The 2023 Saudi Cup runners have been confirmed – with 13 horses looking to win the $10m first prize in the world’s richest horse race this Saturday.
- Bob Baffert’s Taiba Saudi Cup Favourite
- Frankie Dettori Eyes Big Win On Country Grammer
- Saudi Cup Runners – Horse-by-Horse Guide
- Latest Saudi Cup Betting Odds
Taiba Is The Favourite to Land Saudi Cup $10m First Prize
The Bob Baffert-trained Taiba has been put in as the Saudi Cup favourite @ 5/2 with bet365. The powerful Baffert yard are yet to win the world’s richest horse race, but in their defence we’ve only had three runnings.
Taiba will be a popular Saudi Cup betting tip to give the Baffert stable their first winner having run third behind the wonder horse Flightline in the Breeders’ Cup Classic last November. He returned after that run to win the RUNHAPPY Malibu Stakes on Boxing Day by and easy 4 1/4 lengths and with only seven career runs should still have more in improvement to come.
Top US jockey Mike E Smith, who has ridden Taiba in this last six starts, will head over to the Riyadh course to continue his partnership.
Frankie Dettori Eyes Big Pot with Last Year’s Runner Up Country Grammer
Frankie Dettori is on his farewell tour this season, after announcing his retirement last year and has been riding winner at Santa Anita in recent weeks. His next trip will be to ride Country Grammer in Saturday’s Saudi Cup – a horse Dettori is 2-from-2 on.
Country Grammer is also another trained by the Bob Baffert yard and being the general second favourite with the best UK betting sites the US-stable have a strong hand in this year’s race.
This 6 year-old was also a 1/2 length runner-up in this race 12 months ago and is no stranger to landing a big pot, having won the Dubai World Cup, under Frankie, last March
DID YOU KNOW? All three previous Saudi Cup winners were aged 4 years-old
2023 Saudi Cup Runners and Horse-by-Horse Guide
Here are the final 2023 Saudi Cup runners, riders and latest betting odds from bet365 (subject to change)
1. Cafe Pharoah
Trainer: Noriyuki Hori
Jockey: Joao Moreira
Age: 6
Draw: 13
Odds: 14/1
Grade One runner from Japan that last ran back in October when winning the Mile Championship Nanbu Hai. Has gone well fresh in the past but drawn wide in 13 won’t help.
2. Country Grammer
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Frankie Dettori
Age: 6
Draw: 10
Odds: 7/2
Runner-up in the race 12 months ago and the mount of Frankie Dettori, who is 2-from-2 on. Also won the 2022 Dubai World Cup and is as consistent as they come with a top two finish in all of his last 8 races. Draw 10 makes lifer harder than last year when drawn 1, so might need a bit of Frankie magic. Still a big player though from a big yard. Should not be far away.
3. Crown Pride
Trainer: Koichi Shintani
Jockey: Damian Lane
Age: 4
Draw: 3
Odds: 10/1
Another runner from Japan. Last seen running a neck second in the G1 Champions Cup at Chukyo – beaten by another Saudi Cup runner Jun Light Bolt. Better drawn in 3 this time and no shock to see him reverse that form.
4. Emblem Road
Trainer: Mital Almulawah
Jockey: Alexis Moreno
Age: 5
Draw: 8
Odds: 14/1
Surprise winner of the Saudi Cup last year and is back for more. Has only had two runs since that lucrative win 12 months ago, but returned with a win last month at this track. Loves the dirt (5-from-5) and loves the Riyadh track, so even though it would be a shock again – his form on this surface and at this venue means the current champ can’t be ruled out.
5. Geoglyph
Trainer: Tetsuya Kimura
Jockey: Chrisophe-Patrice Lemaire
Age: 4
Draw: 12
Odds: 16/1
Yet another runner from Japan, but a bit to prove after running down the field last time in the G1 Hong Kong Cup in December. Drawn wide in 12 also no help.
6. Jun Light Bolt
Trainer: Yasuo Tomominchi
Jockey: Ryan Moore
Age: 6
Draw: 6
Odds: 15/2
Beat Crown Pride a neck last time to land the G1 Champions Cup at Chukyo in Japan. The mount of top UK jockey Ryan Moore and has been handed a fair draw in 6. Hard to knock recent form, with three wins on the bounce and has been freshened up with 83 days off. Has a chance.
RELATED: 2023 Saudi Cup Free Bets: £300 In Horse Racing Betting Offers For Saturday’s Saudi Cup
7. Panthalassa
Trainer: Yoshito Yahagi
Jockey: Yutaka Yoshida
Age: 6
Draw: 1
Odds: 8/1
Down the field in 10th in the Kong Hong Cup last time out and is now four races without a win. Last win came in March 2022 when beating Lord North in the Dubai Turf at Meydan. Good draw in 1 helps though and having seemingly not quite stayed recently, the drop in trip is a plus. First run on dirt too but would not be without a chance from draw 1 if handling the surface.
8. Remore
Trainer: Bhupat Seemar
Jockey: Tadhg O’Shea
Age: 6
Draw: 7
Odds: 33/1
Won at Meydan in December, but that was only a Listed race. Third the last day in a G2, but beaten 8 1/2 lengths that day and with just one win from his last seven would be a big ask. Was also just under 5 lengths behind Country Grammer in the Dubai World Cup last March.
9. Scotland Yard
Trainer: Mital Almulawah
Jockey: Victor Gutierrez
Age: 4
Draw: 4
Odds: 16/1
Nice draw in 4 and heads here off the back of a very easy 10 1/2 length win at this track. Up in grade from that run, so more needed, but lightly-raced so could certainly have more to come. Could surprise at a fair price.
10. Taiba
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Mike E Smith
Age: 4
Draw: 2
Odds: 15/8
The likely Saudi Cup favourite and it’s easy to see why. This Bob Baffert 4 year was an easy winner of the RUNHAPPY Malibu Stakes at Santa Anita last time out. Prior to that was an excellent third to the wonder horse Flightline in the Breeders’ Cup Classic and with only seven career runs we’ve probably not seen then best of him yet. Well drawn in 2 and with ALL of the past three Saudi Cup winners aged 4, he ticks this key age stat too. Is the one to beat
11. Vin De Garde
Trainer: Hideaki Fujiwara
Jockey: Mickael Barzalona
Age: 7
Draw: 9
Odds: 20/1
A close third in the Dubai Turf last March but has not been out for 265 days so fitness would have to be taken on trust. Drawn wider in 9 too and you feel this Japanese 7 year-old might just find some younger legs too quick here.
12. Lagertha Rhyme
Trainer: Naif Almandeel
Jockey: Ricardo Ferreira
Age: 5
Draw: 11
Odds: 33/1
Drawn wide in 11 and recent form suggest this 5 year-old mare has a bit to find. On a plus, will get a handy 5lbs mares’ allowance from the rest but that might still not be enough.
13. Sunset Flash
Trainer: Naif Almindeel
Jockey: A Alsarhani
Age: 7
Draw: 5
Odds: 33/1
Second filly in the race, so will also get the mares’ 5lb allowance. Down the field though here the last day in a G3 race, albeit over 6f. Might do better upped in trip again, but aged 7 is not ideal. Would be a shock winner, but that’s what happened 12 months ago!
What Date & Time Is The 2023 Saudi Cup?
📅Time/Date: 5:35pm (GMT) (Saturday 25th Feb 2023)
🏇Racecourse: Riyadh
💰 Purse/Winner: $20m ($10m to winner)
📺 TV: Sky Sports Racing
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