Team Abu Dhabi boss expects big response from Thani Al-Qemzi as title race returns to Shanghai

RIYADH: Rattle N Roll (USA) came from the clouds to run out a comfortable winner of the Group 3 The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Cup for trainer Kenny McPeek, booking his place in the $20 million Group 1 Saudi Cup at King Abdulaziz Racecourse on Feb. 22.

Leased from Lucky Seven Stables for his Middle Eastern campaign by Saudi Arabian businessman Sharaf Al-Hariri, Rattle N Roll was well off the pace after emerging from stall 10. US Hall of Fame rider Joel Rosario patiently waited as fellow American runner EJ Won The Cup, under Mike Smith, set a strong gallop at the front.

Off the home turn, Rattle N Roll and Rosario began to make ground and, when switched towards the inside rail, the son of Connect stayed on strongly to power clear in the closing stages, winning by four-and-three-quarter lengths at the line.

After the race, Rosario said: “The horse was able to do everything. I was just sitting there, the pace was good in front and it worked out perfectly.

“It looked like it was a good pace, I just wanted to let him be where he wanted to be and hopefully he can run at the end, and he did! He just went away [after crossing the line]. It was a very good win.”

It marked a double on the day for the US-based rider, who was also successful with Ancestral Land (GB) for Saudi-based trainer Jimmy Jerkens in the Riyadh Dirt Sprint Qualifier presented by REEF.

Afterwards Rosario said: “It’s very nice to be here. We had two winners — it was a good day. There are so many things that have to go your way, but it’s a blessing when you can win.”

On Rattle N Roll’s chance in next month’s Saudi Cup over course and distance, he said: “He handled the track well and we beat good horses today. A lot of good horses are going to be coming here, it’ll be a tough race, but we’ll see what happens — hopefully, he can perform the way he did today.”

Elsewhere on the card there was a treble for Saudi-based Portuguese rider Ricardo Ferreira, including Mhally (GB) in The 2000 Guineas presented by Saudi National Bank, a qualifier for the G3 Saudi Derby.

The other qualifier for the Saudi Cup meeting was the Al-Diriyah Cup (Group 1 Obaiya Arabian Classic Qualifier) presented by Diriyah Gate ‍Development Authority, which was won by Nirehazz (FR) for trainer Omar Altuwilei and owner Mohammed Eidan A Alduhamshi.

There were also two high-profile Group 1 contests on Saturday, with The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Cup (for Saudi bred horses) won by Yaroa (KSA) under leading rider Camilo Ospina, while the SAR 5 million ($1.3 million) King Abdulaziz Cup was landed by Taj Blaadi (KSA) under Saudi Cup-winning rider, Wigberto Ramos, making it five winners on the day for Prince Khaled Bin Faisal Bin Abdulaziz’s Red Stable.

Friday’s meeting at King Abdulaziz Racecourse also included three Saudi Cup qualifiers.

The Ricardo Ferreira-ridden Malyan (GB) was a ready winner of the 1351 Turf Sprint Qualifier presented by NOVA, while Ospina was victorious in the Listed Prince Khalid Abdullah Cup, a qualifier for the G2 Neom Turf Cup, aboard Bolide Potro (IRE), formerly trained by Gianluca Bietolini in France and now a winner of two of his four starts in Saudi Arabia.

The final qualifier on Friday was the Arabian Horses Open (Al-Mneefah Qualifier) presented by Alfakhera, which was won by the Naif Alanzi-ridden Sharfa Alhezam (KSA).

The $38.1 million Saudi Cup meeting will take place at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh from Feb. 21-22.

BOSTON: The Houston Rockets have been one of the NBA’s more surprising teams this season. After their past three games, they shouldn’t shock anyone.
The Rockets beat the Eastern Conference-leading Cleveland Cavaliers twice last week before traveling to Boston and pulling out a 114-112 victory over the defending champion Celtics on Monday night.
“We’re over halfway through now and our record is what it is, so it’s not just a fluke or anything,” Houston coach Ime Udoka said. “People watch film and see the physicality and the way that we play, it’s a little different than the rest of the league, maybe that catches people off guard initially, but I wouldn’t say we’re sneaking up on anybody anymore at this point in the season.”
Houston (31-14), which is second in the Western Conference, posted its ninth win in 11 games on Monday. Its record is a few percentage points better than that of the defending NBA champion Celtics (32-15).
The Cavs and Celtics were a combined 104-28 (.788) entering their games against Houston. The Rockets became the first team in NBA history to win three straight games against teams with that high of a winning percentage, with a minimum of 40 games for each opponent, according to OptaSTATS.
Amen Thompson hit a floater over Jaylen Brown with 0.7 seconds left to give the Rockets the victory at Boston.
“We feel like we can beat anybody, and this road trip is really proving that,” Thompson said.
Led by a balanced lineup featuring Jalen Green, Alperen Sengun, veteran Fred VanVleet, Thompson and Dillon Brooks, the Rockets have been rolling since their 23-point home loss to the Celtics on Jan. 3.
“We don’t like to lose at home, especially to the Celtics,” Thompson said. “We just come in here every day and we just try to win.”
Teams around the league are taking notice of what Houston is doing. After the Cavaliers finished off their 19-point home win over Detroit on Monday, they spent time in the postgame locker room watching the Rockets’ victory.
“We’re just playing hard, playing together,” said Brooks, who finished with a 36 points against Boston, including a 10-of-15 performance from 3-point range.
“We have trust in one another,” Brooks said.
The Rockets are plenty confident, but they understand big wins mean nothing if they can’t follow them up. They’ll get that chance Tuesday night when they play at Atlanta.
“Playing some of the top teams obviously gives us some confidence,” Udoka said.