Benbatl leads Godolphin charge at world’s richest $20m Saudi Cup today

Saudi Arabia on Saturday hosts the world’s richest horse race, with $20 million in cash prizes on offer in the latest international sports extravaganza.

The Saudi Cup, expected to attract about 10,000 spectators, takes place at the King Abdulaziz Racetrack with the main race run over 1,800m on a dirt track with a maximum field of 14.

The winner will walk away with $10 million, second place with $3.5 million and even the 10th place finisher will go away with something.

The Saudi Cup includes another seven races on dirt and turf with prizes worth $9.2 million up for grabs.

“We are taking the first steps on a journey to bring the domestic racing product on a par with our international counterparts,” said Tom Ryan, director of strategy and international racing at the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia.

The event will “increase the sport’s following inside Saudi Arabia, as well as opening up the industry to international horses and connections to make our mark on global racing,” he said.

The Saudi Cup is set to take place in between its two predecessors as the world’s richest race — the Pegasus World Cup in the United States and the Dubai World Cup which are scheduled one month either side.

The Pegasus World Cup was the richest in the world in 2018 worth $16 million surpassing the $12 million Dubai World Cup, but it was only worth $9 million this year.

More than 60 of the world’s best thoroughbred and Purebred Arabian horses from nine countries will compete across a high-quality eight-race card.

The big name jockeys at the Saudi Cup include Italian legend Frankie Dettori and Britain’s Ryan Moore.

“We’re delighted to welcome some of the best jockeys in the business to compete,” Prince Bandar Bin Khalid Al Faisal, chairman of the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia, said.

The Saudi Cup field is weighed more towards the US entrants, who race on dirt more often than European racehorses.

A top contender is McKinzie, which was runner-up in the prestigious Breeder’s Cup Classic last year, and trained by Bob Baffert who has an excellent record in the Dubai World Cup with three victories in total.

Another American runner Maximum Security won the Kentucky Derby last year but was then disqualified and has not shown much since.

In all, 14 jockeys, 12 trainers and 12 owners will be fighting for the coveted Saudi Cup.

As many as four runners represent Dubai connections in the $20 million showpiece, led by Godolphin’s tri-continental champion Benbatl, Satish Seemar’s stable star North America and Salem Bin Ghadayer’s duo of Capezzano and Gronkowski.

On Friday, Benbatl had an easy canter around the 2000m dirt track with fellow Saeed Bin Suroor pupil Final Song, who runs in the Samba Saudi Derby.

If victorious on Saturday, the son of Dubawi will add to an already sparkling resume and hoist his career earnings over $15.7 million.

“It will be a very important race and we hope he runs well,” Suroor said. “You have seen his results in the past - he always runs well, whether in England, Australia or Dubai or anywhere. He has that Group 1 class like some of our best horses (have had).”

Strategy will be of the utmost importance, given that the bay 6-year-old has drawn barrier three of the 14 runners, with much of the speed to his outside. A stalking type, he will likely take more dirt kickback than he ever has in his career, which includes only one dirt try.

“I would like to see him handy in the race,” Suroor continued. “I would like to see him second or third early on. That would be good for him. He has speed and has proven himself on the dirt winning the Maktoum Challenge over 1900m. I think he will run a good race. He’s in good form.”

North America, a confirmed front-runner, the gingerly campaigned charge will make only his 20th start when he breaks from what appears to be an advantageous post four.

“If he doesn’t have anything in his way in the first two furlongs, I think he’s OK and will be in good shape,” Seemar said.

“Once he gets his momentum going, he’s such a big horse that that’s when his stride becomes dangerous. He is a little overlooked because a lot of people expected him to win last out, but didn’t know that he injured himself in the race. I’m not down or depressed about the loss - he hurt the frog of his hoof and was bleeding - I’m just happy that he’s fine now and training like his old self.”