Whistle jacket
Massive weekend in Saudi Arabia
Starting off with the Jockeys Challenge on Friday.
Unfortunately no luck for Angela Jones but she said after she had enjoyed the experience and even Hollie Doyle finished down the bottom of the table. It was Mickael Barzalona who took the honours ahead of French/Norwegian jockey Frida Valle-Skar who won the first race. Barzalona won both turf races. German jockey Nina Baltromei (the first female rider to ride in – and win - the German Derby) was third.
Saturday's program started off with a couple of local races and then it was down to the serious stuff with Al Haram winning the Saudi Derby – and an entry into the Breeders' Cup under local jockey Riccardo Fereira. Steve Asmussen's Obliteration ran second under Joel Rosario and Satono Voyage ran third.
The Dirt Sprint went to Bob Baffert's Imagination who impressed in defeating Just Beat The Odds and Muqtahem.
The Turf Sprint also went the way of the Americans with Reef Runner just getting the head bob in over Lazzat who was favourite. Irish Commanche Brave who is with Donnacha O'Brien came third in a good run.
The Neom Turf over 2100m went to Royal Champion for a very happy Karl Burke with Oisin Murphy in the irons, finishing 4 ¾ lengths ahead of Facteur Cheval who was back in Riyadh again, and George Boughey's Survie was third.
The Red Sea Turf Handicap over 3000m was a bit of an upset as it went to Joseph O'Brien's "other" runner Sons and Lovers and his Tennessee Stud finished further back.
Tabletalk was second and Tarriance third.
And then it was the big one – the Saudi Cup – and the answer to the question we posed "Forever Young forever victorious?" was yes. He is an amazing horse with both the strength of body and mind to not let anything pass him near the finish. Sakai had to guide him patiently out of a couple of tight spots but horse and rider are as one in these races and Forever Young has now become the winner of the most prize money in the world. As for his future? The immediate reaction was that he would go to Dubai and that might be it but then they speculated on the possibility of coming back next year! Nysos did his best to run second but he seemed to wobble a bit in the last 50m. We were also delighted when James Doyle rode Tumbarumba into third place. We haven't been able to find a connection with the town but none the less all the Aussies were cheering for him.
The race – and the whole program – did not disappoint.
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