RETIRING STARS AMONG THOSE BIDDING FOR SAUDI JOCKEYS’ CHALLENGE

As part of his ‘farewell world tour’, Frankie Dettori is among the first group of superstar riders confirmed to compete in the Saudi Cup International Jockeys Challenge at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh on 24 February. The Italian has ridden six winners from 72 rides in the kingdom and returns on what promises to be his final year in the saddle.

Dettori said: “In my final year as a jockey I want to go to as many places as possible and being able to compete in the IJC at the Saudi Cup is a huge event that I’m delighted to be a part of. “This will be one of my final chances to share a weighing room with some of the world’s greatest jockeys, and I look forward to seeing who else I’m going to come up against.

“Joao Moreira has been confirmed, as has last year’s winner Caitlin Jones, so the competition already looks pretty fierce! “I know both the dirt and the turf tracks well having ridden in Riyadh quite a lot over the years, and it’s a place I enjoy riding at as it’s very fair and the surfaces are always in great condition. “It’s also a great ‘warm up’ event for the big races on the Saturday, and of course the Saudi Cup itself, which I’d love to win.”

JONES BACK TO DEFEND TITLE

Australian rider Caitlin Jones who won last year’s IJC and has been invited back to defend her title, said: “It’s hard to believe it’s nearly been a year since I rode in the International Jockeys Challenge. It was extra special to ride alongside Glen Boss during his last hurrah and have him standing on the podium with me. That’s a memory I will never forget. “I hadn’t had much experience on a dirt track, but it was a great surface to race on.

You could travel wherever you were and if you were good enough you could win from anywhere. There wasn’t a lot of kickback, it’s an elite surface on every level. They’ve done a wonderful job with it. “I couldn’t be happier to have been asked to come back and try to retain my title and I can’t wait to be back competing in Saudi Arabia again.”

Four times Hong Kong Champion Jockey, Joao Moreira, also approaching retirement is another high profile name confirmed for the four-race challenge. He said: “I’m excited and looking forward to riding in the International Jockeys Challenge. This is a great opportunity for me to ride in a place I’ve never been before, and I wouldn’t miss a chance to ride at a different racecourse and to get that stamp on my CV.”

The second of the seven female riders to be confirmed is Canadian Chantal Sutherland, who has ridden over 1,200 winners, including three Grade Ones to date, is set to take her first rides in Saudi Arabia. She said: “It’s a huge opportunity which I’m super excited about. I’ve never been to Saudi but it’s always been on the bucket list."