The Saudi Cup on HPIBet Saturday, February 26
At 0h03, on February 24, 2022 • By NEWSROOM
HPIBet to present the lucrative Saudi Cup card on Saturday, February 26 from 8 a.m. The Group 1 Saudi Cup, the world’s richest race with a $20 million purse, is headlined by defending champion Mishriff and includes an international field of contenders led by Grade 1-winner Mandaloun.
The Saudi Cup, to be contested at nine furlongs at the King Abdulaziz Racetrack in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, will offer a prize of $10 million to the winner.
Continued his straightforward progression towards defending his title in The Saudi Cup on Saturday. The five-year-old was the first of the European visitors out onto the dirt track on Wednesday morning under regular work rider Ben de Paiva, followed by his stable-mate Harrovian, who is set to run in the Neom Turf Cup.
“The first day here they were both having a look at things, even though Mishriff has been here twice before,” Thady Gosden, who trains Mishriff in partnership with his father John, said. “But they are both really settled now and the weather is perfect for them, warm with a cool breeze. They are both very relaxed and have settled in well.
“Mishriff went for a trot on the training track yesterday (Tuesday) but we were released from quarantine this morning (Wednesday) so he just went out for a nice easy canter around the dirt track. David (Egan) will ride him later in the week. He obviously knows him very well but it’s always good for him to get the feel of him before the race.”
“Mandaloun just walked this morning (Wednesday), he didn’t go to the track at all,” Brad Cox’s assistant trainer Dustin Dugas said overseeing proceedings.
The talented son of Into Mischief will be returning to the track the next day (Thursday). Trainer Brad Cox will join him, having arrived in Saudia Arabia on Wednesday morning.
Bob Baffert’s Country Grammer exited his final breeze (800m on Tuesday) in top shape for connections. On Wednesday, he walked the shed row and is expected to return to the track on Thursday morning. Baffert was able to watch a video of the work from his California base.
“I liked what I saw,” Baffert said. “The reports I’m getting from my team there is that they’re happy.”
