Saudi Cup a Home Game for Juddmonte with Tacitus

Prince Khalid Abdullah has already experienced some of Thoroughbred racing's greatest thrills through his 38 years of ownership of Juddmonte Farms.

Over the decades, the highlights include Frankel carrying the stable's famed green silks with a pink sash and cap and white sleeves to victory through an undefeated career from 2010-12, and Empire Maker winning the 2003 Belmont Stakes (G1).

More recently, Juddmonte's Arrogate  stood atop racing's Mount Everest from 2016-17 when he swept to victory for trainer Bob Baffert in the Travers Stakes (G1), Breeders' Cup Classic (G1), Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1), and Dubai World Cup Sponsored by Emirates Airline (G1) en route to earning just over $17.4 million.

Since then, Juddmonte's Enable earned lasting fame as one of the greatest female turf stars when she became a two-time Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1) winner in 2017 and 2018, as well as the first horse to win the Arc and Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T) in the same year.

Yet for all of Juddmonte's impressive achievements in becoming one of the world's leading racing and breeding operations, Feb. 29 promises to be something more emotionally satisfying for Khalid than any other race when Tacitus breaks from the starting gate in the first running of the Saudi Cup, a $20 million blockbuster in their homeland of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

"The Saudi Cup definitely has special meaning for him as well as his sons, who are taking a strong interest in horse racing. If Tacitus can win, it would probably be bigger to him than winning the Dubai World Cup," Juddmonte manager Garrett O'Rourke said. "Arrogate kick-started the thrill of winning races in that part of the world for the Prince and his family, and these races are creating an awareness of what a tremendous love people like Prince Khalid naturally have for the sport of horse racing. It's why people like him have been so active in Thoroughbred horse racing for the last 30 or 40 years now. It's something in their culture and DNA. Prince Khalid and (Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum of Godolphin) have been pioneers in showing that to the rest of the world."

Khalid's involvement in the sport dates to 1979. In 1982, he bought the 890-acre Cayton Park Stud in England, which became Juddmonte Farms, and embarked on an illustrious path in racing. Since then, Juddmonte is now home to farms in the United Kingdom, Ireland, and the United States with more than 200 mares. Juddmonte's international racing stable numbers approximately 250 runners. Over the years, the outfit has been an Eclipse Award recipient for the leading breeder five times and leading owner four times. According to the Juddmonte website, aside from its 16 Eclipse Awards, Juddmonte has bred 111 group/grade 1 winners.

With the combination of such rich racing history and Khalid's heritage, it was hardly surprising that Tacitus was one of the first horses to target the inaugural Saudi Cup after the August announcement that the world's richest race would take place at King Abdulaziz Racetrack in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Tacitus was also the stable's logical choice for the 1 1/8-mile test on dirt that has attracted American-based stars Maximum Security, the champion 3-year-old male of 2019; Longines Breeders' Cup Classic runner-up McKinzie; Pegasus World Cup Presented by Runhappy winner Mucho Gusto; and champion mare Midnight Bisou.

Now 4, Juddmonte's homebred son of Tapit  is the first foal out of the champion First Defence mare Close Hatches, who scored five grade 1 victories on the dirt. The colt is a multiple grade 2 winner for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott, who has been competitive with the best runners in his crop. Tacitus was elevated to third in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) and finished second in both the Belmont Stakes and Travers.

Though he has an All-American pedigree, Tacitus will run in the Saudi Cup as a Saudi Arabian entry in respect to Khalid and his support for racing in the Middle Eastern country.

"We're delighted to be there with a representative in the race," O'Rourke said. "Prince Khalid is obviously proudly to list Tacitus as a Saudi Arabian. Hopefully, they can raise their flag over there. It's big for their country, and it's a huge event internationally. I'm delighted that everything is working out well (for the organizers of the Saudi Cup) and they have attracted the best dirt horses in the world for the race. I was hoping it would be an easier race for Tacitus, but this is great for the sport of horse racing. It's very admirable of them to put on a show like this. They have a great love for the sport."