National Treasure & White Abarrio Headline $20M Saudi Cup

White Abarrio, the 2023 Breeders' Cup Classic hero, currently leads Team USA at 3-1 in Saturday's 1800-meter $20-million G1 Saudi Cup, drew the rail in a field of 14 horses during the 2024 Saudi Cup draw ceremony in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, February 21.

Trained by Richard Dutrow, Jr., the gray defeated Derma Sotogake (JPN) (Mind Your Biscuits) (stall 13) in the Classic, and will face the starter for the first time since in Saturday's contest at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh.

** UPDATE ** Feb 22 - MEISHO HARIO has scratched and will be replaced by SCOTLAND YARD.

After the draw, Dutrow said, "He had the two-hole last time, this can't be a problem. We've got the best rider, one of the best horses. It'll be fun. We'll be ready. He really takes my breath away every time I see him."

"I'm shaking right now, I mean this is exciting stuff man-a $20-million race, my mum's going crazy! I mean my dad used to run for $10,000... we were so happy, now a $20-million race, she just can't believe it."

Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert has yet to win the Saudi Cup, but his runners have performed well at the meeting, which will celebrate its fifth edition in 2024. In fact, Baffert runners have finished second each of the past three years-Charlatan (Speightstown) (2021) and Country Grammer (Tonalist) (2022/2023).

This term, Baffert will saddle GI Preakness hero National Treasure (Quality Road), who will start in gate seven. The bay defeated Grade 2 winner Senor Buscador (Mineshaft) (stall four) in the G1 Pegasus World Cup Invitational S. at the end of January.

Jimmy Barnes, assistant trainer to Bob Baffert said, "He's got better and better, he's beginning to put races together, he's really matured and loves it here. Flavien Prat [jockey] will give him a good trip and that's all you can ask for."

Other American Saudi Cup starters will leave from gates eight and five, respectively, in Grade II winner Hoist the Gold (Mineshaft), fourth in the Pegasus; and G1 Pennsylvania Derby winner Saudi Crown (Always Dreaming). The latter triumphed in the GIII Louisiana S. at Fair Grounds on Jan. 20.

Dallas Stewart, trainer of Hoist The Gold, said, "That's the same number that Winning Colors [who he rode as an exercise rider] had when she won the G1 Kentucky Derby [in 1988]. He travels well, he's been to California three times, he went to New York, he looks terrific and is handling the track good."

The aforementioned Derma Sotogake, a winner of the G2 UAE Derby last year, is not the only Japanese runner in the 14-horse field, as fellow Breeders' Cup Classic competitor Ushba Tesoro (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}) (stall 11) has also returned for another crack at his Santa Anita foes. Already the winner of the 2023 G1 Dubai World Cup, the 7-year-old entire won his second G1 Tokyo Daishoten at Oi on Dec. 29 and has been pleasing connections in his training.

Japan's attempt to take home the hardware for the second consecutive year is supported by the trio of Japanese Champion Dirt Horse Lemon Pop (Lemon Drop Kid) (gate three) and MGSWs Crown Pride (Jpn) (Reach The Crown {Jpn}) (gate six) and Meisho Hario (Jpn) (Pyro) from stall 12.

Harry Sweeney, of Lemon Pop who is owned by Godolphin, "We've enormous confidence in our jockey, in our last race we drew the very outside and a horse had never won from that position before. Lemon Pop overcame those odds. He's going to have to do it again but we'll see how it goes. It's a big ask for Lemon Pop, we're respectful of all."

G1 Awesome Again and G1 Hollywood Gold Cup victor Defunded (Dialed In), formerly raced in America from the Baffert barn. Campaigned by new connections beginning on Saturday, he exits stall nine. The other Saudi contenders are Power in Numbers (Girvin), who sports a 4-0 record at Riyadh to date, and the winning Carmel Road (Quality Road) (stall 14). Quality Road's Emblem Road won the 2022 edition of the Saudi Cup. They leave from stalls 10 and 14, respectively.

Khalid bin Mishref, racing manager for the gelding's owner Dr. Muhaideb Abdullah Almuhaideb, said, "It was a good move from us to bring him early to Saudi Arabia, he's acclimatized very well. We're hoping that he's capable to compete against those great horses."

The UAE's Isolate (Mark Valeski), booked in stall two, is riding a two-race winning streak, and was last seen winning the G2 Al Maktoum Mile in December.

Isolate, post 2, Doug Watson, trainer: "We wanted to be drawn 1-9, so we'll take it."

Lemon Pop, post 3, Harry Sweeney of owner Godolphin: "We've enormous confidence in our jockey. In our last race we drew the very outside, and a horse had never won from that position before. Lemon Pop overcame those odds. He's going to have to do it again, but we'll see how it goes. It's a big ask for Lemon Pop. We're respectful of all."

Señor Buscador, post 4, Joe Peacock Jr., owner: "He's been training great. He's training really well, and the team have done a marvelous job. They were patient. He's showing up to prove everything we wanted him to be. We're having a fabulous time." Ushba Tesoro, post 11, Shogo Hirose, owner's representative: "Good to get."

Saudi Crown, post 5, Faisal Al Qahtani, owner: "Very happy."

Crown Pride, post 6, Masafumi Matsuda, assistant trainer: "He's a versatile type of horse and can race form any position. It's the best draw for him."

Hoist the Gold, post 8, Dallas Stewart, trainer: "That's the same number that Winning Colors (who he rode as an exercise rider) had when she won the (1988) Kentucky Derby. He travels well. He's been to California three times. He went to New York. He looks terrific and is handling the track good."

Defunded, post 9, Khalid bin Mishref, racing manager: "It was a good move from us to bring him early to Saudi Arabia. He's acclimatized very well. We're hoping that he's capable to compete against those great horses."

Meisho Hario, post 12, Inao Okada, trainer: "The draw is not a big concern. He can race from any position." Power In Numbers, post 10, Ahmed Mohamoud, trainer: "Very happy. It's the last number, but we hope it will be the lucky number for us."

Derma Sotogake, post 13, Manari Tanaka, representative: "I think he has improved since the Breeders' Cup."

Carmel Road, post 14, Abdullah Albadah, trainer: "I'm happy. He's in good form, working well in the morning. Tough race, first time he's run 1,800 meters. Hopefully he'll run well."

The USD $20M Saudi Cup, the highlight of the Saudi Cup weekend at King Abdulaziz (Saturday, February 24), is a global Group 1 flat race held over 1800m and is the richest race in the world.

The Saudi Cup 2024 meeting has attracted 1162 entries with horses from 15 countries seeking glory at the world's most valuable race meeting held in Riyadh on February 23 and 24.

Among the hopefuls for the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia-organised race weekend are 41 Group or Grade 1 winners with strong support from the powerhouses of the USA with 123 horses listed and Japan - the country that produced the 2023 winner, Panthalassa - which has 110 entries.

This year's event at King Abdulaziz Racecourse will include a new prize fund worth an additional $2.25m compared to the 2023 renewal. The increase reflects the upgrades of the 2,100m Neom Turf Cup and the 1351 Turf Sprint to international Group 2, while the 2100m Al Mneefah Cup for Purebred Arabians, another turf race, will also run as a Group 1 for the first time.

Amongst the highlights are 2023 Whitney and Breeders Cup Classic winner, White Abarrio (USA) and ultra tough Breeders Cup Classic second Derma Sotagake (JPN), Preakness winner National Treasure (USA) and Malibu Stakes winner Speed Boat Beach (USA).

Group 1 stars, Luxembourg (IRE), Warm Heart (IRE), Mawj (IRE), Art Power (IRE), Simca Mille (IRE) and Double Major (IRE) feature among the high profile European entries.

2024 Saudi Cup Lures Five 2023 Breeders' Cup Classic Competitors

Feb 9 - White Abarrio (USA), the reiginig 2023 Breeders' Cup Classic winner, looks poised to renew rivalry with four of his former competeitors from the Santa Anita Park battle after the probable fields for the 2024 Saudi Cup at King Abdulaziz Racecourse were revealed by the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia.

A total of five horses from the 2023 Breeders' Cup Classic feature among the fourteen runners of the $20m Group 1 event on Saturday, February 24, including representatives from the USA, Japan, Ireland and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

White Abarrio was always well placed when winning the Breeders' Cup Classic for trainer Rick Dutrow Jnr last November. He is set to once again take on the Japanese runner-up Derma Sotogake (JPN), who returns to Riyadh after finishing third in last year's Saudi Derby.

The eye-catching Breeders' Cup hero will sport new colors on Saudi Cup night following a part-purchase of the-five-year-old by prolific local owner, Prince Faisal Bin Khaled Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and will be recognized during the race By the Prince's familiar red colors with white epaulettes.

Japan's Ushba Tesoro (JPN) the 2023 Group 1 Dubai World Cup champion and a staying on fifth in California is also among the likely runners in the 1800-meter event. The Noboru Takagi-trained star will line up with the Todd Fincher-trained Senor Buscador (USA) (seventh) and Brad Cox's Saudi Crown, owned by Saudi's Faisal AlQhatani of FMQ Stables who weakened off a hot pace to finish 10th but has wins in the Grade 3 Louisiana Stakes and the Grade 1 Pennsylvania Derby to his credit.

Bob Baffert took the silver medal in The Saudi Cup last year with the Amr Zedan-owned Country Grammer (USA) and is back again this time with National Treasure (USA), the Breeders' Cup Mile runner-up, recent conqueror of Senor Buscador in the 2024 Pegasus World Cup Invitational and the 2023 Preakness Stakes winner. The fourth place in the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup, Hoist The Gold (USA), is set to travel for trainer Dallas Stewart, having winning form over Señor Buscador from the 2023 Grade 2 Cigar Mile.

In addition to Derma Sotogake, Japan have also put forward multiple Group 1-winner, Lemon Pop (USA), winner of Japan's Grade 1 Champions Cup, a Saudi Cup qualifier, who meets former UAE Derby winner Crown Pride (JPN), and Meisho Hario (JPN) who defeated Crown Pride by a nose in June to become the first to land back-to-back runnings of the Local Grade 1 Teio Sho.

Leading Irish trainer Aidan O'Brien unleashes European Group 1-winner Luxembourg (IRE) onto dirt for the first time after he rounded off 2023 with a second in the Group 1 Hong Kong Cup, while there are three likely local runners including Custodian Of The Two Holy Mosques winner Power In Numbers (USA) for trainer Ahmed Mohamoud from the Riyadh-based King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Sons Stables.

Former Baffert inmate, Defunded (USA) is entered to line-up for trainer Abdulaziz bin Khalid bin Mishriff and new owner Dr. Muhaideb Abdullah Almuhaideb's HDB Racing Stable, is likely to be joined by another US import, Carmel Road (USA) after he struck second time out in Saudi Arabia in the King Faisal Cup for trainer Abdullah Albadah.

Brad Cox Trained Saudi Crown Eyes $20M Saudi Cup

Feb 17 - FMQ Stables owner Faisal Al Qahtani tasted success on Saudi Cup night last year with Commissioner King in the Group 3 Boutique Group Saudi Derby, and this year has a live chance in the world's most valuable race with Saudi Crown.

The flashy grey son of Kentucky Derby winner, Always Dreaming was last seen winning the G3 Louisiana Stakes cosily, having previously finished down the field in the Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita, and Al Qahtani sounds confident that Saudi Crown is back on the right path for this weekend's Riyadh showpiece.

"We will see a different horse from the one that we saw in the Breeders' Cup," said owner Al Qahtani.

"He's grown up a lot since that run and we feel he's much better. His prep race was very pleasing, and he can step forward from that. The 2000m trip was right at the limit of what he could achieve at that time (at the Breeders' Cup), and I think the step back to 1800m is ideal. He can be a champion at this distance.

"The preparation for Saudi Crown has been great and I know Brad Cox is very happy with the horse, so we are all waiting and excited to see him after he's settled in and begins trackwork."

Confirming his jockey for the $20 million contest, Al Qahtani said: "Florent Geroux will definitely be back on-board Saudi Crown. He's ridden him in all bar one of his races, so Saudi Crown is his buddy really."

Al Qahtani is under no illusions that next Saturday's contest looks a strong renewal, though:

"This year's race looks the greatest in the history of The Saudi Cup, so we're well aware of the challenge. Even the reserves are very strong.

"I think the pace is going to be strong. Imagining the race, I can see Saudi Crown and National Treasure leading because they have a lot of natural speed, but that's just my personal view. I haven't discussed with the trainer or the rest of the team yet."

And it is not the world-beating money on offer, or the 24ct gold, metre-high trophy that Al Qahtani is excited for. He said: "I named Saudi Crown after the Crown Prince. If we win, the most important thing for me would not be the prize, or the cup, but having the pleasure of seeing my leader and shaking his hand."

On Saudi Cup Friday, when the International Jockeys Challenge takes place, FMQ Stables also have an interest in The Tuwaiq Cup, a contest for locally trained horses over the course and distance of The Saudi Cup. Their hero from last year's Saudi Cup night, Commissioner King, is set to run, and he needs to prove his latest run was just a blip:

"He needs to bounce back from his last effort, but there's a very strong reason why we think he can do that. He bumped himself really hard in the gates and we think that cost him the run. He's fully healed now and is back breezing really nicely, so I think you will see the real Commissioner King again," A Qahtani said, referring to the horse's disappointing 10th placed finish when last seen in early December.

Al Qahtani added: "I'm going to leave announcing our jockey as a bit of a surprise. I think everyone will be excited when they hear who it is."

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