1 of 2 | Romantic Warrior wins Friday’s Group 1 Jebel Hatta at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai. Photo by Steven Cargill, courtesy of Dubai Racing Club
Jan. 27 (UPI) — Candidates for next month’s $20 million Saudi Cup came from hither and yon in weekend racing, from South Florida to Dubai and to Saudi Arabia, while a mild upset in Arkansas shook up the Kentucky Derby contender ranks.
The busy few days promised some monumental showdowns in the near future. Here’s how:
The Saudi Cup
The $20 million Group 1 Saudi Cup has established itself as a premier goal of early season racing, and weekend action indicated contenders for the Feb. 22 renewal will come from many corners of the globe.
At Gulfstream Park, White Abarrio completed the reversal of a form collapse that began with his dismal 10th-place finish last year in Riyadh by destroying a quality field in Saturday’s $3 million Grade I Pegasus World Cup Invitational.
The 2023 Breeders’ Classic winner drafted behind the early speed, responded beautifully when called upon by jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. and was 6 1/4 lengths in front of his closest rival at the finish. Locked was second, a neck in front of Skippylongstocking.
The Pegasus is a natural lead-in to the Saudi race, but White Abarrio’s owners weren’t biting about plans for this year, noting that travel complications and a No. 1 gate a year ago left a sour taste.
“At this point, he doesn’t need to do anything else,” said part-owner Clint Cornett said right after the Pegasus. On Sunday morning, trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. had a slightly different take on prospects for a return to the world’s richest race after reporting all was well with White Abarrio.
“The leadership group is going to speak to each other and decide what happens with Abarrio,” he said. “The Saudi Cup is possible.”
In Dubai, Saudi Cup candidates came from three different races at three different distances and on both surfaces.
The star of the entire evening was Hong Kong’s Romantic Warrior. The 7-year-old dominated the Group 1 Jebel Hatta at 1 1/8 miles on the turf, winning by 4 1/2 lengths for the 10th Group 1 of his career in his fourth jurisdiction.
Trainer Danny Shum still has the question whether his star can handle the Saudi dirt course.
“I don’t know about the dirt,” Shum said. “He’s trialed well on it in Hong Kong. But trials are trials.”
Last year’s Dubai World Cup champ, Laurel River, was the massive favorite in the Group 3 Firebreak Stakes at 1,600 meters, looked a sure winner most of the way and then tired late to finish second to long shot King Gold.
Laurel River’s connections, noting the race ever was planned as a warmup heat, said he’s still targeted for the Saudi Cup.
And the night’s logical Saudi Cup prep, the Group 1 Al Maktoum Challenge, also produced a candidate for the $20 million blockbuster in Walk of Stars. He won easily by 3 lengths, and trainer Bhupat Seemar said the Saudi ownership certainly will covet a spot in their home field.
And in Saudi Arabia, Rattle N Roll rolled by most of the 20-horse field to win Saturday’s Group 3 The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Stakes at King Abdulaziz Racecourse, a “Win and You’re In” for the Saudi Cup.
Trainer Kenny McPeek chose that race over the Pegasus to be sure Rattle N Roll could get into the starting gate for the big race.
The Road to the Roses
Speed King led virtually gate to wire in posting a 14-1 upset victory in Saturday’s $1 million Grade III Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park. Sandman and Tiztastic completed an all-long shot trifecta with the odds-on favorite, Patch Adams, relegated to fourth. California invader Gaming finished eighth.
Speed King, with Rafael Bejarano riding for trainer Ron Moquett, got his second win from three starts. He earned 20 points on the Churchill Downs “Road to the Kentucky Derby” leaderboard.
With the five he received for finishing second in the Remington Springboard Mile in December, he jumped into sole possession of second place on the leaderboard, behind only Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner Citizen Bull.
Moquett reported Sunday that Speed King emerged from his Southwest victory in good order and will be considered for Oaklawn’s two remaining Kentucky Derby qualifying races.
In Dubai, Golden Vekoma dominated the Group 3 UAE 2000 Guineas on “Fashion Friday” night for his second straight local win, and trainer Ahmad bin Harmash said he’s bound for the Saudi Derby as the next stop in a promising campaign.
The Road to the Oaks
Take Charge Milady charged to the lead in the stretch run of Saturday’s $300,000 Martha Washington Stakes at Oaklawn Park and took charge, indeed, drawing off to win by 5 3/4 lengths.
Onyx Ten found an extra boost in the final sixteenth in Saturday’s $100,000 Xtra Heat Stakes at Laurel Park and got away from five rivals to win by 1 3/4 lengths.
Dubai
The Saudi Cup and Saudi Derby weren’t the only issues on the table Friday night at Meydan Racecourse.
Tuz continued his domination of Middle Eastern sprinters with a 3 1/4-length score in the Group 3 Al Shindagha Sprint as trainer Bhupat Seemar celebrated a very satisfactory night.
The Oxbow gelding won the Group 1 Dubai Golden Shaheen on 2024 World Cup night and has been untroubled in winning all three starts so far in the 2024-25 Carnival.
West Acre was a popular winner in the Group 2 Blue Point Sprintm going 1,000 meters on the grass, and Marbaan scored a mild upset victory in the Group 2 Al Fahidi Fort at 1,400 meters on the turf.
Turf
Spirit of St Louis raced not far back in a well-bunched field in Saturday’s $1 million Grade I Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational, swung out eight-wide into the stretch and was just along to win by a neck over Integration.
A 6-year-old Medaglia d’Oro gelding, Spirit of St Louis ran 1 1/8 miles on firm turf in 1:44.50, just 0.05 second off the course record.
Earlier on the Gulfstream card, Dashman outgamed Cash Equity in the final strides to win Saturday’s $215,000 Grade III William L. McKnight Stakes at Gulfstream Park by a nose.
At Sam Houston Race Park in Texas, Sugoi won Saturday’s $200,000 John B. Connally Turf Cup by a nose from Verstappen.
Filly & Mare Turf
Be Your Best virtually repeated her last-out victory in the Grade III Suwanee River Stakes by winning Saturday’s $500,000 Grade II Pegasus World Cup Filly & Mare Turf by a neck.
Forever After All, after three straight runner-up finishes, got the job done in Saturday’s $165,000 La Prevoyante Stakes at Gulfstream Park, winning by a nose.
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