RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Feb. 21 (UPI) — The year’s richest and potentially best race, a big Kentucky Derby prep and still more action from all over the planet await horse racing fans’ weekend attention.
Let’s dive right in.
1 of 3 | Bullard, shown winning November’s Bob Hope Stakes, returns to Kentucky Derby prep action in Sunday’s $1.25 million Rebel at Oaklawn Park. Benoit Photography, courtesy of Del Mar Turf Club
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Feb. 21 (UPI) — The year’s richest and potentially best race, a big Kentucky Derby prep and still more action from all over the planet await horse racing fans’ weekend attention.
Let’s dive right in.
The Saudi Cup
Saturday’s $20 million Saudi Cup is not only the richest race in the world, but also, potentially, this year’s best. And that 1 1/8 miles is only the capper on a program that has stars from around the globe competing from sprints to marathons, on dirt and on turf.
The question of the day is: Can Romantic Warrior, the Hong Kong superstar already ranked as the top money-earner in Thoroughbred history, transition successfully from turf to the dirt surface at King Abdulaziz Racecourse?
If he can, even the opposition reckons him a good bet to earn his 11th Group 1 victory in a fifth nation and push his earnings over the $33 million mark.
His connections — owner Peter Lau, trainer Danny Shum and jockey James McDonald — are cautiously confident. But if the 7-year-old can’t handle the new trick, plenty of others are waiting to pounce.
Chief among them, and the actual favorite on some international morning lines (there is no wagering in Saudi Arabia), is Japan’s Forever Young. The 4-year-old won the Group 3 Saudi Derby on last year’s Saudi Cup card, won the Group 2 UAE Derby in Dubai and finished third in the Kentucky Derby and November’s Breeders’ Cup Classic.
Beyond those two is a solid cast, including a sole American runner, Rock N Roll. Trainer Kenny McPeek cannily brought him to Riyadh early and sent him out to win the local “Win and You’re In” prep for the Cup.
Also on deck are Japan’s Ushba Tesoro, who finished second in the race a year ago, and dirt specialist Ramjet, who finished second to Forever Young in their last race back home. France’s Facteur Cheval earned his spot by handling the turf-to-dirt transition with a decent third in the Group 1 Maktoum Challenge in Dubai on Jan. 24.
The race has produced its share of upsets, so if the big bets falter, anything could happen.
The “undercard” has runners who have competed in the world’s top races, including last year’s winner, Remake; reigning Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner Straight No Chaser; and Japan Cup runner-up Shin Emperor. The Saudi Derby has several contenders who could go on to the UAE Derby and the Run for the Roses.
The Road to the Roses
The Kentucky Derby “tournament” hits the quarterfinals stage this weekend with Sunday’s $1.25 million Grade II Rebel at Oaklawn Park and Saturday’s $175,000 John Battaglia Memorial at Turfway Park. The Rebel leads to the $1.5 million Arkansas Derby on March 29 and the Battaglia to the $700,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks on March 22.
The Rebel features the top three finishers from Oaklawn’s Grade III Southwest Stakes — Speed King, Sandman and Tiztastic.
They’re joined by Coal Battle, the winner of the first leg of the Arkansas Derby series, the Smarty Jones Stakes, and two California invaders — Madaket Road, third in the Grade III Robert B. Lewis in his last start, and Bullard, who defeated Madaket Road in the Grade III Bob Hope at Del Mar in November, but then finished third Grade II San Vicente.
The Battaglia, run on the Turfway Park all-weather course, has a full field with Grade II Kentucky Jockey Club winner First Resort as a solid 2-1 favorite.
The Rebel awards the winner 50 points on the “Road to the Kentucky Derby” leaderboard, which usually is sufficient to ensure a spot in the Run for the Roses. The Battaglia is a 20-point race.
Sunday’s Hyacinth Stakes at Tokyo Racecourse is the third and penultimate leg of the “Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby.” Only three runners from the first two legs still are under consideration for Louisville — Natural Rise, Happy Man and Clay King. Of those, only Happy Man returns in the Hyacinth.
The Road to the Oaks
Saturday’s $500,000 Grade III Honeybee at Oaklawn Park drew a baker’s dozen, with Muhimma the 7-5 morning line favorite. The Munnings filly won all three starts last year, finishing with the Grade II Demoiselle at Aqueduct, and has been training in Florida for this return. Take Charge Milady Five G and Look Forward also figure.
Otherwise
The Classic division has Sunday’s $500,000 Grade III Razorback at Oaklawn Park. Oaklawn also hosts the $150,000 Carousel for filly and mare sprinters. The Distaff division features Saturday’s $150,000 Heavenly Prize Invitational at Aqueduct. Saturday’s Leinster Turf Dash and Leinster Lightning City for fillies and mares are 5 furlongs over the lush Tampa Bay Downs turf.
Around the world, around the clock
Saudi Arabia certainly is the focus, but there’s other action around the globe, as well.
Japan
Grade 1 racing returns to Japan Sunday with the February Stakes at 1 mile on the Tokyo Racecouse dirt. Despite the defection of many top Japanese runners to Saudi Arabia and Dubai, this event retains a very credible field. The race is a “Win and You’re In” for the Breeders’ Cup Classic in November at Del Mar.
Australia
Saturday is Futurity Day at Caulfield, with three big Group1 events on the card. Mr Brightside is the favorite to repeat in the Futurity. She’s Bulletproof and Estrella are well-fancied in the 1,100-meter Oakleigh Plate. And Field of Play seeks to extend his unbeaten record to three in the Blue Diamond for 2-year-olds.
Dubai
Despite the competition across the Arabian Peninsula, Dubai puts on a worthy program Friday night with three graded stakes.
Godolphin star Cinderella’s Dream sticks out in a field of just five in the Group 2 Balanchine for fillies and mares at 1 1/8 miles on the turf.
The Group 3 UAE Oaks looks like a good opportunity for any of the eight entries to step up. Queen Azteca, a Norwegian-based filly who was an 8-length winner in the Cocoa Beach Stakes in her last, might be the one.
Two Godolphin runners, King of Conquest and Dubai Future, loom in the Group 3 Nad Al Sheba at 1 3/4 miles on the grass.
The Al Bastakiya is 1,900 meters on the dirt for 3-year-olds hoping to move along to the Group 2 UAE Derby on World Cup night.
Hong Kong
James McDonald is slated to arrive from Saudi Arabia in time to partner with Voyage Bubble in Sunday’s Group 1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup — the 2,000-meter half of a top-level doubleheader at Sha Tin Racecourse.
Ka Ying Rising is an equally popular favorite in the Group 1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup. California Spangle looks to regain form and earn a trip back to Dubai.
