Bahrain International Trophy Winner Simsir Takes On Bigger Challenge In Saudi Cup Sponsored by:
Trainer Fawzi Nass (fourth from right) celebrates Port Lions’ win in last year’s Neom Turf Cup
Ground-breaking trainer Fawzi Nass is preparing an assault on the $20 million Saudi Cup with Bahrain International winner Simsir.
Nass made history at the inaugural Saudi Cup meeting last year when his Port Lions pulled off a shock win by defeating Japan s star mare Deirdre in what is now called The Neom Turf Cup, the first turf race ever held in Saudi Arabia.
Now he has the world s most valuable race in his sights with Simsir. The 5-year-old will take on some of the world s best dirt horses, including Pegasus World Cup winner Knicks Go and rising star Charlatan, in the 1800m (nine furlongs) contest on Feb. 20.
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Jockey Borja Fayos celebrates winning the Gran Premio Gobierno Vasco at San Sebastian Racecourse in Spain with Oriental on Aug. 18, 2019
Spanish trainer Alvaro Soto is aiming to fly the flag for his country with his star horse, Oriental in the $500,000 Saudi International Handicap on Feb. 19, 2021. The 2100m (about 1 5/16 miles) race, a new addition to The Saudi Cup meeting, is open to horses trained in countries not included in the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities Part One nations.
Oriental was horse of the year in Spain in 2019 having joined Soto from his old boss Carlos Laffon-Parias, a Spaniard based in Chantilly, France. He had been used as a lead horse for the top-class Recoletos, who won two French Group 1 races before retiring to stud at the end of 2018.