Stars in Action on Saudi Cup Undercard

The program built around the $20 million Saudi Cup (G1) has grown in the four years since its inauguration and the supporting stakes for the Feb. 24 renewal at King Abdulaziz Racecourse continue the upward trend.

The grass features, which have achieved international ratings in quick time, range from 1,351 meters (about 6 3/4 furlongs to 3,000 meters (about 1 7/8 miles). The dirt sprint is a target for nations where emphasis on that circuit is on the upswing.

Luxembourg , a 5-year-old son of Camelot , is one of the brightest stars of the Saudi Cup undercard as he lines up for Coolmore and trainer Aidan O'Brien in the $2 million Neom Turf Cup (G2T). His 2023 campaign included a victory in the Tattersalls Gold Cup (G1) at the Curragh in Ireland, and a second in the Prince of Wales's Stakes (G1) at Royal Ascot.

Luxembourg finished the year in Hong Kong, just missing an upset over that country's local star, Romantic Warrior, in the Hong Kong Cup (G1) Dec. 10.

Romantic Warrior narrowly defeats Luxembourg to take the Longines Hong Kong Cup (G1)!

pic.twitter.com/gZ2qWgRbuO

— IFHA's Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings (@worldsbesthorse) December 10, 2023

"We think the grass race will suit Luxembourg well," said O'Brien, who originally considered sending him on the dirt for the Saudi Cup. "We think we haven't seen the best of him yet. We are hoping from now on all through this year and next year that he is really going to be a horse to look forward to."

The Neom field also boasts The Foxes , fifth in the 2023 Derby (G1) at Epsom and second in the Belmont Derby Invitational Stakes (G1T); Spirit Dancer , winner of the Bahrain International Trophy (G2) last fall; and multiple German group stakes winner Calif , one of several now under local ownership in Saudi Arabia.

The 1351 Turf Sprint (G2T) is run at that unusual distance (about 6 3/4 furlongs) and drew a field of 14 from around the globe. Godolphin and trainer Charlie Appleby, who has dominated the Dubai World Cup Carnival through the early season at home, brings Mysterious Night . The Dark Angel  gelding is hot after two straight wins at home, the last in the Al Fahidi Fort (G2) Jan. 26.

"Mysterious Night did his final bit of work on Tuesday morning before he flew to Saudi Arabia and he traveled well," Appleby said from Dubai before the barrier draw. "The team are happy, and he will take it easy there for the week."

Japan's Bathrat Leon  won last year's 1351, denying the Bill Mott-trained Casa Creed  for the second straight year. Bathrat Leon returns but has not won since last year's triumph. Casa Creed was set to try the race for a third straight year, but the plan was scrapped when he developed a fever before shipping.

Trainer Chad Brown tosses Dr Zempf  back into the international mix. The 5-year-old Dark Angel gelding, originally campaigned in Ireland, returns overseas after a somewhat disappointing 2023 in America.

Byline has won five in a row in Bahrain but the 7-year-old faces much tougher rivals here.

Art Power , a 7-year-old Dark Angel gelding, returns from an upset win in the British Champions Sprint Stakes (G1) at Ascot in his 2023 finale.

The marathon, the $2.5 million Red Sea Turf Handicap (G3T), attracted an international field of stayers, with four of the 14 from Japan. Coolmore's limited participation in the day's program includes Tower of London , a 4-year-old by Galileo.

Many of the Red Sea runners are coming off winter layoffs, compounding the handicapping challenges of international travel.

Americans Formidable in Riyadh Dirt Sprint

The Riyadh Dirt Sprint (G3), at six furlongs, finds Japan's Jasper Krone  and Remake taking on American runners Skelly  and Bold Journey , along with a big cast of locals.

Skelly, trained by Steve Asmussen, is riding a seven-race winning streak compiled at Oaklawn Park and Lone Star Park. The run includes a victory in the Count Fleet Sprint Handicap (G3) at Oaklawn last April.

Bold Journey, handled by Bill Mott, has a three-race win skein of his own, including the Fall Highweight Handicap (G3) at Aqueduct Racetrack in November. The 5-year-old son of Hard Spun   has worked his way up from the allowance ranks while racing exclusively in New York.

Remake won the Korea Sprint (G3) in September and finished second in the JBC Sprint, a local grade 1 at Oi Racecourse, in his prep for Saudi Arabia.

Jasper Krone is a graded stakes winner in Japan but is unfamiliar with dirt. He was last seen finishing seventh in the Hong Kong Sprint (G1) at Sha Tin Racecourse Dec. 10.