Stan Moore hopes to cap his adventures in the Middle East this winter with a huge payday in the $1.5 million Saudi Arabia Derby presented by Al Rajhi (G3) Bank displayed at King Abdulaziz Racetrack in Riyadh on February 26.
Moore is a frequent visitor from his Lambourn base to Bahrain, where Magical Wish and Wonder Elzaam competed for cred throughout the Bahrain Turf Series, but things got a whole lot more interesting in Saudi Arabia on Saturday. when the star is steady and Classic is full of hope The Wizard of Eye started his year with his first dirt track run in the group 3 event over a mile.
The contest is part of an eight-race card with $31.5 million in prize money and features the richest race in the world, the $20 million Saudi Arabia Cup (G1).
Moore, who arrived in Riyadh on February 22 after taking care of athletes in Bahrain last week, said: “He is stable and eating well. “His last three runs were in France and he’s a good tourist. As soon as I arrived I went to see him and he was very happy.
“He worked at Richard Hannon’s last week and did a good job, strong, so all is well. It’s a lot of bonus and we thought why not give it a go.
“That’s $800,000 for the winner, about £550,000. It’s not to be missed and there’s no reason to sit at home thinking I wish I’d been there.”
The coach added: “It’s been a bad start to the season. You can win 30 or 40 races in England and not win that much, but it’s going to take a bit of winning.”
Moore scored just 4 winners in England in the first nine months of 2021 before scoring 10 more in the final quarter of the year, taking him to double the number at home for the first time since 2015.
That doesn’t tell the whole story, however, with the team’s number one award-winning coach taking advantage of opportunities globally to supplement its training business in the UK.
The Wizard of Eye trains at King Abdulaziz Racecourse with jockey John Egan
“We have been a regular customer in France for a few years,” he said. “We’re going to lose about eight horses a month in August and that’s a pretty good earner for most of the year. The stats make it sound like I’m very quiet, which I am in the UK, but In France, I’ve done well. I’m running into more winners there than in the UK.
“We are running in claim races and some of your horses will be claimed for between €30,000 and €50,000. You get £13,800 just for winning a claimant in France and winning one in one. the race is like winning three in the UK in the equivalent standard competition. It’s sad but true.”
Brexit has made racing in France a less productive option than it has been in the past, which is one of the reasons Moore wants to test the waters of the Middle East this winter.
“The Turf Series in Bahrain is for horses ranked between 85 and 100 and that type of horse can sometimes be uninhabited (in the UK), he said.
“It’s the first year of the series and there have been 10 races worth £50,000 and that’s something that I think evolves every year. It’s another path you can look at and you’ll see a lot more. who will probably do it next year.
“They also let you run in local races. We won in two seconds and they ran by credit, but it’s seriously competitive. They are very competitive countries and it seems very competitive. proud of their animals. There are no easy choices.”
‘Owners know the monetization rate is slim’
Not only are trainers and owners in the UK looking for better running options for prize money abroad, but more and more horses are also being recruited from the UK for local training in the regions. jurisdictions such as Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, which are bound to have an impact on competition and sector size closer to home, and Moore believes action is needed to protect this industry in the UK .
“I think there needs to be some change in the amount of the bonus,” he said. “The owners know the odds of making money are very low unless you have a premium horse, but there are races that are currently worth £2,226 (to the winner).
“It’s a bit grim that 27 years ago you made £1,000 more by winning a maiden auction than you were winning a maiden auction now. If you lose the tough owners own, the race will only have one way.”
He added: “Most of the progressive horses I had, I had to sell. I sold the horses to Australia and the US. They were a huge loss to my yard but unfortunately that’s what it is. everyone is doing now.”
Happily for Moore, his co-owners on The Wizard of Eye, Oliver and Roy Humphrey and Alison Flavell, all wanting to keep the pony, the big European target this year is Irish Two Thousand Guineas (G1), although there is still the pick of the UAE Derby (G2) at Meydan next month depending on the results his first run on the road this weekend.
“The owners don’t want to sell. It’s one of their first horses and they’re enjoying the ride,” said the trainer, who booked veteran John Egan for a ride on Saturday.
“Whether it’s Irish Guineas or not, hopefully, this time next year he’ll win some really good races. I believe in him.”
