Saudi Arabia

The first foal by Grade I-winning millionaire Force the Pass (Speightstown--Social Queen, by Dynaformer) arrived Feb. 4 at Murmur Farm in Maryland. The filly is out of Magical Point, a daughter of Point Given out of a stakes winning and producing full-sister to Grade I winner and sire Include (Broad Brush). Magical Point, the dam of three winners, and her filly are both owned by Wasabi Ventures Stables, who also stood Force the Pass at Anchor & Hope Farm in Maryland during the 2020 breeding season. Racing as a homebred...

Jockey Hollie Doyle, who celebrated her first Group 1 winner in 2020, will take part in the STC International Jockeys' Challenge in Saudia Arabia later this month. The Feb. 19 contest features 14 jockeys at King Abdulaziz Racetrack, with Doyle also booked on MGSW Extra Elusive (GB) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) for trainer Roger Charlton in the $20-million Saudi Cup the next day. "I'm really excited to be riding in Saudi," said Doyle, who also rode her first winner at Royal Ascot last term and competed in the Hong Kong International Jockeys'...

William Buick and Shane Foley are two of the jockeys that will take part in the second STC International Jockeys' Challenge at Riyadh in Saudi Arabia on Feb. 19. The second $20-million Saudi Cup, part of the $30.5 million Saudi Cup card, is set for Feb. 20. "My first time riding in Saudi was around 12 years ago, I've been in and out since then," said Buick, who rode in the original turf trials at King Abdulaziz Racetrack in January of 2020. "Last year I came over for the turf...

Group 1 winner Oxted (GB) (Mayson {GB}) is likely for the six-furlong Riyadh Dirt Sprint instead of the 1351 Turf Sprint at Riyadh in Saudi Arabia on Feb. 20. A winner of the G3 Abernant S. last June, the bay gelding added the G1 July Cup at Newmarket one month later. After undergoing wind surgery, Oxted resumed with a fifth in the Oct. 17 QIPCO British Champions Sprint S. "At the moment we are favouring the dirt really because it's six furlongs," said trainer Roger Teal, whose son Harry will...

Trainer Charlie Hills was very pleased with the recent performance of G1SP Equilateral (GB) (Equiano {Fr}) in the Listed Dubai Dash last Thursday, and the 6-year-old gelding will remain in Dubai for another tilt at the G2 Meydan Sprint on Feb. 18. In 2020, Equilateral ran second in the Sprint. "I was really delighted with him," said Hills. "Frankie [Dettori] gave him a great ride and it looked like he was always going to win the race. It's nice to have won the race twice now and he was 5lb...

Godolphin's Benbatl (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), a Group 1 winner in Australia, Germany and Dubai, will not compete in either the Dubai World Cup Carnival or the Saudi Cup. The 7-year-old entire will instead make his next appearance in Europe according to his trainer Saeed bin Suroor. The bay signed off last year with a third in the G2 Joel S. at Newmarket on Sept. 25. "Benbatl will not run in Dubai or Saudi Arabia this year--we'll keep him for a European campaign and look to get him out in May,"...

Group 1 winner Princess Zoe (Ger) (Jukebox Jury {Ire}) will not go to Saudi Arabia for the Saudi Cup card, her trainer Tony Mullins revealed on Sunday. The charismatic grey enjoyed a progressive campaign in 2020, taking the Listed Oyster S. at Galway in September, before adding the G1 Qatar Prix du Cadran on Oct. 3, her fifth-straight win. Her final race of the season was a fourth in the G1 Prix Royal-Oak. "We've decided against it. I'd love to go, but we thought the ground wouldn't be suitable for...

Grade I-winning jockey Kazushi Kimura, who was named the 2019 Eclipse Award Outstanding Apprentice Jockey, will spend the winter of 2020/21 riding primarily for Prince Sultan bin Mishal bin Abdulaziz in Saudi Arabia, he confirmed to the TDN on Sunday. "Yes," Kimura told the TDN regarding his Saudi Arabian posting. "I'm gonna ride in Saudi Arabia until the middle of March, then I will be back to Woodbine before the opening day." Kimura, who was also Canada's Outstanding Apprentice Jockey in 2018, celebrated four graded winners in 2020 led by...

Multiple graded stakes winner Bird Song (Unbridled's Song--Bird Town, by Cape Town) has been purchased to continue his stud career in Saudi Arabia in a deal brokered by Chad Schumer of Schumer Bloodstock. The 7-year-old previously stood at Gainesway Farm, with his oldest crop being yearlings of this year. Trained by Ian Wilkes on behalf of Marylou Whitney, Bird Song won the GII Alysheba S. and GIII Fred W. Hooper S. as a 4-year-old in 2017 and finished his career with over $500,000 in earnings. His dam, who captured the...

Palace (City Zip--Receivership, by End Sweep), his sire's only multiple Grade I winner currently at stud, has been sold to continue his career in Saudi Arabia. The deal was brokered by Chad Schumer of Schumer Bloodstock. Trained for the majority of his racing career by Linda Rice, Palace raced at a top level into his 6-year-old season and was a leading sprinter of 2014, with victories in the GI A. G. Vanderbilt H. and GI Forego S. at Saratoga. He retired to Spendthrift Farm with 12 wins from 30 starts...

NEWMARKET, UK—Ted Voute may not have been at Tattersalls but he certainly made his presence felt online when securing the three most expensive horses of the August Sale, and four in total for 650,000gns, on behalf of a new owner in Saudi Arabia. Riyadh-based Najd Stud will race the quartet of colts and geldings, who have been bought with the primary aim of targeting Saudi's King's Cup series. Leading the way was the 105-rated Walkinthesand (Ire) (lot 699), a 4-year-old son of Footstepsinthesand (Ire), who was bought from Richard Hannon's...

Desert Party (Street Cry {Ire}--Sage Cat, by Tabasco Cat), a graded/group winner at ages two, three and four, has been sold to continue his stud career in Saudi Arabia. The deal was brokered by Chad Schumer of Chad Schumer Bloodstock. Bred in Kentucky by David Smith and Steven Sinatra, Desert Party was purchased by Paul Pompa, Jr. for $425,000 at the 2007 Keeneland September sale, then watched as his pinhook prospect topped the Fasig-Tipton Calder Sale on John Ferguson's bid of $2.1 million less than six months later. Winner of...