Champions Trophy: Pakistan to inaugurate Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Feb. 7

RIYADH: Last year’s 1351 Turf Sprint winner Annaf is being prepared to defend his Saudi Cup night crown on Saturday Feb. 22, with trainer Mick Appleby reporting he has emerged from a recent prep race in good form.

Hailing from Ireland, Annaf is taking the same route to the $2 million G2 event, run over 1,351 meters on turf at King Abdulaziz Racecourse, by first warming up with a solid run on the all-weather in the Kachy Stakes at Lingfield in the UK.

“He would have finished a bit closer had he not missed the break,” said the trainer. “He was beaten in this race last year before he went to Saudi though, so hopefully we head there with a good chance again.

“He’s come out of the race well and is in good form and we now just need everything to go well in the next few weeks. The track there seems very fair and hopefully he gets a good draw for the race. Rossa (Ryan) will ride him once again.”

Ryan executed the perfect waiting ride 12 months ago, and when a gap emerged up the rail as the field swung off the final bend, he produced Annaf with a winning run to fend off the fast-finishing La La Christine and Byline.

The six-year-old’s success in Riyadh was a big moment for a relatively small UK yard, but one that has proved more than capable of producing horses for the biggest of occasions, as shown with Big Evs’s success at the 2023 Breeders’ Cup.

Speaking about the international opposition once again facing Annaf, Appleby said: “There’s great prize money on offer so it’s always going to be a strong race. We’re looking forward to the challenge once again.

“Last year everyone was very welcoming and it was a great occasion. We had great celebrations when he got back home too.”

Annaf is likely to face 13 rivals as he aims to become the first back-to-back winner of the race.

Japan is seeking its third win in the contest and are set to field Ten Happy Rose, winner of last year’s G1 Victoria Mile, Ascoli Piceno, winner of the G1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies as a two-year-old, and Win Marvel.

G1 Franklin-Simpson Stakes winner Howard Wolowitz of the US will line up for American-based handler Jose D’Angelo, while Topgear, of France, an impressive winner of Newmarket’s G2 Challenge Stakes when last seen, will represent trainer Christopher Head.

Byline, from Great Britain, will again line up for Bahrain-based trainer Allan Smith, along with compatriot Ava Go Joe, with Dark Trooper of Ireland representing Qatar-based Alban de Mieulle and owners Wathnan Racing.

Listed winners Task Force (GB) Witness Stand (GB) and Goemon (GB) will also represent the UK, with Uncle (GB) and Malyan (GB) racing for Saudi Arabia and trainer Thamer Aldaihan.

MELBOURNE: Australia captain Pat Cummins and fast bowler Josh Hazlewood were ruled out of the Champions Trophy because of injuries on Thursday.
Also, batting allrounder Marcus Stoinis dropped out after surprisingly retiring from one-day internationals on Thursday.
Allrounder Mitchell Marsh withdrew last week due to back injury.
Cummins couldn’t recover from an ankle issue during the Border Gavaskar Trophy test series against India, and Hazlewood has a hip problem.
“Unfortunately Pat, Josh and Mitch are managing some ongoing injuries and haven’t come up in time for the Champions Trophy,” Australia selectors’ head George Bailey said. “While disappointing, it does present a great opportunity for other players to perform for Australia in a world event.”
Cricket Australia said Cummins and Hazlewood begin an “extended period of rehabilitation.”
Steve Smith and Travis Head are the front-runners to lead Australia in the Champions Trophy in Pakistan starting this month.
Australia is in Group B with England, South Africa and Afghanistan. It begins against England in Lahore on Feb. 22.
Australia is due to play two warmup ODIs in Sri Lanka. Fast bowlers Sean Abbott, Spencer Johnson and Ben Dwarshuis along with leg-spinner Tanveer Sangha, allrounder Cooper Connolly and opening batter Jake Fraser-McGurk have been added to the squad for the Sri Lanka ODIs.