By Alan Carasso
RIYADH, KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA — There is almost no rainfall on an annual basis in the Saudi capital, but there was a flood of equine activity almost as soon as the clock struck seven on a cool Wednesday morning at King Abdulaziz.
That is because a good many of the international raiders for Saturday's Saudi Cup meeting took to the main track almost as one, causing a real stir–in one case, a bit of a scare. The Noboru Takagi-trained Ushba Tesoro (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}) (inside) and Wilson Tesoro (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}) to his outer came barreling into the final 300 meters of some fast work ahead of the Saudi Cup, but there was plenty of action up ahead of them, including a horse traveling much more slowly down at the fence. A warning scream from one of the riders caused a bit of a dust-up, not least to Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}), who was minding his own farther to the outside, but began tossing his head with all that was happening inside of him. No harm, no foul, though, as there were happily no serious repercussions.
Ushba Tesaro | Mathea Kelley/Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia
A scary moment happened this morning as USHBA TESORO and WILSON TESORO while breezing in the final stretch, encounter in their way with a couple of other horses easy galloping… thankfully all went well and all horses ended their work as planned.
Un susto ocurrió esta mañana… pic.twitter.com/MzGUUddiKn
— Agentes305 (@agentes305) February 19, 2025
Saudi Cup market leader Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}) capped off his big-race preparations with a strong blowout through the lane, his alternating red-and-white polos moving rhythmically. Trainer Yoshito Yahagi arrived in time for the Saudi Cup barrier draw Wednesday evening. Ten Happy Rose (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}), a cracking fourth at 58-1 in the GI Breeders' Cup Mile, also made a good impression as she gets ready for Saturday's G2 1351 Turf Sprint. Other Japanese gallopers to have caught the eye included the lightly raced Group 3 winner Gabby's Sister (Jpn) (Apollo Kingdom, G2 Riyadh Dirt Sprint) and Ascoli Piceno (Jpn) (Daiwa Major {Jpn}, Turf Sprint).
To digress for just a second, King Abdulaziz Racecourse is marvelous, a patch of technicolor in the middle of the vast desert. The dirt track is rich brown in color and yields nearly no noise as the horses bounce across it. The turf course at KAA is still in its relative infancy and looks in tremendous shape ahead of the weekend.
Incredibly light and soft dirt – no wonder why turf horses fare well on it. I'm certainly beginning to believe that it might be among the best dirt surfaces in the world.#SaudiCup | @TheSaudiCup pic.twitter.com/mG7p5oqdEk
— Suleiman Altaf (@SuleimanAltaf) February 19, 2025
Aidan's Army, so often a feature of the world's richest meetings, is missing this time around, but Ballydoyle is represented by 2023 G1 St Leger hero Continuous (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) in the G2 Red Sea Turf Handicap (3000 meters). Ironically, not far behind him going clockwise on the stands'-side rail was Apples and Bananas (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) (every 6-month old infant will be cheering this one on), son Joseph's listed-winning and Group 1-placed 3-year-old who goes in the G3 Saudi Derby.
Forever Young and Shin Emperor | Neville Hopwood/Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia
Trend-setting Japanese conditioner Hideyuki Mori was seen making a bee-line up the steps of the grandstand to watch the fleet-footed Jasper Krone (Frosted, Dirt Sprint) and Shin Forever (Complexity) go through their paces. The latter is pulling a 'Romantic Warrior' as he tries the dirt for the first time in the Derby.
America's sole Saudi Cup hope, Rattle N Roll (Connect), went the wrong way around the track for a lap and looks well having won the G3 Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Cup (King's Cup) a few weeks back. Former local star rider Jose Verenzuela can be counted among those who were taken by the effort of 6-year-old. Look for a more detailed piece with trainer Ken McPeek in Friday's edition.
Welcome to @KennyMcPeek who was trackside to see Rattle N Roll enjoy the sunrise at King Abdulaziz Racecourse.
Good luck on Saturday!#TheSaudiCup pic.twitter.com/thOZ0OEa9j
— The Saudi Cup (@TheSaudiCup) February 19, 2025
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