US $2.5m The Longines Red Sea Turf Handicap
Desert Fire (GB) and Dubai Future (GB) – Both have been pleasing trainer Saeed Bin Suroor in their recent work in Dubai.
“Dubai Future looks to have a good chance in the race,” the trainer said. “He has worked well and won in Dubai in January very nicely. Desert Fire won well in Dubai last time in a Group 2. He is in great form and I think Riyadh will suit him.”
Glycon (FR) – The Jean-Claude Rouget-trained Glycon was part of the French contingency that came onto the dirt track and his work rider Lea Metayer said: “The horse is in good form, he has travelled well. Yesterday I just hacked him on the training track and this morning he went for a small canter.”
Nayef Road (IRE) – Had a quiet walk and trot on the training track this morning.
Charlie Johnston, who trains the Galileo 6-year-old alongside his father Mark, said: “He has travelled and settled in very well and has eaten up, so we are happy with him so far. He just had a walk and a trot this morning, and will head out on to the main track tomorrow morning.”
Princess Zoe (GER) – Last year’s Ascot Gold Cup runner-up has arrived in Saudi Arabia ahead of her latest assignment on the global stage and trainer Tony Mullins has been furnished with a positive bulletin from his team.
“I am on my way to Saudi Arabia at the moment, but I spoke to Jackie Carter who travelled with the horse this morning and she tells me that Princess Zoe has settled in lovely,” Mullins said. “She was travelling for 18 hours and we were happy with that part because it took us much longer just to get to France by boat. The only concern was that this was her first flight but there’s not a bother on her and she’s a bit like myself – once she’s travelling she’s happy!
“She just did a very light canter over a couple of furlongs [400m] at the training track this morning. All her work is done.”
Siskany (GB) – Godolphin trainer Charlie Appleby reported from Dubai just after his quartet of runners at the meeting had completed their final pieces of fast work in preparation.
Alongside Siskany, he has two declared for The Saudi Derby in Noble Truth and Sovereign Prince, and he also fields Naval Crown in the 1351 Turf Sprint.
“They have all done their final workouts this [Tuesday] morning in Dubai. I was very pleased with them,” Appleby said. “They will have a canter early on Wednesday morning in Dubai and then ship later that day to Saudi Arabia. Their preparation has gone well. They will be out on the main track in Saudi in the morning later in the week.”
Skazino (FR) – French trainer Richard Chotard, who, like his horse, was making his first trip to Saudi Arabia, said: “Skazino has had a good trip over. He is rather fresh and this morning he hacked and then went for a little canter. He will do some quicker work in the next few days. We shall see how he goes and maybe we will work him on the grass on Thursday. We take one day at the time.”
Sonnyboyliston (IRE) – The Irish St Leger winner did two steady laps at the training track on Tuesday morning with trainer Johnny Murtagh due to arrive to oversee final preparations from Thursday morning.
“Sonnyboyliston travelled over well,” Murtagh said. “He just did a hack canter for two laps of the training track this morning with Denis Linehan and he was happy. He’ll go to the main track tomorrow morning and then Ben Coen will ride him on the grass on Thursday morning. It’s his first run of the season but he has done well over the winter, and we’ve had him in Leopardstown so we think he is fairly fit.”
Stay Foolish (JPN) – The other trainee from internationally-minded trainer Yoshito Yahagi, Stay Foolish worked at the training track.
“As he is a very sensitive horse, I have decided to keep him to work at the training track. His appetite and condition is much better than I would have expected at the moment,” Yahagi said.
US $1.5m The Neom Turf Cup presented by Jahez
Authority (JPN) – Trotted and hacked for a half lap before cantering for a lap and quickening up for the last 400m on the turf track.
“He worked on the turf track for the first time since he arrived, but he was moving nicely,” assistant trainer Takanori Abe said. “He never gets excited and walked soundly after the work, so I think he has no issue with the new surroundings. He has been training very well so far.”
Ebaiyra (USA) – The filly travelled with stable companion Sealiway to Saudi Arabia and her trainer Francis-Henri Graffard said on Tuesday morning: “Like Sealiway, she discovered the dirt track this morning. She trotted, hacked and did a steady canter over 1200m. She travelled well and I’m happy because Ebaiyra is eating well. In fact, there was a question mark hanging over her travelling and she is in very good shape. She might go onto the turf track on Thursday morning.”
Pyledriver (GB) – “He has settled in well, he is fresh and eating up after his arrival,” trainer William Muir said. “He was happy out in the training area and he will be on the main track on Wednesday morning to canter.”
US $1.5m The 1351 Turf Sprint presented by stc
Entscheiden (JPN) – Trainer Yoshito Yahagi supervised his 7-year-old grey horse as he worked on the turf track.
“He went out on turf to get the feel of the surface this morning, and he looked very well and healthy,” Yahagi said.
Happy Power (IRE) – The Andrew Balding runner’s early training in Saudi Arabia is progressing well. The trainer’s wife Anna Lisa is set to arrive in Riyadh on Thursday.
“I’m really happy with him,” Happy Power’s rider Maddy O’Meara said. “This morning we just trotted a lap and hacked a lap of the training track and hopefully he will be out on the main track tomorrow. He looks a million dollars.”
The 6-year-old son of Dark Angel represents King Power Racing and is a seven-time winner in Britain, including the Group 2 Challenge Stakes at Goodwood.
Happy Romance (IRE) – Richard Hannon, who arrives in Saudi Arabia on Friday, is pleased with the condition of his speedy filly, who won the Super Sprint Stakes at Newbury, a sales race at York and the Group 3 Dick Poole Stakes at Salisbury as a juvenile before scoring twice over six furlongs last year as a 3-year-old, including the Group 3 Hackwood Stakes at Newbury.
“Happy Romance has settled in fine,” Hannon said. “She won’t do anything over the next couple of days, really – she might have a little hack on Thursday. She’s eaten up and I’m very happy with her.”
Lauda Sion (JPN) – Had a warm-up trotting on the dirt track before he hacked for a lap and a half on the turf track.
“He worked on turf for the first time since he has arrived but moved nicely and relaxed,” work rider Shigeki Todo said.
“He has been same as how he is in Japan. He is feeling well both physically and mentally.”
Rohaan (IRE) – “He travelled well and looks in good order.” trainer David Evans said.
Songline (JPN) – The daughter of Kizuna hacked for a lap on the dirt course before she had an easy canter for a lap on the turf.
“Everything has been well as planned. She had a gate training this morning and was able to stay calm in the gate,” travelling lad Keita Sekimoto said.
US $2m The Obaiya Arabian Classic presented by Lexus
Deryan (FR) – Just like last year, Deryan came to Saudi Arabia with Clemence Guillemin, the daughter of trainer Didier Guillemin. “He seems really well,” Clemence Guillemin said. “This morning I just took him for a small canter. Tomorrow he will go a bit faster and I will know more then.”
Hadi de Carrere (FR) – French trainer Thomas Fourcy had arrived in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday morning to see Hadi de Carrere do a slow canter on the dirt track and he said: “Today he just went for a short spin around the track. He went for a slow canter over about 800m. He had a good journey over and is in good form.”
US $1.5m The Saudi Derby presented by Al Rajhi Bank
Consigliere (JPN) – Trainer Yukio Inagaki was riding his stable hope himself and worked him on the dirt track for a lap and a half before he went to the paddock for schooling, and then he had gate training to get familiarised with the stall handler.
“I think he is feeling very well. Christophe Lemaire will gallop him on the dirt track tomorrow,” Inagaki said.
Island Falcon (IRE) – A member of Saeed bin Suroor’s team which will ship to Saudi Arabia on Tuesday evening. Following his victory at Meydan last month, the son of Iffraaj looks a strong contender for Saturday’s race.
“It was a nice win last time out at Meydan, Bin Suroor said. “All the horses who will go to Saudi Arabia all worked last Thursday and I was happy with them, Island Falcon looks in very good condition.”
Oscula (IRE) – “My staff there tell me she has shipped very well,” trainer George Boughey said.
“She is a bit of a pro at travelling having been in France on four occasions as a 2-year-old. She will have a light canter on the dirt track on Wednesday morning and then have a jump out of the gates on Thursday. I guess the main query is how she will cope with the dirt there, but she handled extremes of turf going last year, from good to firm to heavy so she was incredibly versatile, and I believe her resilience is her biggest asset.”
Sekifu (JPN) – Koshiro Take’s representative cantered on the dirt track.
“Since getting here, he has settled into the new surroundings and has been relaxed,” work rider Tomoyuki Nakajima said.
The Wizard Of Eye (IRE) – “He has arrived in good shape,” trainer Stan Moore said. “He trotted around the training area this morning and looked well to me. He will have a quiet canter on the main track on Wednesday morning at about 7am.”