3 minute read

There is no alcohol, no gambling yet unprecedented riches on the line in the inaugural Saudi Cup (5.40) at King Abdulaziz racecourse in Riyadh on Saturday – it is racing, but not as we know it.

The sport's newest frontier has made a bold statement by hosting the world's richest ever race worth $20 million, leapfrogging the previous high set by the $16m Pegasus World Cup in 2018. 

Saudi Arabia has ambitions of becoming an established player on the racing scene and unsurprisingly its flagship 1m1f dirt race has attracted a great deal of global support, particularly from the US. 

When the prize-money was mentioned to dual Triple Crown-winning trainer Bob Baffert on Thursday, he jokingly impersonated Dr Evil from Austin Powers, raising his little finger to the side of his mouth.

As well as recognising its obvious value, Baffert said the race could add longevity to the careers of three-year-olds after their campaigns in the US and act as a springboard to competing in the Dubai World Cup. 

The trainer is represented by the five-year-old McKinzie and Mucho Gusto, who was invited after winning the Pegasus World Cup.  

There are five US runners in the 14-runner field, which reads like an all-star game between the world's best dirt horses, headed by Maximum Security, who was controversially disqualified from the Kentucky Derby after passing the post first, and is drawn in stall seven.

His connections opted to overlook the comparatively paltry $3 million return on offer in the Pegasus to best prepare for this contest. 

The British and Irish challenge is led by Benbatl. The highest-rated horse competing on the Saudi Cup card with a mark of 125 is no stranger to travelling, having contested Group 1s in four countries.

He made an eyecatching debut on dirt for Saeed bin Suroor when landing a Group 2 at Meydan this month and his trainer said: "It's a very important race and it's important for us to see him run well. He has been a good Group 1 horse for us and he's versatile."

Ryan Moore missed the jockeys' challenge on Friday due to travel delays caused by the global outbreak of coronavirus but is expected to take his ride on the Aidan O'Brien-trained Magic Wand. 

She has been campaigned all over the world, most recently when second in the Pegasus World Cup Turf, but has never run on dirt. 

There are two runners from Japan, Gold Dream and Chrysoberyl, and three from the UAE, including Gronkowski, part-owned by Phoenix Thoroughbreds and ridden by Frankie Dettori. 

Great Scot, a Group 3 winner formerly trained by Tom Dascombe, is the pick of the locally trained runners who make up the field. 

There is almost $7 million in prize-money offered on the undercard and the eye is immediately drawn to the 1m7f Longines Turf Handicap (2.10), one of three races run on the country's first turf course.

It looks like an early running of the Melbourne Cup, as among those taking their chance are 2018 Flemington winner Cross Counter, who carries joint top weight, and last year's runner-up Prince Of Arran.

"He's travelled well and this has been the plan for a long time. I'm delighted with him breaking from stall two. The track is much tighter than I realised so we're in the perfect position," said trainer Charlie Fellowes.

Willie Mullins does not shy away from running horses on the Flat and runs True Self, who finished second behind Prince Of Arran in the Group 3 Geelong Cup last year.

David Elsworth has made the long journey from Newmarket to watch Sir Dancealot in the 7f STC 1351 Cup (1.35), which includes Glorious Journey and Momkin for Charlie Appleby and William Haggas.

"Sir Dancealot feels great and has travelled well. He can be a little bit keen on the track but the boss is happy, which is the main thing," said Elsworth's travelling head lad Andrew Morris.

There are a number of British and Irish runners in the Mohamed Yousuf Naghi Motors Cup (1.00) and the Samba Saudi Derby (4.10).

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