3 minute read

A few years ago everyone wondered who the guy was with the colourful hats.

Nowdays they have come to learn that under those colourful hats is a very astute brain both for racing and life in general.

He has shown patience in developing his horses and by winning 3 races at Dubai on DWC day he announced that he was a player in the biggest fields internationally.  He also has the benefit of a very patient wife - they say behind every great trainer is an exhausted wife!

And he continued this great work in Riyadh on Saturday night saddling the winners of the Turf Sprint and the big one, the Saudi Arabia Gold Cup.  Both these winners won at Meydan last year so we are anxiously awaiting to see which horses he will be taking to Dubai.

Bathrat Leon who won the turf sprint over 1400m won the Godolphin Mile at Meydan and he's such a versatile horse that he could have options as to where next.  This time he defeated American runner Casa Creed with local Raeed third.  The disappointment in the race was Songline who was definitely not on song.

The Cup was a real thriller with Country Grammer coming with a huge run to just fail to nail Panthalassa.  Café Pharoah under Joao Moreira ran third, Geoglyph with his first race on dirt 4th just ahead of Damian Lane and Crown Pride with Jun Light Bolt 7th,so the Japanese runners finished 1, 3, 4, 5, and 7th.

It was wonderful to reflect on the dreams of Mr Yoshida all those years ago and see the impact they are having on world racing.