Saudi Cup
GAIN Equine Nutrition has partnered with the inaugural Saudi Cup to be the Official Equine Nutrition Partner of the $29.2-million event. Tom Ryan, director of strategy and international racing for the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia, said, "The addition of GAIN Equine Nutrition as an official sponsor for the Saudi Cup event is a real boost to the project. They are an international brand producing premium standard products; they are a perfect fit for this world- class event." Joanne Hurley, equine nutrition advisor and sales manager of GAIN Equine Nutrition,...
The grass gallops are now open on Newmarket's Warren Hill—a sure sign that spring is on the way, and formerly part of the traditional countdown to the start of the Flat season. These days, however, the top-class Flat action barely stops throughout the year which means that before the wraps come off the British turf season at Doncaster on Mar. 28, a number of the town's trainers will already have had some of their leading lights in action around the world. This spring promises to have a more international outlook...
The inaugural $29.2-million Saudi Cup card at King Abdulaziz Racecourse on Feb. 29 drew 66 runners from overseas, including 21 Group/Grade 1 winners, HRH Prince Bandar bin Khalid Al Faisal, Chairman of the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia, announced on Wednesday. The full list of runners for the eight-race Saturday card have won a combined 32 top-level races. Some of the big names in the $20-million Saudi Cup include: recent GI Pegasus World Cup winner Mucho Gusto (Mucho Macho Man) who squares off with Bob Baffert stablemate and MGISW McKinzie...
The connections of dual GI Pegasus World Cup Turf runner-up Magic Wand (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) are considering trying the daughter of Prudenzia (Ire) (Dansili {GB}) on dirt in the upcoming $20-million Saudi Cup on Feb. 29, Racing Post reported. Successful in the Nov. 9 G1 Mackinnon S. Down Under and runner-up in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup on Dec. 8, the Aidan O'Brien trainee and Coolmore representative sports nine placings at Group 1 level from 23 starts. She is one of 14 entries for the master of Rosegreen spread...
Saffie Joseph Jr. lived what many might call an idyllic life in his native Barbados. Since relocating his family and bourgeoning racing stable to Southern Florida in 2011, however, the third-generation horseman has seen his own American dream given wings as he begins to realize his childhood ambitions. After arriving in the U.S. with only two horses, the 33-year-old's operation has expanded to a team 65-strong, including Grade I winner Math Wizard (Algorithms), GI Kentucky Derby hopeful Chance It (Currency Swap) and undefeated Tonalist's Shape (Tonalist). And while Joseph points...
The inaugural US$29.2-million Saudi Cup program, to be held at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in the capital of Riyadh Saturday, Feb. 29, has attracted 964 entries from connections of horses from all corners of the globe. The meeting's centerpiece is the $20-million Saudi Cup at 1800 meters on dirt and attracted over 140 nominations from 60 different trainers from four continents, representing 16 countries. The world's richest horse race has entries from Argentina, Bahrain, Japan, Korea, Poland and Turkey, but American runners figure to take all the beating. Midnight Bisou (Midnight...
Two trainers seemed to have lost their minds Saturday at Saratoga. The result? Two graded stakes wins. In an era in racing where trainers can't space the races for their horses far enough apart, Mark Casse was setting himself up to look foolish when he dropped Got Stormy (Get Stormy) into the entry box for the GI Fourstardave H. It wasn't just that he was running a filly against boys, he was running her back off one week's rest. Seven days earlier, she had romped in the Fasig-Tipton De La...
SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY - The countdown to next year's inaugural Saudi Cup officially began Wednesday evening with a gala organized by the race's officials in the walking ring at the Fasig-Tipton sales grounds in Saratoga. The race, scheduled to be run next Feb. 29 at King Abdulaziz Racetrack in Riyadh, will be run over 1800 meters of the dirt track and will be worth $20 million--making it the world's richest race. The field will have a maximum of 14 runners, with $10 million going to the winner. Hosted by television...