Emblem Road chasing another Saudi Cup

In looking for back-to-back victories in the $20m Saudi Cup on Saturday, its Emblem Road at $15 with Betr that has his doubters are eyeing the Bob Baffert stable.

Again ridden by Alexis Moreno, who decided to ride the fourth placed Making Miracles last year, he’ll jump from 8, having last won over 1600m at Riyadh, and an unplaced start in France.

However, in being interviewed by Nick Luck owner H.H. Saud bin Salman Abdulaziz hinted victory for his Quality Road 5yo, who as a $80,000 Ocala 2YO buy was a $230,000 Keenland yearling.

With US Hall of Famer Bob Baffert again coming to Saudi Arabia to ‘win,’ It’s his 4yo Taiba who’s the $2.50 favourite, having last won the Malibu Stakes at Santa Anita by a good 4¼ lengths.

Now with Mike Smith in the saddle and from Gate 2, he last year won both the Santa Anita and Pennsylvania Derby’s, and races in the red, white and blue of Zedan Racing and partners.

A $1.7m graduate at Fasig-Tipton Florida 2YO Sale, and a $140,000 Fasig-Tipton Fall yearling, he’s by the highly successful Gun Runner from multiple black type Flattery mare Needmore Flattery.

With Emblem Road, Taiba and Country Grammer all being ‘stalkers’ and needing front runners to bring them into the race, can Country Grammer at odds of $6 hold off Emblem Road this year.

Yes, Country Grammer had it won last year for Bob Baffert, as at the 300m he tagged Secret Ambition into the straight, but it was Emblem Road coming from near last to win by half-a-length.

Going onto win the Dubai World Cup, Country Grammer was second in his next three starts last year, and having earlier won the Hollywood Gold Cup he’ll be ridden by Frankie Dettori from 10.

Also, in the patriotic tri-colours of Zedan Racing Stables, Country Grammer is a 6yo horse by the top-line sire Tonalist, the family of Etoile Montante from the winning Forestry mare Arabian Song.

Purchased of $110,000 as a 3yo at the Keeneland 2021 January All-Ages Sale from the Estate of Paul Pompa Jr, he’s a $60,000 Keeneland September Yearling bred by Scott and Debbie Pierce.

As Japan have six of the 13 runners, it’s Jun Light Bolt who’s at $7 with Ryan Moore, both Crown Pride and Panthalassa at $10, then $17 for Café Pharoah and Geoglyph and Vin de Grade $34.

With the $20m Saudi Cup being run over 1800m on the hot climate formulated Tapeta track, it’s the Saudi Derby of 1600m that was won last year by Bob Baffert’s Twirling Candy colt Pinehurst.

Again, it’s Bob Baffert verses the Japanese, with last start San Vicente Stakes winner Havnameltdown as the $2.37 favourite having last year also win the Bob Hope Stakes and Best Pal Stakes.

Sired by Canadian Horse of The Year Uncaptured, from the winning Put It Back mare Ashley’s Babe, he is a $200,000 Ocala 2022 Spring Sale graduate, being formally a $16,000 Ocala 2021 yearling.

In being the leading contender in the ‘Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby’ on 20 points for last winning the Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun, Derma Sotogake is the $6 second pick with Fuma Matsuwaka.

In also winning the Mochinoki Cho last season, he’s a ¥18m JRH July Sale yearling being by the dual Dubai Golden Shaheen winner Mind Your Biscuits, from the Kanto Oaks winner Amour Poesil.

At $7 is the Yoshito Yahagi trained Continuar who on winning the Cattleya Stakes earned him 10 points in the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby having also been second in the Mochinoki Cho.

Again ridden by Damian Lane for the Lion Race Horse Co who as a ¥70m buy at the JHR July Select Sale is by the Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner Drefong from Pan de Ring, a half-sister to Almond Eye.

Also from Japan is Ecoro Ares at $11 for Yuichi Fukunaga, $13 for From Dusk, while from Brazil it’s Es-Unico at $15 in the hands of Joao Moreira, and at $19 is Loreley representing Uruguay.