Magnitude to Miss Saudi Cup Due to Illness

When a flight carrying several American-based Saudi Cup contenders departs Florida Monday, Magnitude (Not This Time) will not be on it, trainer Steve Asmussen told DRF on Sunday.

The 4-year-old Winchell Thoroughbreds runner, who won the GII Clark Stakes last November, spiked a fever Sunday and would not ship out of his Fair Grounds base as planned.

Magnitude registered his most recent work at Fair Grounds, covering five furlongs in a bullet 1:00.40 (1/18) on Jan. 29.

Winner of last season's GII Risen Star, the colt also annexed the Iowa Derby, finished third in the GI Travers Stakes and was runner-up in the GI Pennsylvania Derby in September.

In his Clark victory, Magnitude most notably bested last season's G1 Dubai World Cup winner Hit Show (Candy Ride {Ire}).