The Saudi Cup Trackwork News - Friday 21 Feb, 2025
Image: Facteur Cheval at morning trackwork, 19 Feb 2025
Credit: Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia //Mathea Kelly
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- Now or never for Facteur Cheval as French challenger takes on the world’s best
- Jerome Reynier’s runner arrives after encouraging warm-up
Marseille-based Jerome Reynier, handler of last year’s Dubai Turf victor Facteur Cheval (IRE), is remarkably calm for a man who is going to saddle his first starter in the US$20m Saudi Cup.
Some trainers would find the pressure of having a runner in such a high-profile event unbearable but Reynier just shrugs his shoulders.
"All the work is done. The horse has travelled over well and everyone is happy with him, so there is no need to be anxious," Reynier said.
The 6-year-old gelding enjoyed a very smooth and also relatively short passage to Riyadh, as he didn’t have to fly over from France but came from nearby Dubai, where he has been based since January in view of a prolonged campaign in the Middle East.
"Before running him in The Saudi Cup, we wanted to see if Facteur Cheval could handle the dirt track," Reynier said.
"The plan was always to take him to Dubai to test him on the track, even though the dirt there is different to the one at Riyadh. So we ran him in the Al Maktoum Challenge with the aim that he would get used to the kickback.
"We also wanted him to come from behind and to finish his race. It was a very convincing performance, which opened the doors to The Saudi Cup."
Facteur Cheval came third on that first attempt on dirt behind the Bhupat Seemar-trained Walk Of Stars (GB), who he will face again this Saturday.
There are many who believe that most turf horses will never prove anywhere near as effective on dirt but 2021 Saudi Cup winner Mishriff has to be the prime example that if there is one place horses can switch surfaces, it is the track at the King Abdulaziz Racecourse.
Again, Reynier is clearly unfazed by the doubters. "His best performance was in the Dubai Turf last year over 1800m, left-handed," he said. "It’s the same conditions in The Saudi Cup, except that it is run on the dirt.
"Facteur Cheval is a very strong individual, who always delivers, he is just a very special horse. Even if we might struggle to be as competitive as Forever Young or the other true dirt specialists, who are international champions, being placed in this race will be an achievement."
Facteur Cheval will be partnered by Mickael Barzalona, who rode him in the Al Maktoum Challenge and who as a Dubai World Cup-winning jockey has plenty of experience in these races.
"We wanted a jockey who knew how to ride dirt races and Mickael has ridden in plenty of races in Dubai," Reynier said. "He thinks that Facteur Cheval will be better suited by the dirt track in Riyadh and will also appreciate that there is only one bend and a long straight.
"His owners are Americans and have wanted to try him on dirt for ages. In fact, they wanted him to run in the Breeders’ Cup Classic last year but in a last-minute decision I preferred to run him in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes [at Ascot].
"Unfortunately we came up against Charyn, who was unbeatable. I think the moment to try him on dirt has come. At the age of 6, the horse is at the top of his game. It’s now or never."
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- Sasaki optimistic of Saudi Cup surprise with Ramjet
- Big race has been a long-term target
The Japanese rising star in the US$20m Saudi Cup is Ramjet (JPN), who aims for his first title on the global stage on Saturday.
The 4-year-old son of Kizuna has had the race as a plan for some time.
"After he won the Tokyo Derby, [owner] Koji Maeda told me that the course is the best fit for him," trainer Shozo Sasaki said.
"It’s straight and flat. The home stretch is 500m long, which is perfect for this horse. The dirt is also light, so the kick-back is not a painful factor. So the track and course are all good."
Sasaki has had overseas experiences in his career, including when Kizuna was fourth in the 2013 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in France.
"The important thing when travelling overseas is to bring the horses in the same fresh condition as they are in Japan.
"He became a little sensitive when he went into export quarantine and his appetite was going down, but it has already recovered since he arrived in Riyadh.
"Just like Kizuna, he doesn't get upset no matter what happens. He's very calm in the stable here. As I watched his gallop on Wednesday, I had goosebumps. I told the jockey[Kosei Miura] to start breezing behind Ushba Tesoro and Wilson Tesoro and to ask him a bit stronger for the last 200m.
"He was moving beautifully and his acceleration when asked was beyond my expectations. He may be conditioning by himself. He has sharpened up and been very fit for tomorrow."
Sasaki who is to retire in a year’s time, mentioned the other dangers in the field.
"Forever Young is a really, really good horse," he said. "As he has lots of overseas travels, he looks really relaxed and confident. But Ramjet finished only 0.3 seconds behind him last time and he is progressing a lot now, so the distance between him and Ramjet may become closer than before. I also think Romantic Warrior will handle the dirt surface here."
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- Howard Wolowitz an improved candidate for 1351 Turf Sprint
- Grade 1 winner represents young trainer Jose D’Angelo
In the short history of the US$2m 1351 Turf Sprint presented by Boutique Group, Americans have gone desperately close to winning, thanks to a pair of photo-finish runner-up efforts by Casa Creed, and in 2025 are represented by a capable sort in the Jose D’Angelo-trained Howard Wolowitz (USA).
Owned by Gold Square LLC and a winner of half his six starts, including the Grade 1 Franklin-Simpson at Kentucky Downs over 1300m last September, the son of Munnings has pleased his connections since arriving.
"He shipped in here perfect and he usually adapts quickly, so everything was good," D’Angelo said. "That is the key for these kind of races overseas."
In his last attempt against world-class competition, he was ninth in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Del Mar, two starts back on November 2. Since then, he was a strong winner of the Listed Holiday Cheer Stakes over Turfway Park’s all-weather surface on December 15.
"He has improved since the Breeders’ Cup," D’Angelo continued. "He surprised me. I originally thought for Breeders’ Cup that he was at his top [form], but after that race, he improved again and you could see it in the race at Turfway.
"He missed the break and he still won. Everything is good, he has the perfect post position [8 of 13)] Emisael [Jaramillo, jockey] knows him very well and we are ready."
In-form Epic Poet ready for Red Sea Turf bid
David O’Meara’s British raider has been flying in Dubai
Trainer David O’Meara takes his third swipe at Saudi Cup meeting success on Saturday when he saddles Akela Thoroughbreds Limited’s Epic Poet (IRE) in the US$2.5m Longines Red Sea Turf Handicap.
In solid form, the son of Lope de Vega enters off a half-length third in the Al Khail Trophy and a victory three weeks prior in conditions company over the same 2800m Meydan trip.
Danny Tudhope, carrying 58.5kg, rides the 107-rated charge from post 3 of 11.
"We’ve been very happy with him since he’s been in the Middle East," O’Meara said. "We had a couple of good runs with him at Meydan and he’s been training well since his last run there.
"Danny rides him and he looks like he has a nice draw and nice weight on him, so we’re hopeful for a good run."
O’Meara was previously third in the 2023 Longines Red Sea Turf with Get Shirty and fifth with Suedois in the 2020 1351 Turf Sprint.
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