Saudi Cup: 2 Argentina-breds pose a stiff challenge

Two fascinating arrivals from Argentina and a more experienced customer combine for a formidable challenge for owner Muhaideb Abdullah Almuhaideb and trainer Abdulaziz Mishref in Saturday’s Group 1, $20 million Saudi Cup.

El Kodigo is an authentic South American champion who extended his Group 1 haul in the Gran Premio Jose Pedro Ramirez in Uruguay early last month.

He is joined by his narrow conqueror in December’s Gran Premio Carlos Pellegrini Internacional, Intense For Me.

Khalid Mishref, the owner’s representative, explained that while these are early days for the pair, the signs have been encouraging.

"El Kodigo is looking very good and it looks like he travelled well. The next few days we’ll know where he’ll go, but the way I’ve seen him cantering, it looks good so far. We’ll see how it goes.

"I’ve noticed there are a lot of supporters from South America for him. I was highly surprised to see him on Instagram, on TikTok and Twitter. I’d like to send them a message that the horse will do well in the Saudi Cup. The previous trainer did a marvelous job and hopefully that will continue with our team."

Mishref continued: "Both are mentally prepped for 2,400 meters. We are asking them to do 1,800 meters, but both of them have run over the distance last year and won. Intense For Me arrived at the end of January, he’s had his second breeze, which was good.

"El Kodigo is different, he just arrived a couple of days ago. South American horses can do very well the first month and then they might need to adapt, but things are going well with both horses."

U.S.-bred Defunded is a hardened 7-year-old who was a Grade 1 winner in the U.S. but was seventh for his Saudi Arabian connections in last year’s renewal as well as in the Dubai World Cup (G1), when drawn in gate 9 on both occasions.

He won the second of two starts at the King Abdulaziz Racecourse this season, in the UK Cup.

Mishref added: "He hadn’t raced for a long time, we weren’t expecting him to win first time, but in the second race we thought he had improved, and hopefully he has improved again since then.

"Defunded came last year with a short amount of time and hopefully we will have luck with the draw.

"I have confidence he’ll perform very well, how far he can compete against those super horses, I don’t know, but I’m confident he’s back."

He concluded: "You can’t imagine how happy I am that we have three runners in the big race. We’re proud to be competing against the superstars of the whole world."