Japan’s success on Saudi Cup (G1) day at King Abdulaziz Racecourse continued on the dirt as Remake ran down America’s Skelly in the $1.5 million Riyadh Dirt Sprint (G3) Feb. 24.
No previous grade/group 1 winners were in this field, so Koji Maeda’s Remake found it much easier to overtake his competition this year after being unable to catch United States champion Elite Power and multiple grade 1 winner Gunite in last year’s edition when he finished third.
Breaking well, the 5-year-old son of Lani settled into seventh as Skelly entered a pace duel with Japan’s Jasper Krone and Saudi Arabian-based Rebellious Stage . Saving ground around the turn, jockey Yuga Kawada angled to the outside to get a clear run at Skelly who emerged the best of the three-way pace duel. Gobbling up ground with every stride, Remake surged past to win by 1 1/2 lengths in 1:10.42 for the about six-furlong distance.
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Remake paid bettors $9.00 for the victory.
Red Lane Thoroughbreds’ Skelly held for second, mirroring the finish of trainer Steve Asmussen’s Gunite a year prior. Pantofel Stable, Wachtel Stable, and Gary Barber’s Bold Journey closed from last along the inside to finish third for last year’s winning trainer Bill Mott. Jasper Krone held fourth.
Japan has seen a lot of Saudi Cup Day success in recent years, winning three races in 2023 and four races in 2022. One race before Remake, Japan’s Forever Young also ran down an American, Book’em Danno , in the final strides of the Saudi Derby (G3).
Annaf Surges to Victory in 1351 Turf Sprint
Japan’s luck turned the other way a race later in the $2 million 1351 Turf Sprint (G2T) as their defending winner Bathrat Leon broke poorly and was pinched back soon after the start, allowing Europe to get themselves on the board as racing switched to turf.
Annaf (right) wins the 1351 Turf Sprint at King Abdulaziz Racecourse
Fosnic Racing’s Annaf showed his grit and determination. Lingering in the back of the field early, jockey Rossa Ryan held a spot on the rail and pushed the 5-year-old son of Muhaarar through a tight opening in mid-stretch, displaying a quick turn of foot to assume the lead inside the final furlong.
Japan’s La La Christine also exhibited a powerful burst to rally from behind, but her wide trip made her too late to catch Annaf, settling for second by three-quarters of a length.
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Annaf completed the about 6 3/4-furlong distance in 1:17.88 for trainer Michael Appleby, paying $34.90 for his surprise victory.
Byline was third and Win Greatest was fourth.
“I decided to go off of pure look and hope for the splits,” Ryan said. “He’s gutsy.”
Spirit Dancer Carries CAREER-BEST Form to Victory in Neom Turf Cup
Europe continued its dominance over the King Abdulaziz turf as Ged Mason, Sir Alex Ferguson, Peter Done’s Spirit Dancer pulled the upset in the $2 million Neom Turf Cup (G2T) over about 1 5/16 miles.
Spirit Dancer wins the Neom Turf Cup
Settled in mid-pack early, the 7-year-old Frankel gelding chased a decent pace set by Jack Darcy . Heavy favorite Luxembourg prompted the pace and appeared as if it would be his race to lose as they entered the stretch.
However, Spirit Dancer responded well to urging from rider Oisin Orr to rally down the middle of the track, surging by Luxembourg with a sixteenth to go and hitting the wire to the tune of a one-length victory in 2:07.10.
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Japan’s Killer Ability made steady progress after stalking the pace to finish second. Germany’s Calif nailed Luxembourg for third on the wire.
Spirit Dancer paid $29.40 for his victory.
Spirit Dancer appears to be in career-best form while winning five of his last seven races, including a victory in the $1 million Bahrain International Trophy (G2) Nov. 17. Trainer Richard Fahey expressed interest in trying him at longer distances, like 1 1/2 miles. Dubai appears to be the next step.
Tower of London Sets Track Record in Red Sea Turf Handicap
The margin of victory will not tell the story as to how much the best Tower of London was in the $2.5 million Red Sea Turf Handicap (G3T) as he overcame a disastrous trip to earn his first victory at the group level.
Tower of London wins the Red Sea Turf Handicap
Hesitating at the start, the 4-year-old son of Galileo was a step behind his competitors and angled towards the rail by Ryan Moore, saving ground throughout the early stages of the about 1 7/8-mile distance.
Japan’s Libyan Glass set a solid pace up front while pressured by Roberto Escobarr . Entering the far turn, traffic got heavy as the closers started to fire their shots.
Moore found himself in tight quarters along the rail around the far turn. Moving as far outside as he could at the top of the stretch, Tower of London had to take up on heels as tiring horses clogged the path before him. Angling inside one rival, the hole closed and Moore had to reroute to the far outside of the field.
Meanwhile, Giavellotto had rocketed past Tower of London and was engaging for the lead with the field’s former trailer Enemy , who had found a way through the traffic. Finally clear with a furlong to go, Tower of London built his momentum and flew by to beat Enemy by a head. Giavellotto finished three quarters of a length back in third.
The final time of 3:04.43 broke the track record.
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Tower of London paid $8.10 while winning for trainer Aidan O’Brien. He is owned by Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Westerberg.
