Golden Sixty pushed, but streak rolls on to 13
Golden Sixty (Medaglia D'Oro {USA}) took his winning streak to 13, but only after a thrilling battle with Furore (NZ) (Pierro) in the G1 Hong Kong Cup at Sha Tin.
Having made a habit of winning races with relative ease during his five wins this campaign, the 5-year-old was forced to dig deep into his reserve up to the 2000 metres for just the second time in his career.
He loomed quickly at the top of the straight, with Vincent Ho swooping the Frankie Lui-trained star into contention off a slow pace, but just when it seemed that he would pull clear of his rivals, the Tony Cruz-trained Furore was in for the fight.
The pair exchanged the lead on every bob over the final 200 metres, and it was Golden Sixty's head that was down on the line as he won by a short head. Exultant (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}), finished third, another 1.5l adrift.
Waikuku wins Jubilee Cup as Healthy Happy upsets in Classic Cup
The G1 Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup over 1400 metres was taken out by the John Size-trained Waikuku (Ire) (Harbour Watch {Ire}) in the second Group 1 success of his career.
The 6-year-old, ridden by Joao Moreira, proved too strong for a gallant Southern Legend (Not A Single Doubt), with Mighty Giant (NZ) (Power {GB}) in third.
The Listed Hong Kong Classic Cup, the final lead-up event ahead of the Listed Hong Kong Derby, was won in an upset by Healthy Happy (Zoustar).
The Frankie Lor-trained 4-year-old, who raced as Leviathan in Australia led all the way under Alexis Badel to defeat Russian Emperor (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), the son of champion Australian mare Atlantic Jewel (Fastnet Rock), with dual Australian Group 1 winner Shadow Hero (Pierro) in third.
Mishriff on top in Saudi Cup
Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}) gave his Australian-based grandam Acts of Grace (USA) (Bahri {USA}) another major update on Saturday when the turf Group 1 winner took out the US$20 million (AU$25.413 million) Saudi Cup on dirt.
At the end of the 1800 metre race, Mishriff was the only one with a chance to chase down Charlatan (USA) (Speightstown {USA}) and took his task seriously when entering a duel with the 4-year-old. Charlatan reluctantly gave way in the final 100 metres to let Mishriff have the lead. The John Gosden-trained Classic winner made good work of the advantage to win by 1l with Great Scot (GB) (Requinto {Ire}) 6.5l back in third.
“Unbelievable,” said 21-year-old jockey David Egan. “I've been dreaming all my life of winning a race like this. Obviously it is the highest thing I will win for a while now; the Saudi Cup is the richest race in the world.”
Mishriff is out of Act Of Grace’s daughter Contradict (GB) (Raven’s Pass {USA}). A half-sister to Invincible Spirit (Ire) and Kodiac (GB), Acts Of Grace was sold at last year’s Inglis Sydney Broodmare Sale for $35,000.
Mishriff’s half-brother Momkin (Ire) (Bated Breath {GB}) also made an appearance on the card in the stc 1351 Turf Sprint, where he finished 3.5l behind the winning Space Blues (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in sixth.
Australian stakes winner takes out Neom Turf Cup
A winner of Flemington’s G3 Queen Elizabeth S. last out, OTI Partnership co-owned True Self (Ire) (Oscar {Ire}) successfully cut back to 2100 metres in Saudi Arabia on Saturday to win the Neom Turf Cup.
Owned by OTI with Three Mile House, the Willie Mullin’s trainee was given the task of chasing down race favourite Channel Maker (Can) (English Channel {USA}) in the final 500 metres, a challenge she relished. It took nearly the whole stretch to catch him but she stuck her nose in front with 50 metres to go and pulled away from there. In the end, she won by 1.25l with Emirates Knight (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) finishing 4.75l behind in third.
“I thought she was my best winning chance of the day, I watched all her performances and a step back in trip was a very clever move by Mr Mullins,” said jockey Hollie Doyle. “They set a generous gallop the whole way round, but I managed to track them and got the splits up the straight. Willie said she’s got one burst of speed and that’s what she had."
An 11-time winner, True Self is one of four winners for Good Thought (Ire) (Mukaadamah {USA}) with her extended family including multiple Group winner Commanche Chief (GB) (Commanche Run {GB}).
2020 Saudi Cup purse addressed
Prince Bandar Bin Khalid Al Faisal, chairman of the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia, said that he expected there to be “movement” on the US case against Jason Servis which had been holding up the payment of last year's Saudi Cup purse.
Servis was the trainer of 2020's inaugural winner of the Saudi Cup, Maximum Security (USA) (New Year's Day {USA}), who has never been awarded prizemoney for the victory.
Two weeks after the race, Servis was one of 27 people named in a criminal indictment for “widespread, corrupt scheme by racehorse trainers, veterinarians, PED distributors and others to manufacture, distribute, and receive adulterated and misbranded PEDs and to secretly administer those PEDs to racehorses under scheme participants' control,” by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York.
While the rest of the field was paid their share of the purse, including runner-up Midnight Bisou (USA) (Midnight Lute {USA}), Maximum Security's $10-million winning payout has been withheld.
"We are sort of in a hold position now waiting for the U.S. authorities to move forward with that case. We understand in the coming six weeks there will be some kind of movement on it which will allow us to move forward and bring this to a close" Prince Badar told the world news feed during the Saudi Cup.
"I feel we don't have long to wait for it, but as you said, it's an unfortunate situation. I had a soft spot for that horse. I thought he got a raw deal in the Kentucky Derby. It was fair, but he was the best horse on the day. He was a victim of circumstances that have nothing to do with the horse himself, but we have to abide by the international rules and regulations and somebody will get the prize money.
"We have paid out all of the other positions, and I feel that within six weeks, hopefully, we'll put this issue to a close.”
Jim Gagliano, the president and chief operating officer of The (American) Jockey Club, said that he had not been informed on any movement on the case.
“These are government proceedings and they don't provide updates,” said Gagliano.
Space Blues wins fifth straight in stc 1351 Turf Sprint
Godolphin’s Space Blues (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) started off 2021 just the way he ended 2020 - with a win. The 5-year-old entire won his fifth straight race on Saturday in the stc 1351 Turf Sprint in Saudi Arabia by 0.75l over Dark Power (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}).
Racing mid-pack when jockey William Buick angled him to the centre of the track and asked Space Blues to flash his speed, he complied. He raced right on by the duelling pair of Dark Power and Urban Icon (GB) (Cityscape {GB}) to win by 0.75l with Urban Icon finishing 0.25l behind Dark Power.
“It was how I hoped the race would pan out. He was the best horse and I didn’t want to go for any heroics,” said Buick. “You’d imagine this would set him for the Al Quoz."
Another well-bred son of Dubawi (Ire) for his owners, Space Blues is a half-brother to multiple Graded stakes winner Shuruq (USA) (Elusive Quality {USA}). That mare is the dam of stakes winner and multiple Grade 1-placed Antoinette (USA) (Hard Spun {USA}) with Space Blues and Shuruq out of Group 2 winner Miss Lucifer (Fr) (Noverre {USA}).
A family that has found success around the world, Space Blues shares his third dam with Australian stakes-placed runner Alexander Of Hales (USA) (Danehill {USA}) and Australian Group 3 winner Muntahaa (Ire) (Dansili {GB}).
Bankit wins John B. Campbell
It was an easy win for Bankit (USA) (Central Banker {USA}) in the John B. Campbell S. over 1700 metres on Saturday at Laurel Park as he registered his second straight stakes victory.
A veteran to the US stakes scene, Bankit patiently waited near the back of the field early on before jockey Sheldon Russell asked him to pick up the pace. By the time the field turned into the straight, Bankit was in full flight and passed the leaders in midstretch to win by 1.75l over Galerio (USA) (Jump Start {USA}).
“About the half-mile pole I felt I had a lot of horse,” said Russell. “I opted to hang him out there five wide and he just got to running. And I knew at the top of the stretch, he pricked his ears, he’s a professional horse to ride.”
Bankit is out of a half-sister to stakes winner Quiet Meadow (USA) (El Prado {Ire}), the dam of Scone Cup winner Special Missile (Smart Missile). Imported to Australia in 2011, Quiet Meadow is the dam of three winners from four to race and has yearling and weanling colts by More Than Ready (USA).
