Panthalassa brave in Saudi Cup triumph

It’s often said: ‘When the going gets tough, the tough get going!’

That maxim echoed loud and clear at King Abdulaziz Racetrack in Riyadh Saturday evening as Panthalassa ran spectacularly from gate to post to win the $20million Saudi Cup for Japan.

And the 6yo full son of Lord Kanaloa might have even felt alone as he saw none, experiencing only the labour of his rider Yutaka Yoshida, who was well aware of how he had made himself the one to hunt down after opting to set the pace.

Panthalassa’s last triumph was in a two-way dead heat for the Group 1 Dubai Turf on last year’s Dubai World Cup programme when forced to share the honours with Lord North. Sampling dirt for just the second time in competitive settings, Yoshida tactfully took him forward to set the pace. Fellow Japanese traveller Geoglyph gave him a fight throughout before running out of steam towards the end to finish fourth, while Bob Baffert’s Country Grammer suddenly woke up late in the race under Frankie Dettori to challenge but was only fit to finish the runner-up for the second consecutive year.

Country Grammer was three fourths behind, with Cafe Pharoah a further half length back in third for Japanese trainer Noriyuki Hori in the hands of Joao Moreira.

Japan made a statement at the finish as Crown Pride, a fourth name representing the “Land of the Rising Sun”, completed the Top 5.

Panthalassa’s success was a second on the evening for Yahagi, who sent last year’s Group 2 Godolphin Mile winner Bathrat Leon to win the Group 3 1351 Turf Sprint, under Ryusei Sakai.

Shadwell clinched a first-ever success on the Saudi Cup programme in the Group 3 Neom Turf Cup over 2100m, Mostahdaf, trained by John and Thady Gosden, finishing the race like a sprinter and leaving the rest battling for the minor honours after sitting comfortably off the pace set by Eagle’s Flight.

Kicking clear just before the turn for home, the 5yo full son of Frankel finished seven clear at the wire from the Daniel Tudhope-guided Dubai Future, who ensured a 1-2 for the UAE being trained by Saeed bin Suroor for Godolphin. A further five and three fourths back in third was Flying Visit for trainer Sami Al Harabi and jockey Ricardo Ferreira. 

Japan won three of the eight races Saturday, nicking the Group 3 Longines Red Sea Turf Handicap over 3000m for the second straight year. Stay Foolish won in 2022, while Yasutoshi Ikee’s Silver Sonic swooped in late under Damian Lane to win by two and a half lengths this year. Ian Williams’ Richard Kingscote driven Enemy, recent winner of the Dubai Racing Classic Handicap at Meydan on his last start in January, finished second.

Saudi handler Sabah Alshammri’s Commissioner King caused American Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert’s Havnameltdown to actually have one during their match race in the Group 3 Saudi Derby, winning for the hosts with a scrape-the-bottom-of-the-barrel effort under Luis Morales, the pair finishing a head clear of Frankie Dettori’s mount. A length and three fourths further behind was Derma Sotogake for trainer Hidetaka Otonashi and rider Fuma Matsuwaka.

Juddmonte flexed their muscle in the Group 3 Riyadh Dirt Sprint, Group 1 Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner Elite Power marking his return to the racecourse with a massive three and a quarter length victory under Dettori. Raced mid-division, Dettori swung his 5yo Curlin partner wide, linking up with the middle of the straight. And with the finish in sight Elite Power shifted into top gear and displayed his massive turn of foot to run away from the pack. Steve Asmussen’s Gunite took second under Tyler Gaffalione, with Koichi Shintani’s Remake a further two behind in third under Yuichi Fukunaga.

Trainer Ghaith Al Ghaith and jockey Luis Morales were the first to score Saturday, Salfan turning up a dominant eight and a half length victor for the pair in the Jockey Club Local Handicap over 1800, while Saad Mutlaq’s Tilal Al Khalediah won the 2000m PA Group 1 Obaiya Arabian Classic on dirt under Adel Alfouradi, coolly hitting the front in the straight and kicking clear after taking over from Fawzi Nass’ Alberto Sanna driven RB Rich Lyke Me to win by six and a half lengths.