Saez wins International Jockeys Challenge at Riyadh

By Duane Fonseca

Panamanian jockey Luis Saez lifted the 2023 International Jockeys Challenge (IJC) on the opening day of the two-day Saudi Cup programme at King Abdulaziz Racetrack in Riyadh Friday evening, comprehensively thwarting his rivals with the most consistent performance among the 14 riders that battled for the honours.

Eight races were part of the opening day’s programme and included the four that made up the IJC, which attracted legends of the saddle like Frankie Dettori, Joao Moreira and Yuga Kawada among a group 12 top male and female riders that had been assembled internationally. A pair of Saudi riders rounded off the numbers.

A card within a card, those riding in the IJC would battle for the ultimate prize in a pair of dirt contests for locally bred horses and two turf events deemed open to overseas bred horses as well, each of the races carrying an identical prize purse of $400,000. Based on a system that sees points being awarded to the top five finishers - winner getting 15, runner-up: 10, third-placed: seven, fourth-placed: four and fifth-placed: two - Saez sealed victory with a score of 37, the result of a win, two runners-up placings and a fifth.

Japan ace Kawada, yanked himself up the rankings to finish the runner-up after winning the last race of the IJC. Boosted by a pair of thirds, he amassed a score of 29, two more than third placed Englishwoman Joanna Mason, who had 27.

Saez started with a bang, drawing first blood as he made good use of his immense experience to successfully lead Mohammed Aldugish’s Wajaab in the 1600m handicap on dirt. Mason pulled away in the straight aboard Mohammad Alkhulifi’s Najm Alenaya, but Saez pushed hard along the rail and seized the lead 50m out to win by a half length.

Mason returned the favour in the very next race on the IJC agenda, a 1400m run for 3yos, where she found more on the back of Saad bin Khiood’s Medbaas to easily thwart the challenge Saez was looking to deliver on the back of Hamad Al Rasheed’s Kareem. Mason turned up a three length winner, but the drama continued as the third race produced a third different winner, Bauyrzhan Murzabayev nailing the 1200m handicap sprint on Hapipi Go Lucky, the Fawaz Alghareeban-trained Mehmas filly poking her head in front on the line to win ahead of Aassser, the ride of Dettori. Kawada was the fourth rider to win a challenge event, claiming the 2100m turf handicap commandingly on Salem Almaymoni’s Starcat, with Saez doing just enough to finish second, four and a quarter lengths adrift in second on Abdullah Almonif’s Incumbent.

The top contest among the four other races, $1million PA Group 2 Al Mneefah Cup was won by Saad Mutlaq’s Asfan Al Khalediah, who dominated the field under Abdullah Alawfi and coasted to a six and three fourths length victory ahead of stablemate Bint Ghaliat Al Khalediah, the ride of Fahad Alfouraidi.

Bahraini handler Fawzi Nass and jockey Alberto Sanna won the 2100m Saudi International Handicap presented by Al Rajhi Bank (turf) Qaader taking the finish with a length and three fourths to spare from Palavecino.

Action on the opening day got underway with the Fillies Mile, an event for 3yos on dirt, where Alia scored for trainer Geoff Woodruff and jockey Victor Gutierrez by a half length from Wahbat Alrahman, while the 1800m Tuwaiq Cup on dirt was clinched by the Camillo Ospina driven and Abdullah Albadah trained Electability, who was a length and a half clear of Taita at the finish.