Saudi Arabia
Senor shines in Saudi Cup
The Todd Fincher-trained Senor Buscador (USA) (Mineshaft {USA}) was brave in finishing second to the G1 Preakness S. victor National Treasure (USA) (Quality Road {USA}) in last month’s G1 Pegasus World Cup Invitational, that effort earned Senor Buscador an invitation to the US$20 million (AU$31 million) G1 Saudi Cup at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh.
Senor Buscador took the challenge head-on, carrying the colours of local owner Sharaf Mohammed Al Hariri in a deal brokered with joint-owner Joe Peacock Jnr, the son of Mineshaft (USA) had no such bad luck when he charged from back of the field to secure a memorable victory.
The final time of 1:49.50 established a new stakes record, just beating the mark of 1:49.59 set by Mishriff (GB) in 2021.
“We got a bit unlucky the last two races on the track, very fast with speed horses, and I never like to change the style of horses,” said winning jockey Junior Alvarado. “I always had faith in the horse and we just needed, not even luck, just a fair track and I knew we would get that today. I'm very happy, very grateful for opportunities that come along.”
Filling the placings behind Senor Buscador was the G1 Dubai World Cup winner Ushba Tesoro (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}) and Saudi Crown (USA) (Always Dreaming {USA}). National Treasure held fourth while the G1 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner White Abarrio (USA) (Race Day {USA}) faded to finish 11th.
Senor Buscador is the eighth individual Group 1 winner for Lane’s End Farm’s senior statesman Mineshaft. His dam Rose’s Desert (USA) (Desert God {USA}), who won 10 races, including the Listed Zia Park New Mexico Classic Cup Championship Fillies and Mares S. She has proven a brilliant producer, in addition to Senor Busador, Rose’s Desert has also produced the eight-time winner Runaway Ghost (USA) (Ghostzapper {USA}).
Another progeny of Rose’s Desert is Sheriff Brown (USA) (Curlin {USA}), a victor of 10 races, including the Listed Sunland Park H. and the Listed Lone Star Park Memorial Day Sprint S. winner Our Iris Rose (USA) (Ghostzapper {USA}).
Rose’s Desert has a 3-year-old filly Aye Candy (USA) (Candy Ride {Arg}), who won on debut at Zia Park in November, while she has a 2-year-old filly Rose A (USA) (Hard Spun {USA}) and a yearling colt The Hell We Did (USA) by Authentic (USA). Rose’s Desert most recently visited Into Mischief (USA).
The G1 Saudi Cup is Senor Buscador’s first Group 1 victory, and brings his record to seven wins. His other significant wins are the G2 Del Mar San Diego H. and the G3 Churchill Downs Ack Ack. Senor Buscador has been placed in two previous Group 1s.
Japan strikes in Saudi Derby
Susumu Fujita’s Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}) showed his tenacity to defeat Book’em Danno (USA) (Bucchero {USA}) on the wire in the G3 Boutique Group Saudi Derby.
Forever Young rates a top contender for May’s G1 Kentucky Derby in North America and has also achieved the mark of the highest-rated dirt juvenile in Japanese history.
Forever Young is the third Group winner and first on the dirt for the former Arrowfield Stud-shuttler Real Steel (Jpn). His dam is the G2 Santa Anita Santa Ynez S. victress Forever Darling (USA) (Congrats {USA}) and Forever Young’s first three dams all achieved black type.
His third dam Roamin Rachel (USA) (Mining {USA}) won the G1 Ballerina H. and is the dam of the Japanese Champion Older Horse of the Year Zenno Rob Roy (Jpn).
Tower Of London gives Galileo 252 Group winners
Tower Of London (Ire) provided his late Champion Sire Galileo (Ire) with his 252nd Group winner (373 stakes winners) when the Aidan O’Brien-trained galloper, ridden by Ryan Moore, saluted in the G3 Longines Red Sea Turf H.
The son of Galileo is from the Anabaa (USA) mare Dialafara (Fr), who is the dam of Capri (Ire). A victor of the G1 Irish Derby and the G1 St Leger. Dialafara has also produced the G3 Stanerra S. victress Passion (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who has also placed twice in Group 1 events. Dialafara’s latest produce is a colt by Camelot (GB), who was born in 2022.
Spirit Dancer defeats class field to secure Neom Turf Cup
Champion Sire Frankel (GB) joined his own Champion Sire, Galileo, by siring a stakes winner on the Saudi Cup program when his son Spirit Dancer (GB) took out the G2 Howden Neom Turf Cup.
The unbeaten champion Frankel is already the recipient of two sire titles in the UK and Ireland, and the 16-year-old's progeny are never far from the limelight. Spirit Dancer is one of 136 stakes winners (93 Group) on an international scale for the bay, and one of seven stakes winners out of Oasis Dream (GB) mares. The best of that septet is G1 Prix de la Foret heroine Kelina (Ire).
The third foal and one of four winners for his unraced dam Queen's Dream (Ire), Spirit Dancer's latest half-sibling is a 2-year-old by Darley’s G1 The Derby at Epsom Downs victor Masar (Ire).
