Trackwork Notes – Friday February 13, 2026

ALOHA ALII AIMS TO SHINE FOR SUZUKI AND TANAKA

Image: Presage Nocturne at King Abdulaziz Racecourse, February 12, 2026.

Credit: Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia / Neville Hopwood.

Japanese trainer Hiroyasu Tanaka has already claimed a first international success with Aloha Alii (JPN) and bids to add a second in the Group 1 USD$3million Neom Turf Cup Presented by Howden.

The 40-year-old, who established his stable in 2018 and has since recorded more than 200 wins in Japan, including three G1 victories with former Japanese dirt champion Lemon Pop (USA).

When Aloha Alii landed the G2 Prix Guillaume d’Ornano at Deauville in France last August, it marked the first time a Japanese runner had contested the race and it is relatively rare for a 3-year-old from the country to travel overseas during the summer campaign.

A former G1-winning jockey, Tanaka said: “It certainly wasn’t a typical move, although I always consider international races as options for my horses.

“Thankfully, Dr Suzuki, the owner of Alohi Alii, is very open-minded and understood my plan.”

Suzuki, a dentist by profession, has long harboured ambitious dreams.

“My dream as an owner is to win the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe,” he said, with Aloha Alii having finished 16th in that race in 2025.

“It was an unprecedented campaign for a 3-year-old but we believed in his potential. We won the prep race but the Arc was not that easy.”

Considering his chances at the weekend, Suzuki added: “We believe the anti-clockwise track will suit him.

“The race has been promoted to Group 1 and offers very lucrative prize money. Securing a G1 victory is crucial for his future career as a stallion.

“I am very honoured that he has been invited to such a high-profile race. Unfortunately, I won’t be able to attend on Saturday. I wish I could, as I was very impressed by the Saudi Arabia pavilion at Expo 2025 in Osaka.”

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JUNIOR O’BRIEN OUT TO MAINTAIN FAMILY HONOURS

Breeders’ Cup-winning trainer Donnacha O’Brien will saddle his first runner in Saudi Arabia tomorrow as Comanche Brave (IRE) drops slightly back in trip to contest the G2 USD$2m 1351 Turf Sprint Presented by Qiddiya City.

Comanche Brave makes a quick reappearance under jockey Ryan Moore following a fine effort in the Listed Abu Dhabi Gold Cup over 1600m last Saturday and O’Brien is pleased with how his 4-year-old has come out of the weekend.

“He ran well in Abu Dhabi. We had him double entered and it was always the plan if that went well that we would come here as well. He bounced out of the race and is in great form - kicking and bucking - so we see no reason not to take a chance,” O’Brien said.

The 27-year-old trainer has been trackside at King Abdulaziz Racecourse to watch Comanche Brave tick along.

“He is a horse I always wanted to bring back down to sprint distances. This is his first step in that direction. He is a horse with a lot of natural pace and hopefully that will bring out a bit of improvement, we’ll learn a bit more on Saturday,” O’Brien added.

It will be something of a family affair for the O’Brien’s on Saturday. Donnacha’s brother, Joseph, will also be well represented on The Saudi Cup undercard.

O’Brien’s older sibling has two leading contenders, Sons And Lovers (GB) and Tennessee Stud (IRE) in the G2 $2.5m Red Sea Turf Handicap Presented by Longines and Galen (GB) in the G1 $3m Neom Turf Cup Presented by Howden.

“It’s great to be here, it’s great prize money and the facilities are top-class,” he said. “Thankfully we both have horses we are able to bring out and compete with so we are looking forward to it.”

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BOTTI SEEING RED WITH PRESAGE NOCTURNE

Italian trainer Alessandro Botti is back in Riyadh for the second year running, once again targeting the G2 $2.5m Red Sea Turf Handicap Presented by Longines with Presage Nocturne (IRE), who finished fourth in the race last year and is hoping for better luck this time around.

“Last year, he didn’t have a lot of luck with the draw and also lacked luck in running,” Botti, who is based in Chantilly, France, said.

“Christophe [Soumillon, jockey] and I decided that we would ride him from the back but he didn’t really have a horse to take him all the way and so he got the front a bit too soon. He came with a big run and I thought for a moment that he was going to win, but then, in the final part of the race he weakened.”

Since his last start at King Abdulaziz Racecourse, the 6-year-old grey son of Wootton Bassett (GB), has continued to rack up the air miles with a trip to Australia for the G1 Melbourne Cup.

“He ran well in the Caulfield Cup where he finished fourth and then he was the leading chance for the Melbourne Cup,” Botti continued.

“It was a big field, though, in the Melbourne Cup and it didn’t go to plan, which was a bit disappointing. However, he had a nice break after the race and has come back in great form. He loves to travel and he has matured since.”

Presage Nocturne, who will be partnered by Stephane Pasquier, his regular rider since his return from Riyadh last year, will have to carry top weight in the race, and Botti added: “He is one of the class horses in the race.

“It’s not an advantage that he has to carry top weight but at least there are not 24 runners like in Melbourne. My team is very pleased with him and I hope that, seeing he is more mature now, he can run well.”

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BURDETT ROAD READY TO TAKE THE JUMP FOR OWEN

Burdett Road (GB) is a bit of a novelty for the G2 $2.5m Red Sea Turf Handicap Presented by Longines as last year he was one of the best jump horses in Britain and even finished second in the Champion Hurdle at the world-famous Cheltenham Festival.

However, trainer James Owen has a remarkable reputation with horses running in nearly every discipline and he is hopeful that the gelding, who returned to the Flat with a solid second in a 2800m conditions race at Meydan on January 2, can make his presence felt.

“He’s stayed out in Dubai since he ran,” Owen said. “He ran well in his prep. He stayed well there, finished strong, settled nicely and will appreciate the step up [in trip]. It’s a tough race but he’s a hardy horse.

“Due to a technical error he couldn’t train on Wednesday, he just walked, but he came out for a hack on Thursday on the grass and a final little canter on Friday. He’s as fit as a flea anyway.”

Assessing Burdett Road overall, Owen added: “Three months ago I think he was running in a chase at Cheltenham so it’s a lot different profile to the others but he’s enjoying the sun and we had this race in the back of our mind.

“It’s great prize-money and our first ever time in Saudi Arabia, so it’s lovely to be here and I think he does have the right profile for it.”

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