Saudi Cup Undercard: Bathrat Leon Holds Off Casa Creed

For the second straight year, Casa Creed  came up just short in the $1.5 million 1351 Turf Sprint Stakes (G3T) Feb. 25 at King Abdulaziz Racecourse as front-running Bathrat Leon  just held on in the 1,351-meter (about 6 3/4-furlong) turf test.

After racing toward the rear of the pack early, Casa Creed and jockey Luis Saez circled horses on the turn to put Bathrat Leon in their sights. After a sustained rally placed Casa Creed in contention, he found another great in deep stretch but came up just short, a head back.

Japan-based Bathrat Leon, campaigned by Hiroo Race Co and trained by Yoshito Yahagi, seized the lead early and saved ground under Ryusei Sakai to set himself up nicely for the stretch. The victory in 1:17.48 on firm turf adds to the Middle East success for the son of Kizuna , who in 2022 captured the Godolphin Mile (G2) on dirt at Meydan in Dubai. 

Trained by Bill Mott for owners LRE Racing and JEH Racing Stable, Saturday's test marked the 7-year-old debut for Casa Creed, a grade 1-winning son of Jimmy Creed  . Last year Casa Creed finished second by a neck to Songline  in the 1351 Turf Sprint before later winning a couple of grade 1 turf races in the U.S.

Songline also was back this year and was favored in the world pool betting but showed little after a bit of a slow start, finishing 10th.

Mostahdaf's Turf Cup

After tracking early leader Eagle's Flight through the far turn, Mostahdaf  unleashed a decisive move into the stretch to quickly open a wide advantage, cruising to a seven-length victory in the $1.5 million Neom Turf Cup Stakes (G3T) to start the day's Thoroughbred group stakes races.

A homebred for Shadwell, the 5-year-old son of Frankel  completed the 2,100-meter (about 1 5/16-mile) race in 2:06.23 under Jim Crowley. John Gosden, who trains the winner with his son Thady, told the international simulcast feed that Mostahdaf comes from a terrific Shadwell family and will be considered for a race on the Dubai World Cup card.

He was followed home by Dubai Future  and Flying Visit . Favored Kentucky-bred Missed the Cut  acted up before the race, was positioned wide throughout, and faded.

Silver Sonic Goes the Distance

Japan-based horses won two of the day's first three graded stakes for Thoroughbreds when Silver Sonic overwhelmed other distance specialists to win the $2.5 million Red Sea Turf Handicap (G3T).

Silver Sonic completed the 3,000-meter (about 1 7/8-mile) test in 3:06.45 on firm turf to post a 2 1/2-length win over Enemy .

Get Shirty  was third, and American-bred Big Call  fourth.

With his white-to-the-eye coat shining under the lights, Silver Sonic took command in early stretch under Damian Lane and had enough to hold off a mid-stretch charge by the runner-up. Yasutoshi Ikee trains the winner, a 7-year-old son of Orfevre  for Shadai Race Horse Co.