Yesterday’s Review

0.75pt e/way Kayaan SB (58) – A solid performance from the selection who enjoyed his first race in public at Meydan and took advantage of his main rivals being drawn out wide. He coped well with the drop back in trip having raced in midfield. After making nice headway he took up the running over a furlong from home before his jockey appeared to take things a bit too easy in the home straight just hanging on by a head at the line. Result 1st 6/1, 11/2 adv…5/1f SP.

 

0.5pt e/way Kathab (100) – I was hoping for a more patient ride for the selection but he raced wide the whole way round and had nothing left for the finish. The first three home all saved ground on the rail.

 

0.5pt e/way Subiaco (106) – A solid enough effort from the selection who performed about a length per mile slower than his latest win. He raced prominently with an improved Arctic Steps before weakening into fourth. Result 4th 9/2 adv…10/3f SP.

 

Today’s Advice

NADEM AL MOLWK AL KHALEDIAH (10f Gp1) – Saudi Cup day is one of the most exciting days racing of the year for Flat enthusiasts and we are once again treated with a card full of Group race action. The Group 1 Purebred Arabian Obaiyah Classic (12.40) Riyadh sees 13 of the finest come together with a $2 million dollar purse on the table.

The selection returned from a near two year break back in November with a fine second place finish before getting back on the winning track his last two races. He stepped up to the 9f trip last time out following a solid Group 3 win over the mile at today’s venue when recording a (62) timefigure with what can only be described as one of the best, if not the best, Purebred Arabian performances of the past year. On that occasion he was drawn out wide in stall 9 and had to use up some early petrol to come across and race more forward. He raced in touch of the leader before making smooth headway to lead on the turn and putting 4 lengths between his nearest rival at the line. The (75) timefigure I awarded him was sensational and he looked to be powering clear all the way home. The extra furlong should prove no problem today and a kinder draw in stall 3 should allow for a smoother trip. A reproduction of that effort should make him very difficult to beat.

 

AL HARAM (8f Gp3 3yo) – The Group 3 Saudi Derby (2.00) Riyadh sees 14 contestants go to post at the time of writing and the books have decided to go with the Japanese challenge at the head of the market. This would seem fair enough considering Japan have won three of the six runnings of this contest, but this year’s entrants look to have yet shown that they deserve their place in the market based on the clock.

We have yet to see favourite Satono Voyage this year and he recorded a lowly (104) timefigure for me when last seen taking the Cattleya Stakes back in November by a length and a half from Don Erectus. The selection has been a revelation this winter season and rocks up here unbeaten in three from three. Last time out he powered clear of seventeen rivals to win by an eased down 7.25 lengths while recording a (110) timefigure in the trial for today’s race. A reproduction of that effort would have been good enough to take five of the last six runnings of this contest but there is a caveat to be added to that.

He does take his time to get into top gear and it will be up to jockey Ricardo Ferreira to try and keep him in touch with his main rivals as he will be at his strongest in the final quarter of the race. The slower the track is riding the better for him and yesterday’s winning times show the track was riding 8 lengths per mile slower than my standard. He looks a value play at the odds considering the American challenge looks less than sensational with Obliteration the best on the clock over six furlongs and My World yet to put forward a timefigure that would set the pulse racing.

 

ROYAL CHAMPION/PHANTOM FLIGHT (10.5f Group 1) The (4.10) Riyadh Group 1 Neom Cup looks a race worth getting involved with as short priced favourite Shin Emperor won a soft renewal of the race last year and has looked less than at his best this past season when failing to reach the frame in four races. The former selection will be known to readers of my Attheraces blog as he did us a favour when taking the Group 2 Bahrain International Trophy last November by three quarters of a length from Galen. He is a rock solid Group 2 performer that has put up Group 1 timefigures his last three races and I would have had him put in as favourite. He can race just off the pace and there looks to be plenty of that on today with Silawi, Galen and Alohi Alii in opposition. Oisin Murphy has been booked for the ride and the Irish pilot has been on fire this winter season at Riyadh when coming over from his UK base.

The latter selection looks a shade overpriced in the market considering he recorded a (118) timefigure when taking a Listed contest at Sakhir by 4 lengths from Hi Royal last month. This is a stiffer task but I have a lot of time for trainer George Scott who has shown on plenty of occasions that he is not a man to be taken lightly when it comes to the big contests.

 

FOREVER YOUNG (9f Group 1) – The (5.40) Riyadh is the final race on the card and it sees one of the best if not the best dirt horses in the world attempt to go back to back in today’s $20 million contest. Last seen taking the Group 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic by a half length at Del Mar from Sierra Leone today’s rivals look to be a level below what he is used to taking on. I awarded him a (123) timefigure last time out and last year was one of the races of the season when he battled down the home straight to prevail by a neck from Romantic Warrior. He had to use up plenty of energy early on from his wide draw in stall 14 on that occasion and the prominent racer should enjoy a smoother trip from stall 6 today.

His main rival would appear to be the Bob Baffert trained Nysos who sports a first time tongue tie for today’s contest. He had to pull out all the stops to get the better of Citizen Bull in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Dirt mile but he faces a rival today that he looks like he will have to raise his game another notch or two to trouble. I awarded him a (116) timefigure for that contest and providing we get the real Forever Young today the favourite should prove too strong for his rivals.

 

2pts win Nadem Al Molwk Al Khalediah (9/4 general) 12.40 Riyadh

1.5pts e/way Al Haram (14/1 Paddy Power, Skybet, 8/1 Ladbrokes, Coral 4 places) 2.00 Riyadh

2pts win Royal Champion (11/4 general) 4.10 Riyadh

0.5pt e/way Phantom Flight (20/1 general) 4.10 Riyadh

4pts win Forever Young (4/6 Wiliam Hill, Unibet, Betway) 5.40 Riyadh