The Saudi Cup, with a purse of $20 million at Riyadh’s King Abdulaziz Racetrack, is the richest horse race in the world. It’s no surprise Saturday’s 14-horse field is quite stellar. Headlining horse racing betting markets is defending champion Mishriff, (jockey David Egan, outside post position No. 14), who opened as the morning-line wagering favorite at 2-1, or +200.
Mishriff has to get past a strong American charge, however. Mandaloun, Country Grammer, Midnight Bourbon and Art Collector are all looking to win the riches in the desert.
Mandaloun Seeking More Glory
It has been a strange week for connections of Mandaloun. The 4-year-old colt crossed the line second behind Medina Spirit in the 2021 Kentucky Derby but was placed first after Medina Spirit’s post-race medication disqualification.
So, not only does Mandaloun get the prestige of being a Derby champion-albeit months late-but his connections get a healthy $1.2 million purse boost (difference between the first- and second-place finish). It’s not quite chump change, though compared to what he could win in the Saudi Cup, let’s just say it’s another pay grade.
He is seeking his fifth consecutive win after taking the Louisiana Stakes last month at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans. Mandaloun defeated Midnight Bourbon-one of his rivals here-so the form checks out.
Since arriving in Saudi Arabia, the son of Into Mischief has settled in nicely according to Dustin Dugas, assistant to trainer Brad Cox.
“We gave him a nice easy day. He came out of the breeze in really good order. He jogged up sound and he ate up everything last night. Also had really good energy this morning, he was very happy with himself. We move forward from here,” Dugas told Horseracingnation.
He’s opened on the second line of betting in parimutuel odds, with a morning line of 9-2, or +450. That’s a fair price for one of America’s best thoroughbreds. We expect his racing odds to hold firm, so bettors can feel confident getting around that price. Florent Geroux rides from post position No. 6.
Pick: Mandaloun (9-2 morning-line odds, or +450)
Art Collector Collecting Wins
We love seeing horses that consistently win, and Art Collector fits the bill. The Bill Mott-trained son of Bernardini wasn’t able to hang with the likes of Knicks Go and Medina Spirit in the Breeders’ Cup, but he looked excellent winning his three prior starts. He won the Charles Town Classic against an easy field, before knocking off the likes of Maxfield in the Woodward.
Wins like that hold him in good stead for the Saudi Cup, and reports about his morning works have been positive.
“We had a nice three-eighths (of a mile) breeze this morning. I just wanted to see how he was getting hold of the surface, how he felt doing it and how his energy was doing it, everything was good,” assistant trainer Neil Poznansky told The Paulick Report.
“He’s adapted well to the track, he’s been aggressive. He likes to train.”
Bettors are getting excellent Saudi Cup odds for Art Collector, with a morning line (early odds) of 8-1, or +800. It’s a value price for a proven winner who could make the rise in class. Art Collector, ridden by Luis Saez, drew post position No. 9.
Pick: Art Collector (8-1 morning-line odds, or +800)
Baffert Looking to Silence Critics
It hasn’t been an easy week for Bob Baffert, who’s unable to escape the negative press.
After his Medina Spirit was disqualified from his “win” in the 2021 Kentucky Derby (see above), Baffert could be offered some temporary respite in the form of Country Grammer, the Hollywood Gold Cup winner whose “desert” early odds are at 12-1, or +1200.
The 5-year-old son of Tonalist was much shorter in the betting, but he has been a notable drifter despite securing the inside draw. Flavien Prat has the assignment.
Baffert was pleased with what he saw when Country Grammer arrived in Saudi Arabia.
“I liked what I saw,” he said. “(All horses) shipped well and they’re moving well and that’s what you want to see in the final work. The reports I’m getting from my team there is that they’re happy with how they went, came back and cooled out.”
We expect him to use the inside draw to his advantage and put himself on or near the lead. If he gets a soft pace, Country Grammer could be right there in the finish at value odds.
Pick: Country Grammer (12-1 morning-line odds, or +1200).
