Photo:

Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia / Mathea Kelly

Straight No Chaser arrived from America with the billing as one of the major equine attractions of this year’s Saudi Cup meeting. He duly dazzled in the Group 2, US$2m Riyadh Dirt Sprint.

Lightly-raced for a 6-year-old but brought to a peak by trainer Dan Blacker, Straight No Chaser was last seen in November when taking the Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Del Mar. His victory in the Riyadh Dirt Sprint earns him an automatic bid for a return attempt in 2025.

Kept in training by the MyRacehorse syndicate for another campaign, Straight No Chaser was swiftly into the lead under John Velazquez and shrugged off the attentions of Jasper Krone. Velazquez pressed on over the final two furlongs and although Muqtahem emerged as a brief danger, he was kept at bay by a clear three and three-quarter lengths in 1:11.16.

“He broke really well and I was actually, after Jasper Krone came up on the outside, going to see if I could get him back a little bit and tried to grab him,” Velazquez said of Straight No Chaser.

“He started to fight me, so I just said, ‘OK, I’ll leave him alone’ and then he relaxed a little better. He broke so sharp and I was trying to get loose reins.

“Then he was looking for the bit and I didn’t want to touch him. I just wanted him to relax. All of a sudden (Jasper Krone) took back a little bit and my horse engaged and I said, ‘Let’s go’. Turning for home he was moving really well and then passing the sixteenth pole he idled a little bit and started looking around and I said, ‘Oh no, no idling here’ and he finished up well.”

“I’m just really proud of the horse and I’m glad he gets to prove himself on the global stage against the fastest horses in the world,” Blacker said.

“We’ll see how he comes out, but hopefully on to Dubai.”

Golden Vekoma overhauls Shin Forever in Saudi Derby

United Arab Emirates representative Golden Vekoma provided a major moment for British jockey Connor Beasley as he came out top in a fine finish to the Group 3, US$1.5m Saudi Derby.

Trainer Ahmad Bin Harmash targeted the one-mile dirt race after his victory in last month’s UAE 2000 Guineas. He was ridden with confidence by Beasley as the Japanese challengers quickly made their way to the head of the field.

It was Shin Forever who made the break for home under Akira Sugawara and it looked as if his move would prove decisive until deep into the straight, with Golden Vekoma wearing him down and scoring by 1 3/4 lengths in 1:38.19. It was another 3 3/4 lengths back to Saudi Arabia-based Mhally, who chased on but never threatened the top pair.

Cyclone State, the lone United States-based contender in the race, settled midfield on the outside in the early stages. The Chad Summers trainee could not keep pace around the turn and weakened to finish ninth and last.

“I am very proud,” Harmash said of Golden Vekoma. “He’s a good horse and he has a big heart, he’ll try always. He’s been running very well over the mile (1600m) so we thought we’d try here then wait for the UAE Derby.

“There was only question mark when he finished third (on debut in December), he didn’t have any experience when we ran him, since that he has been running very well for us.

“It’s good to win here, when you travel to another country it’s hard, but it’s good when you show your horse. It’s good for the UAE and good for us.”

“These were deep waters today but he showed his class,” Beasley said. It’s a big day for myself and the whole team.

“It was delightful, we were going good fractions down the back and it was just a matter of keeping tabs on them. Once I hit the straight there, he went about his job really well and galloped all the way to the line.”

“It was a really close finish,” Akira Sugawara said after riding second-place Shin Forever. “He felt really good and travelled very well, so I was hoping that he would stay on until the finish.  He has been training well over the surface throughout the week and he ran beautifully today. I was pretty confident of his chances coming into the race.”