20 Million Reasons to Like Japanese Horses in Saudi Cup
In three weeks, Saudi Arabia will stage the inaugural AlUla Camel Cup. Locally, the race is billed as a ‘Champion of Champions’. With a $21 million prize pool, the camel race is worth $1 million more than Saturday’s Saudi Cup – and that contest is the world’s most valuable horse race!
Japanese-trained runners Bathrat Leon, Panthalassa, and Continuar during a morning workout on the King Abdulaziz racetrack. ©Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia / Mahmoud Khaled
In the camel race, the prizemoney will inevitably stay at home. Under normal circumstances, the thoroughbred prize could be expected to leave the Arabian Peninsula. But a 50/1 success for the locally-trained Emblem Road in 2022s Saudi Cup proves nothing can be taken for granted.
Japan Could Sweep up in Saudi Cup
However, all eyes will be on Japanese-trained horses on Saturday. The Land of the Rising Sun dominated the world’s most valuable race meeting of 2022. It landed an astonishing four-timer and almost claimed a fifth – with a second and third in the Saudi Derby.
This time the country has six representatives in the $10 million to-the-winner contest. Weighing up their respective chances on the form is extremely difficult. Even the best horse racing betting sites appear reluctant to have a strong opinion. But a new video – that reflects on Japan’s 2022s successes and closes by looking at its 2023 contenders – is telling.
During the seven-minute feature, trainer Tetsuya Kimura Kimura – successful at last year’s meeting – states he believes “the Japanese entries for this year’s Saudi Cup night are stronger than last year.” Look out world!
North Is the Only Place to Look
Domestically, Lord North appears to be the best bet of the day. The seven-year-old goes in Lingfield’s 2.05 pm, the Group-3 Winter Derby. This column tipped this Gosden-trained horse in this race this time last year. The gelded son of Dubawi finished second on that occasion but won £1.5 million on his next start in Dubai.
Age does not appear to be catching up with this popular horse, and on official figures, he has plenty to spare over Saturday’s rivals. As a bonus, Lord North traditionally produces his best form in the early months of the year. Whatever your horse racing betting strategy, Lord North is our idea of a banker selection.
Boothill Can Tie Down His Rivals
At Kempton Park, the tough-and-consistent Boothill can take the Coral Pendil Novices’ Chase, a Grade-2 contest due off at 2.25 pm. Since mid-October, five starts as a novice chaser have provided this Harry Fry-trained eight-year-old with three wins and two second-placed results.
One of those defeats came at the hands of Jonbon – the undefeated chaser that is disputing favoritism for the Arkle Chase at the Cheltenham Festival – so no caste was lost in defeat. The other was his most recent and highly respectable effort, where he failed to give weight and a beating to a higher-rated rival.
This latest effort – at Doncaster – suggested Boothill is ready for the step up in trip and he should find Saturday’s two-miles-four-furlongs within his compass. The Fry stables have already had two winners during the week, and so Boothill has plenty to recommend him.
