https://arab.news/zcbfe
- Mick Appleby stable star on course for G2 Turf Sprint defense after prep run
- Japan is seeking its third win in the contest and are set to field Ten Happy Rose
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.