The Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia Oct. 23 named four races as "Win and You're In" events for the second Saudi Cup program, slated for Feb. 19-20, 2021, at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh.
The "Road to Riyadh" includes the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) at Gulfstream Park Jan. 23 and the Champions Cup (G1) at Chukyo Racecourse in Japan Dec. 6 as qualifiers for the $20 million Saudi Cup.
The $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1T) becomes an entry to the $1 million Middle Distance Turf Cup, and the Capella Stakes (G3) on the dirt at Nakayama Racecourse Dec. 13 is a ticket to the $1.5 million Riyadh Dirt Sprint.
Last year's Pegasus World Cup winner, Mucho Gusto, finished fourth in the Saudi Cup. The Bob Baffert trainee, currently breezing at Los Alamitos Race Course, is pointed toward the same races in 2021.
The addition of the Pegasus Turf among the qualifiers is intended to lure top American competitors to a new aspect of Saudi racing. The JCSA installed a turf track at King Abdulaziz Racecourse specifically for the Saudi Cup program and hopes to expand grass racing in the Kingdom.
"The Pegasus races have consistently attracted the best horses in the USA since they were established in 2017, and this is exactly the caliber of runner we want to continue to welcome to Riyadh for the Saudi Cup on both the dirt and turf tracks," said Tom Ryan, the JCSA director of strategy and international racing.
"Nurturing an ongoing alliance between the Saudi Cup and established races with global followings such as the Pegasus World Cup and Pegasus World Cup Turf is key to our continued growth and development on the international racing stage," Ryan added.
The Champions Cup, run at 1,800 meters (about 1 1/8 miles) on the Chukyo dirt track, formerly was known as the Japan Cup Dirt. The Capella Stakes is contested at 1,200 meters (about six furlongs).
Ryan noted the first two finishers in the 2019 Champions Cup, Chrysoberyl and Gold Dream, both ran in the 2020 Saudi Cup. Gold Dream reported sixth and Chrysoberyl seventh.
Hideyuki Mori, who trained Full Flat to victory in the inaugural Saudi Derby, said the inclusion of the Japanese races will provide a boost to dirt racing in his homeland.
"It is the tendency that the rating of Japanese dirt horses are lower than turf horses, and therefore we need these kind of races in Japan," the JCSA quoted Mori in its announcement.
"I have just decided to withdraw Matera Sky from the Breeders' Cup to save him for the Riyadh Sprint and look forward to visiting Saudi again in February," Mori added.
Matera Sky, a 6-year-old Kentucky-bred son of Speightstown out of the Rahy mare Mostaqeleh, finished second in the 2020 Saudia Cup Sprint, giving up a huge lead in deep stretch.
The expansion of the "Win and You're In" program builds on the earlier announcement that the Saudi Cup weekend will add a $500,000 Saudi International Handicap for horses rated 85-110 from Part II and Part III racing countries as designated by the IFHA's Blue Book.
"We are keen to provide as much interest and excitement across Saudi Cup weekend as possible for all our connections and also race fans," Ryan said. "We had a good start in year one, but we will continue looking at ways to evolve our race days and support worldwide horse racing. With the Saudi International Handicap we wanted to offer a global stage to horses and connections that may not normally have this access, backed up by attractive prize money."
The JCSA said decisions relating to COVID-19 restrictions will be taken "at the earliest possible stage" regarding access to the 2021 Saudi Cup.
