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Maybe itâs not against ALL odds, but the Saudi Cup looks set to take another mighty step forward
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Pegasus winner Knicks Go - pictured exercising on the Riyadh dirt on Thursday - faces a potentially spectacular clash with Saudi Cup favourite Charlatan on Saturday. Photo: Mathea Kelley/Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia
A neat overview of the progress of the world’s richest race before this weekend’s second edition appeared earlier this week under the headline ‘Saudi Cup Survives and Thrives Against All Odds’.
Written from an American viewpoint, the central argument rightly suggested that the two-day event had managed to overcome some fairly forbidding obstacles to claim its place on the world stage.
RIYADH: With the Saudi Cup less than a fortnight away, the likely runners for the two-day $30.5 million event have been revealed.
The field will be led by a strong American contingent including Brad Cox’s Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile and Pegasus World Cup winner Knicks Go.
The King Abdul Aziz Racecourse in Riyadh will host 77 overseas contenders representing 13 different countries from around the world who between them have won 24 Group or Grade 1 contests.
Also lining up in the Saudi capital from the US will be Grade 1 Malibu Stakes winner Charlatan, and Tacitus, who finished fifth in the inaugural race last year and is owned by Juddmonte Farms.
Picture: iStock
A remarkable 63 trainers from 12 countries have had 158 horses accepted to compete in the nine-meeting Dubai World Cup Carnival, which culminates in the World Cup itself on 27 March. Of course, the 2020 Cup meeting had to be scrapped as Covid descended on the world. That and diminished racing and stakes throughout the world have sparked keener interest than usual in the mega prizes on offer in the desert. Among the invading throng is South Africa’s Mike de Kock, who has less firepower than in previous years but could still pay to follow judiciously with a hardy and.
A remarkable 63 trainers from 12 countries have had 158 horses accepted to compete in the nine-meeting Dubai World Cup Carnival, which culminates in the World Cup itself on 27 March.
Swiss Skydiver, Charlatan, Knicks Go Lead U.S. Entries To Saudi Cup Card Sponsored by:
Swiss Skydiver works at Churchill Downs on Oct. 31
The second staging of The Saudi Cup meeting, headlined by the $20 million Saudi Cup, has attracted a star-studded list of entries from the US, including Swiss Skydiver, Knicks Go, Charlatan, and Channel Maker.
After a successful inaugural event last year, the two-day meeting, held at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh on Feb. 19 and 20, has been expanded significantly in 2021 with increased prize money and a new race, resulting in an even stronger list of entries than 12 months ago.
Prince Of Arran set for Kempton spin ahead of international targets
Thu 7 Jan 2021
Prince Of Arran is likely to run at Kempton next month before heading off on his travels again.
The Charlie Fellowes-trained eight-year-old was placed in the Melbourne Cup for the third successive year when he last ran in November, being beaten three-quarters of a length in third by Twilight Payment.
Given a short break since, Fellowes reports Prince Of Arran to have put on plenty of condition and feels a run before travelling to Saudi Arabia and Dubai may also give him other options.
“He’s going to Saudi Arabia, provided everything is fine,” said Fellowes.