Riyadh

On his way home from the races last week, Jamie Insole reflected on a good day for his stable following a 13-length win for Tommy The Tank (Ire) over hurdles and two promising runs for three-year-old fillies at Southwell. This is the nature of the training partnership he shares with Dr Richard Newland: jumps here, Flat there, and all the while a growing number of horses at their Urloxhey Stables in Worcestershire. From that rural idyll on Sunday left Witness Stand (GB) (Expert Eye {Ire}), a new recruit to their...

My Racehorse's newly crowned Eclipse champion sprinter Straight No Chaser (Speightster) breezed five furlongs in :59 flat (3/98) over the Santa Anita main track Sunday morning and is set to board the first of two flights Tuesday which will carry him to Saudi Arabia for the $2-million G2 Riyadh Dirt Sprint (1200m) on Feb. 22. Hall of Famer John Velazquez has the return call. "We gave him a little company just to kind of get him to relax and settle off a horse and he did it really nicely and...

In one of the most intriguing international clashes of the year, Hong Kong Horse of the Year and recent G1 Jebel Hatta hero Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) and 2024 G1 Dubai World Cup victor Laurel River (Into Mischief) will likely face off in the $20-million G1 Saudi Cup at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh on Saturday, Feb. 22. Joining them will be Japanese Group 1 winner Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}), who won the G3 Saudi Derby alongside placed runs in the GI Kentucky Derby and GI Breeders'...

He is 22 months into a two-year contract to train privately in Saudi Arabia for Prince Faisal bin Khalid Al Saud, a move that rejuvenated his career, but Jimmy Jerkens said he is ready to come home. Jerkens told the TDN that when his contract expires in March he will return to U.S. and resume his career at the NYRA tracks. It's not that Jerkens hasn't done well in Saudi Arabia. He's had 21 winners during his time there. And it's not that he doesn't have any quality horses. "We've...

Recently-crowned Longines World's Best Jockey James McDonald has been confirmed in the line-up for the 2025 International Jockeys' Challenge (IJC) at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh on Friday, February 21. It will mark the first time the globetrotting New Zealander, who has ridden 106 Group 1 winners in Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Britain and Japan, has competed in Saudi Arabia. McDonald's participation in the IJC will also give him valuable experience of the Riyadh track, the day before bidding for glory aboard Hong Kong champion Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation...

The two-day $38.1-million Saudi Cup meeting nominations at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh on Feb. 21-22 were released by the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia on Friday. A total of 81 Grade/Group 1 winners are among the 1,123 entries from 21 countries that have stepped up, with Hong Kong Horse of the Year Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) throwing his hat in the ring for the $20-million G1 Saudi Cup. (Click here for an in depth dive into the nominations for the Saudi Cup, G3 Saudi Derby, and G2 Riyadh...

Last seen finishing an even fifth behind 'TDN Rising Star' Locked (Gun Runner) in the GII Cigar Mile Handicap at Aqueduct on Dec. 7, Atlantic Six Racing's Book'em Danno (Bucchero) has emerged from the effort none the worse for wear and has arrived at trainer Derek Ryan's winter base at Tampa Bay Downs, the partnership's Jay Briscione said Wednesday. "He came out of it good," Briscione said. "I think we were planning on backing off a little bit. We gave him a complete exam and, knock on wood, he's good....

Just before the gate load in Saturday's G1 Saudi Cup at the King Abdulaziz Racecourse, if you were an American race fan scouring the circling field looking for the customary light blue and neon green standard carried by Joe Peacock Jr.'s homebred MGSW Senor Buscador (Mineshaft), then you might have been left wondering. The banner wasn't there. That's because jockey Junior Alvarado was sporting royal blue and white aboard the eventual winner. Despite reporting by several Middle Eastern news outlets--namely Arab News and the Saudi Gazette--which either listed Peacock secondarily...

TOWER OF LONDON (IRE) (c, 4, Galileo {Ire}-Dialafara {Fr}, by Anabaa) gave the Coolmore partners a dramatic, last stride victory under a quality Ryan Moore ride in the 3000-metre $2.5-million G3 Longines Red Sea Turf H. at King Abdulaziz Racecourse on Saturday. It was Moore's 18th ride and first win at the fledgling meeting, and trainer Aidan O'Brien's third runner and first winner, as well. Enemy (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}), who finished second in the 2023 edition, filled that spot again, a head off of the winner. The listed winner blew...

Saturday marked the fifth edition of the blockbuster G1 Saudi Cup, with Senor Buscador (Mineshaft) racing into the history books as another American-trained winner of the $20-million race at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Connections of horses worldwide benefitted from the $33.5 million in purses on offer throughout the card, with Europe claiming a trio of wins, and Japan two victories on a night that is rapidly becoming one of the can't-miss events of the year in international racing. Sir Alex Ferguson, best known for his Manchester United...

UK trainer Mick Appleby, who burst onto the international scene with a win in the $1-million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint with Big Evs (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}) last year, doubled up on the world stage with a victory in the $2-million G2 Saudi National Bank 1351 Turf Sprint in Saudi Arabia by Fosnic Racing's ANNAF (IRE) (h, 5, Muhaarar {GB}--Shimah, by Storm Cat). Japan's La La Christine (Jpn) (Mikki Isle {Jpn}) finished second while Byline (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}) was third. Last year's winner, Bathrat Leon (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}), was...

The plane carrying the Japanese contingent to Riyadh for next Saturday's Saudi Cup meeting touched down at King Khalid International Airport, and each of the nation's four entrants for the $20-million G1 Saudi Cup appear to have taken the flight in good order. Looking to make it back-to-back successes in the world's richest horse race following the stunning all-the-way victory by Panthalassa (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) last February are Japan's champion dirt horse Lemon Pop (Lemon Drop Kid); reigning G1 Dubai World Cup winner Ushba Tesoro (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}); Derma...