showed there today. He was under the pump a long way out but he kept finding all the way, so absolutely thrilled. He's very determined and pulled it out when I needed him."
 Tahzeem wins the Jockey Club Local Handicap |
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