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Sleepy Eyes Todd preparing for Saturday s $20 million Saudi Cup
The following notes about contenders in the $20 million Saudi Cup, scheduled for Feb. 20, were provided by the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia.
Bangkok (IRE) – Andrew Balding s challenger took a first look at the dirt track on Wednesday with some gentle exercise.
Balding s wife and assistant Anna Lisa said: “He didn t do anything really smart today, the plan is that he will do something a bit quicker on Thursday. He went round the dirt and he seemed to enjoy it, he will wear special plates on Saturday, it should not be an excuse.”
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Channel Maker and Tacitus on track in Saudi Arabia
The following notes about contenders in the $20 million Saudi Cup, scheduled for Feb. 20, were provided by the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia.
Bangkok (IRE) – Kept busy during the last few weeks, Andrew Balding s British challenger was in winning action only a few days ago when landing the Winter Derby Trial over 2000m (1 1/4 miles) at Lingfield.
The 5-year-old was restricted to the training track for his exercise.
“He just went for a canter,” Balding s wife and assistant Anna Lisa said. “He came here fit and seems very well. He might do something a bit quicker on Thursday but it s all systems go.”
Rombauer treks north for El Camino Real Derby Feb 11, 2021 Kellie Reilly/Brisnet.com Rombauer pictured training at Keeneland prior to the Breeders Cup Juvenile (Coady Photography)
Rerouted from the Jan. 30 Robert B. Lewis (G3) at Santa Anita to Saturday’s $100,000 El Camino Real Derby,
Rombauer is the one to beat in the 1 1/8-mile test at Golden Gate Fields.
The Michael McCarthy trainee figures to be effective on the Tapeta surface, considering his aptitude on both turf and dirt. A debut winner on the Del Mar turf last summer, Rombauer was a troubled sixth in the Del Mar Juvenile Turf before switching to the main track. The Twirling Candy colt made an eye-catching move for second in the Sept. 26 American Pharoah (G1), and followed up with a closing fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) in his latest venture.
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Quip in Dubai
Thursday s Group 2, $293,000 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2 over 1900m (9.5 furlongs) has drawn a field filled with questions soon to be answered on the road to the $12 million Dubai World Cup (G1). Many of those queries circulate around the conditions of the race, whether it be the dirt surface for turf-bred full-brothers Dubai Warrior and Mootasadir, class-level for Firnas, Mark of Approval and Ajuste Fiscal, or the distance for assumed milers Quip, Salute the Soldier, Thegreatcollection, Blown By Wind and Capezzano.
RRR Racing s 6-year-old Quip offers arguably the most intrigue on Thursday. A Satish Seemar trainee, the 2019 Oaklawn Handicap (G2) winner makes just his 15th start and second this season after finishing a non-threatening ninth last out in the Al Maktoum Challenge R1 (G2) at one mile. He does have a victory in lofty American company over nine furlongs, but has not raced to that form in three Dubai tries. That said, with his light