Video: See what Géroux thinks of Saudi Crown in Saudi Cup

After a serious breeze Monday, Brad Cox-trained Saudi Crown has been working quietly toward his assignment Saturday in the Grade 1, $20 million Saudi Cup. He was back on the dirt track Thursday morning at King Abdulaziz Racecourse.

“Saudi Crown stood in the gates this morning and then had his normal routine gallop. It went very well,” said assistant Blake Cox, the son of the trainer. “We drew post 5 of 14, so we’ll probably break running and just let Florent (Géroux) find him a nice comfortable position and get him relaxed and hopefully be able to kick home.”

Saudi Cup draw: Posts, odds for $20 million race.

Géroux, the native of France who has become a leading name in America, has won most of the biggest prizes in his adopted home and is looking forward to the international challenge.

“He’s done nothing wrong,” he said. “He’s a very lightly raced horse. With more races under his belt we hope he’ll be competitive this time.”

Géroux said the 1 1/8-mile distance of the Saudi Cup should fit the 4-year-old Always Dreaming colt who is owned by Faisal Al Qahtani’s FMQ Stables.

“I think he’s more suited from a mile to a mile-and-an-eighth, and the one-turn should be ideal for him,” Géroux said. “It’s a very deep race. I’ve been on him many times before. I know him very well. The work rider has done a perfect job, and I’ll leave it to them. ... There looks like fair amount of speed in the race. It’s hard to plan the race before the gates open. You need to be prepared and have a good idea who should be close to me and in front of me and take it from there.”

Geroux partnered Mandaloun for Cox in the Saudi Cup two years ago but finished only ninth.

“I think it’s a bit different,” Géroux said. “Mandaloun came here and had run more. They were different types of horses. I’m hoping it’s not the same result.”