The sixth running of the Saudi Cup takes place this weekend and Bahrain is set to be represented at one of the world’s most prestigious and valuable race days by its largest and strongest team of horses yet.
To be held at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh, the Saudi Cup meeting on Saturday offers $38 million in prize money across nine races, and seven of the highest-rated horses trained in Bahrain will be competing against runners from all over the world for a share of the winnings.
The horses travelling from Bahrain to Riyadh are headed by Calif, owned by Victorious Racing and trained by Fawzi Nass, with jockey Alberto Sanna booked to ride.
The $2m Howden Neom Turf Cup, run over 2,100m, is Calif’s target, a race in which he excelled last year when finishing third behind dual Bahrain International Trophy winner Spirit Dancer, and the Japanese trained Killer Ability.
Both Spirit Dancer and Killer Ability are set to re-oppose Calif, who will be joined in the field by fellow Bahraini-trained Sovereign Spirit, owned by Al Afoo Racing and trained by Jaber Ramadhan. Sovereign Spirit has been in excellent form this season, winning twice at Rashid Equestrian and Horseracing Club and recently finishing runner-up in the Crown Prince’s Cup. Connections have booked one of the world’s leading jockeys, Ryan Moore, to ride on Saturday.
The race with the strongest contingent from Bahrain is the $2m 1351 Turf Sprint, run over 1,351m. Byline, owned by Al Adiyat Racing and trained by Allan Smith, flew the Bahraini flag with distinction last year when finishing third in the race, beaten by just one-and-a-half lengths. Byline, the mount of Tom Marquand, is joined in the line-up by two of the kingdom’s most in-form horses Goemon and Ava Go Joe.
Goemon, owned by Mohamed Khalid Abdulrahim and trained by Haider Ebrahim, has won his last three races, in the process posting career-best performances, and providing he adapts to the shorter distance when dropping down from 1,600m, he looks sure to give a good account of himself.
Ava Go Joe, owned by AMS Racing and trained by Ali Jan, is also in the form of his life and was impressive when winning a competitive Bahrain Turf Series race on his last start. Whereas Goemon is stepping down in trip, the seven-year-old, Ava Go Joe, must prove himself equally effective over a longer distance, having shown his best form over 1,000m.
There are a further two Bahraini trained horses due to run in the $500,000 Saudi International Handicap, run over 2,100m. Qaader, representing Nass, and Cracksking, for Smith, complete the seven-strong team of horses in action in Riyadh.
Cracksking was a winner for Al Adiyat Racing at the Crown Prince’s Cup Festival when forming part of a treble for Bahrain Turf Club ambassador Marquand, who takes the mount again in Riyadh.
Bahrain Turf Club CEO Yusuf Buheji said: “The strength of Bahrain’s team of horses at this year’s Saudi Cup highlights the progress of our domestic racing product. To have seven of our highest-rated horses competing on one of the sport’s biggest stages is a testament to the growing quality within Bahrain.
“As a club, we take great pride in their participation at this level and look forward to watching them represent the Kingdom of Bahrain on Saturday.”
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