$20,000,000 The Saudi Cup
Cafe Pharoah (JPN) – Thursday is usually a quiet day for the Japanese contenders and Noriyuki Hori’s Cafe Pharoah was no exception. He had a walk in the quarantine area followed by trotting for a lap in the training track under his assistant trainer Naoto Suzuki.
“Since he had fast work yesterday, he understands the race is close. I am delighted as all preparation has been done satisfactorily ahead of his big target,” Suzuki said.
Country Grammer (USA) and Taiba (USA) – The highly regarded Saudi Cup-bound Bob Baffert duo of Taiba and Country Grammer returned to the dirt track after a couple of easy days recovering from their Monday morning breezes.
Assistant trainer Jimmy Barnes remained confident in their condition, as his barn seeks to do one better than its runner-up efforts in the past two editions.
“They’re looking great,” Barnes said. “All was very good today, as we just took them out to stand in the gate and then galloped a mile and a quarter [2000m].”
Crown Pride (JPN) – Trainer Koichi Shintani put a saddle on Crown Pride for a relaxed hack together with his stablemate and Riyadh Dirt Sprint presented by Sports Boulevard contender Remake on the training track this morning.
“All has been well after galloping yesterday. He has plenty of early speed so I think he can get a prominent position in the race. If other horses are faster, he can chase those front runners,” Shintani said.
Geoglyph (JPN) – Hacked for about 10-15 minutes on the training track.
“There are no worries about his condition. Everything goes well. The draw number 12 has a merit, I expect he won’t have a lot of kick-back,” trainer Tetsuya Kimura said.
Jun Light Bolt (JPN) – Had a relaxed morning with hand-walking for an hour in the quarantine area. Three times Japanese Derby-winning trainer Yasuo Tomomichi said: “I originally thought he would be a capable dirt horse but since he had been quite consistent on turf I did not switch him to dirt until last summer.
“His performance after shifting to a new surface was better than I had imagined in winning three races from Listed to Grade 1 and now he is a Saudi Cup runner. The dirt track has a lot of cushion and I would describe it as in between a woodchip track and Polytrack, which I use a lot for training back home. Jun Light Bolt is familiar with those surfaces so is going to suit the dirt here.”
Lagertha Rhyme (IRE) and Sunset Flash (IRE) – “The work is done with our ladies,” trainer Naif Almindeel said.
“We just try to keep them nice and relaxed and happy at home. I think the fact they have home advantage will be important; they have very good records here and even if they are taking on the best in the world, they will run good races.”
Panthalassa (JPN) – Worked very easily as he stretched his legs on the training track for one hour and had his plates changed afterwards.
“Everything has gone as planned. He is conditioning himself very well and I am happy with that,” trainer Yoshito Yahagi said.
Remorse (IRE) – Al Rashid Stables’ contender went out at 8am accompanied by Riyadh Dirt Sprint presented by Sports Boulevard contender and stablemate Freedom Fighter. The pair had an easy morning of it, their second day on track and second after arriving from Dubai. Caroline Seemar, assistant trainer to Bhupat Seemar, was aboard Remorse and reported that all is well heading into their stiff tests.
“They went to the main track and we just had them do a little stronger hack than yesterday,” she said. “We’re super-happy with both of them.”
Remorse drew barrier seven of 13 for Saturday’s Saudi Cup over 1800m – a distance he tries for the first time. A 2000m specialist with no lack of stamina, the son of Dubawi has two wins and four seconds from seven tries over that trip.
Over 1600m, he has a victory and two seconds from three tries – with all three of those good performances over the oil-infused dirt surface of Jebel Ali, giving connections hope he will love conditions at King Abdulaziz Racecourse.
“Both are really loving the track, especially Remorse,” Seemar continued. “They’ve really settled in well. I couldn’t be happier.”
Vin de Garde (JPN) – Walked around the quarantine stable area.
“He keeps good condition and is a fit horse now. He breezed yesterday, but he was flexible this morning and had no worries. The trainer will arrive today and we will discuss the final preparation for the horse later today,” assistant trainer Kazuo Fujiwara said.