Dubai World Cup On Radar For Japanese Hero
The fourth edition of the $20,000,000 Gr1 Saudi Cup in Riyadh on Saturday went to Japan for the first time thanks to Yoshito Yahagi-trained Panthalassa (JPN) as he defeated all challengers in a historic neck-and-neck race defeated victory.
It was a jubilant Saturday night for the racing powerhouse as Panthalassa’s consistent success under experienced jockey Yutaka Yoshida meant Bob Baffert’s American raider Country Grammer (USA) once again had to settle for second place in Riyadh.
Panthalassa (back) holds off Country Grammer’s late challenge to win the Saudi Cup (Image – Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia / Erika Rasmussen)
In four renewals, victory in the Saudi Cup went to four different nations, with the Japanese winner being the latest to win the world’s most valuable race and now proving his skills on both clay and grass.
Yahagi was among the victorious trainers last year as Japan-trained runners won four races on the map and the strength of horseracing in the country was reaffirmed with three more on Saturday in front of an appreciative crowd at King Abdulaziz Racecourse.
For world-renowned trainer Yahagi, it was the second winner of the evening after Bathrat Leon won the 1351 Turf Sprint presented by stc. It was also a night to remember for owner Hiroo Race Co Ltd, who owned both winners from Yahagi.
In the final stages it temporarily looked like Japanese runners would take the top three spots, but Country Grammer finished with an outward swing to take second place with Geoglyph (JPN), half a length behind Café Pharoah ( JPN) in third place Crown Pride (JPN), both also trained in Japan and finished fourth and fifth respectively.
Last year’s winner, Emblem Road (USA), came sixth and was the best of the four locally trained runners. The winning time was 1:50.80.
Victorious rider Yutaka Yoshida said his tactic when he pulled barrier one was simply to take the lead.
“He doesn’t jump well sometimes so I focused on giving him a good start and he did it. When he took an early lead, the others didn’t put too much pressure on him. The pace wasn’t too strong for him, it was another factor for him to find his way to the line,” he added, before confirming he had braked well and then it was easy.
“Mr. Yahagi told me to race my race and I would get a good result. So I didn’t think about the surface. I just rode my race and figured if he adjusted to the track then everything would be fine. Of course they came at me on the straight, but Panthalassa always found another gear and so I kept going. It’s an unforgettable moment and I’m very happy to have ridden the winner.”
Yoshito Yahagi, Coach of Panthalassa said: “Panthalassa got off to a perfect start today. I applaud Yutaka’s jump, it was a masterly performance by the jockey. When I drew barrier one I thought it would be a great advantage for him, but it worked perfectly.
“I really can’t believe it. I don’t know if it’s real at the moment. Thank you to my staff and to my horse. This horse has only one way to go. He jumped really well when he had to and did his job. I think I was right that my feeling was right that he could handle the dirt. You know this is not easy. Japanese racing tries everything to improve and develop. Japanese horse racing has become more international. That is of course the best feeling, because the prize money is the best!
“I will discuss this with my owner after the conference and then we will decide whether we go to Dubai for the World Cup, which of course is possible. If my owners would let me go to Europe I would love the challenge. When I started training nobody knew me and if I wore a hat they knew who I was. Today I wore the same hat as at the Breeders’ Cup. I have between 200 and 300 hats. I don’t count It would be fun if they started a game betting on the color of my hat.”
Naoki Yoneyama, President of Hiroo Race Co Ltd, owner of Panthalassa, said it was the team’s win.
“I trusted Team Yahagi 100 percent, so before the race I was completely confident. I would like to share my great joy with the team.”
Frankie Dettori, who may have raced his last Saudi Cup, said repeat runner-up Country Grammar had a superb race.
“At the end of the straight I was like, ‘Oh god, I’ll be sixth’, but he just has too much heart. He wants a mile and a quarter [2000m]. Great result. They came back to me but the winning post was there.”
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