21 February 2024, Riyadh, KSA ~ Trainer comments on Post Position for $20,000,000USD Saudi Cup, to be the 9th and last race on Saturday, 24 February 2024.
Fourteen (14) horses entered:
Carmel Road (USA) – Gate 14
Abdullah Albadah, trainer: “I’m happy. He’s in good form, working well in the morning. Tough race, first time he’s run 1800m, hopefully he’ll run well.”
Derma Sotogake (JPN) – 13
Meisho Hario (JPN) – 12
Inao Okada, trainer: “The draw is not a big concern. He can race from any position.”
Ushba Tesoro (JPN) – 11
Shogo Hirose, owner’s representative: “Good to get.”
Manari Tanaka, representative: “I think he has improved since the Breeders’ Cup.”
Power In Numbers (USA) – 10
Ahmed Mohamoud, trainer. “Very happy. It’s the last number but we hope it will be the lucky number for us.”
Defunded (USA) – 9
Khalid bin Mishref, racing manager: “It was a good move from us to bring him early to Saudi Arabia, he’s acclimatised very well. We’re hoping that he’s capable to compete against those great horses.”
Hoist the Gold (USA) – 8
Dallas Stewart, trainer: “That’s the same number that Winning Colors [who he rode as an exercise rider] had when she won the Kentucky Derby [in 1988]. He travels well, he’s been to California three times, he went to New York, he looks terrific and is handling the track good.”
National Treasure (USA) – 7
Jimmy Barnes, assistant trainer to Bob Baffert: “He’s got better and better, he’s beginning to put races together, he’s really matured and loves it here. Flavien Prat [jockey] will give him a good trip and that’s all you can ask for.”
Crown Pride (JPN) – 6
Masafumi Matsuda, assistant trainer: “He’s a versatile type of horse and can race form any position. It’s the best draw for him”
Saudi Crown (USA) – 5
Faisal Al Qahtani, owner: “Very happy.”
Senor Buscador (USA) – 4
Joe Peacock, jnr, owner: “He’s been training great, he’s training really well and the team have done a marvellous job. They were patient, he’s showing up to prove everything we wanted him to be. We’re having a fabulous time.”
Lemon Pop (USA) – 3
Harry Sweeney, of owners Godolphin: “We’ve enormous confidence in our jockey, in our last race we drew the very outside and a horse had never won from that position before. Lemon Pop overcame those odds. He’s going to have to do it again but we’ll see how it goes. It’s a big ask for Lemon Pop, we’re respectful of all.”
Isolate (USA) – 2
Doug Watson, trainer: “We wanted to be drawn 1 through 9 so we’ll take it.”
White Abarrio (USA) – 1
Rick Dutrow, trainer: “He had the two-hole last time, this can’t be a problem. We’ve got the best rider, one of the best horses. It’ll be fun. We’ll be ready. He really takes my breath away every time I see him.”
~end