Channel Maker Aims for Races in Saudi Arabia and Dubai

Channel Maker, expected to be honored later this month as America's champion older turf male of 2020, is aimed toward two grass races this winter and spring in the Middle East.

Co-owner Adam Wachtel said Jan. 15 that plans call for the gelding to race once in Saudi Arabia in the $1 million Middle Distance Turf Cup over 2,100 meters (about 1 5/16 miles) Feb. 20, and if all goes well, the $5 million Dubai Sheema Classic at 2,400 meters (about 1 1/2 miles) March 27. The Middle Distance Turf Cup is on the Saudi Cup undercard at King Abdulaziz Racetrack, while the Dubai Sheema Classic is a part of the Dubai World Cup Sponsored by Emirates Airline (G1) program at Meydan.

A four-time grade 1 winner, Channel Maker is in training in South Florida with Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott at Payson Park, where he worked a half-mile in :50 4/5 Jan. 14. The breeze was his third of the winter following his third-place finish in the Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T) at Keeneland, when he was beaten a length by victorious Tarnawa and a nose by runner-up Magical.

Last year as a 6-year-old, the gelded son of English Channel  won the Sword Dancer Stakes (G1T) at Saratoga Race Course and the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Stakes (G1T) at Belmont Park for Wachtel Stable, Gary Barber, R. A. Hill Stable, and Reeves Thoroughbred Racing. He also won the Joe Hirsch in 2018 and the 2019 Man o' War Stakes (G1T) at Belmont.

Wachtel said many of those races are again a focus this summer and fall, but that he and the gelding's other connections preferred not to run him this winter in Florida at Gulfstream Park, where he had inexplicably not finished better than fourth in five stakes starts on turf.

"Assuming everything goes smoothly, we'll run him in Saudi Arabia next and from there go to Dubai, and then bring him back, and he'll tell Bill when he's ready," Wachtel said. "We'll be in no rush. The Sword Dancer would be a goal. Will he be ready to run in June or July? I don't know. It will depend on what the trip takes out of him, if he's healthy, that kind of thing."

Channel Maker is eligible to two races in Saudi Arabia next month, including the richer $2.5 million Long Distance Turf Handicap at 3,000 meters (about 1 7/8 miles), but some of the conditions of that race make it less appealing to his connections than the Middle Distance Turf Cup. He would have to carry 62 kilograms, or about 137 pounds, as the high weight at a distance beyond those over which he has competed. 

"To do that carrying all that weight off a layoff—Bill just wasn't comfortable with the idea of that," Wachtel said.

Channel Maker has raced for Wachtel, Barber, and other partners since Wachtel and Barber bought an interest in him from Joey Gee Thoroughbreds in the fall of 2016 following a third-place finish in the Summer Stakes (G2T) at Woodbine. Bred in Ontario by Tall Oaks Farm, he has made more than $2.9 million in winning seven of 37 starts.

He is one of two grade 1 stakes winners produced by his dam, the Horse Chestnut mare In Return, the other of which is 2017-18 Northern Dancer Stakes (G1T) victor Johnny Bear.