The sun is setting behind the King Abdulaziz stands in Riyadh but it is the Country of the Rising Sun that will win the opening turf races for the Saudi Cup show on February 26.
The Japanese horses, all ridden by Christophe Lemaire, showed them how it’s done in sweeping three grass races, from sprint to marathon, tight finish and in sections gradient.
“Unbelievable,” said Lemaire, turning around after posting the trilogy.
For American athletes, the results are exactly the opposite.
Cat . Channel dropped at the top of the ramp during the inaugural event, the Neom Turf Cup presented by Jahez (G3). Jockey Joel Rosario was bruised but still strong enough to continue riding and Channel Cat jumped up and galloped unmanned across the ramp. In the next race, Casa Creed only a few short steps to catch the winner.
Authorization It comes as no surprise to lead the Japanese army as the winner of the Neom Turf Cup. 5 year old son of Orfevre was last seen second to the highly rated person Opposite in the Japan Cup (G1) at Tokyo Circuit on November 18. What was a bit of a surprise was his ability to take and hold an untenable lead in the 2,000 meter event (about a quarter of a quarter). mile).
With only minimal pressure in the race, the Authority had plenty left in the final pieces and won 1 1/4 by word length. Kaspar . Ebaiyra is the third.
“He was definitely the best horse in the race,” Lemaire said. “He hit the pace with ease and I knew he could stay on the trip. There was no competition.”
Coach Tetsuya Kimura said the work of the authorities is not done yet.
“The horse likes left-handed play,” Kimura said. “After the Japan Cup, it was decided to come here and then continue to Dubai.”
Tokyo Racecourse, King Abdulaziz and Meydan in Dubai all race left handed.
Lemaire took a different approach on board The song in Lawn Sprints 1351 Presented by stc (G3), allowing 4 year olds Kizuna gently to draft behind the pack lead well in the long run. When asked, she took the lead in the 100 meters and just held on, beating Casa Creed and equestrian Luis Saez by a neck Romantic happiness a third closed.
“We had a nice trip,” he said. “She used her foot swing to take the lead and in the end, she held on.”
Songline, coached by Horu Hayshi, has just two wins from her previous six starts, all in Japan, culminating in a victory in the Fuji Stakes (G2) in Tokyo in October In the final night of 2021, she ranked 15th as the most popular player at the Hanshin Cup (G2) on December 25.
Navy crown a 4 year old Godolphin by Dubai took the lead in Sprint 1351 but tired throughout the final race to finish 11th.
While Songline is a moderately long shot in the sprint, Be stupid was a bystander in the Longines Red Sea Turf Handicap (G3), unbeaten in his last 25 starts and fifth in the Longines Hong Kong Vase (G1) in his previous match in December. .
Building on her previous success, Lemaire brought her 7-year-old son Hold Gold Take the lead and play catch me if you can. They not only failed, but at the end of the game Stay Foolish also kicked with a score of 4 1/4. Sonnyboyliston best rest with favorites, Siskany the third day.
Despite the evidence of his form, Lemaire said of Say Foolish, “I’m really confident with this horse. I know it’ll stay the ride. It’s very comfortable up front and it doesn’t stop.”
Lemaire, Japan’s top racer, said wiping out grass-court events once again proves the quality of national athletes, if that still needs to be proven. But he also acknowledged the origins of those horses.
“A lot of horses have a good pedigree,” he said.
Stay Foolish’s idol, Stay Gold, is Sunday Silence’s. Songline is by Kizuna the son of Deep impact , who was diligent by Sunday Silence. And Authority’s sire, Orfevre, is also Stay Gold.
