Saudi Cup undercard: Elite Power, Gunite go 1-2 in Dirt Sprint

Trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, Elite Power (1-1) ran out a dominant winner of the Grade 3, $1.5 million Riyadh Dirt Sprint, giving jockey Frankie Dettori the victory he craved Saturday night at the Saudi Cup meeting.

The quality the Juddmonte-owned, 5-year-old, Curlin horse displayed when winning the Breeders’ Cup Sprint was manifested again at King Abdulaziz Equestrian Field, where he put away a strong field by 3 1/4 lengths from another American runner, second-place Gunite (7-2).

“My first word has to be airplane,” Dettori said. “I was a little out of reach and asked him to get a little closer, and then the turbo just kicked in, and I was a passenger then.”

Japan challengers finished third through fifth. Remake (9-2) was two lengths farther back from Gunite in third. Justin (30-1) was fourth, and last year’s winner Dancing Prince (7-2) took fifth.

Elite Power’s winning time was 1:11.006 without a run-up for the six furlongs on the fast, dirt track.

As a contest for first place, the race was settled with a furlong to go. Dettori unleashed a lethal turn of foot from Elite Power, who had been settled in mid-pack through the initial stages.

“He’s a very laid-back horse and only does what you ask him to do, but wow, he has some turn of foot,” Dettori said. “The Abdullah family has given so much to the sport. The legacy keeps going. I love these colors, and it’s nice to give the locals something to cheer about.”

Casa Creed comes up short again

Japan sprinter-miler Bathrat Leon (8-1) made the most of his potent mix of speed and willpower, leading from gate to wire land the 1351 Turf Sprint (G3) and add another big prize in the Middle East to his résumé.

A fast-diminishing, head margin separated the Yoshito Yahagi-trained 5-year-old from the American raider Casa Creed (5-1), who also had finished runner-up in the 6 1/2-furlong race for Mott in 2022.

Bathrat Leon was sharpest from the gates and established a break of a length or so on the rail until swinging for home with jockey Ryusei Sakai appearing confident. Closing from mid-pack, Luis Sáez and Casa Creed began to reduce the margin, and with a sixteenth of a mile to go, he was a length down. But the finish line came just in time for Bathrat Leon, whose winning time was 1:17.49.

Successful in the Godolphin Mile (G2) last year, connections indicated Bathrat Leon would aim for a repeat success in the same race at Meydan next month.

Son of Frankel wins Neom Turf Cup

Jim Crowley was smiling all the way to the line after the Shadwell Estate bred and owned Mostahdaf (9-5) produced an electric turn of foot that saw him surge clear from his opponents to secure victory in the Neom Turf Cup (G3).

Relishing the faster conditions in Saudi Arabia, he flew right away toward the finish line, leaving Dubai Future (8-1) seven lengths behind him with another 5 3/4 lengths farther back to Flying Visit (55-1) in third.

Eagle’s Flight had set the pace in this 1 5/16-mile race, but Crowley immediately positioned the 5-year-old son of Frankel behind the leader, and once he left the final bend, he kicked clear to win the race with a time of 2:06.24.

It was a first victory for the former British champion jockey at the meeting. Winning trainers John and Thady Gosden had sent Mishriff to win the Saudi Cup in 2021

Silver Sonic wins as expected

For the second consecutive year the famous silks of Shadai Race Horse Company earned a comfortable victory in the Red Sea Turf Handicap (G3).

Unlike Stay Foolish’s surprise 2022 victory, Silver Sonic (2-1) was very much expected to run a big race for connections. He did just that.

Breaking alertly from post 1, the eye-catching, gray, homebred son of Orfèvre settled in the perfect position behind a lead set by returning star Subjectivist (6-1) and tracked by 2022 Ebor Handicap winner Trawlerman (3-1).

Barely moving a muscle on the Group 2 winner, jockey Damian Lane asked Silver Sonic to live up to his name turning for home as the pacesetters weakened, and the race was put to bed with aplomb.

The final time for the 2 3/8-mile contest was 3:06.46, and the margin of victory was a deceptive 2 1/2 lengths.

Enemy (5-1) rallied to cross the finish line second, three-quarters of a length to the good of Get Shirty (18-1) in third. It was another nose back to French raider Big Call (26-1).