Racing Preview

We are delighted to welcome you to King Khalid Racecourse for the 14th meeting of the season. Today’s nine-race card consists of a mixture of maiden and open races, culminating in an SAR95,000 Open race over 2000m. The day’s action begins with a locally-bred horses’ maiden over 1200m. Eddie Castro’s ride, Chief Havoc colt Ambabee, looks to be an interesting debutant. Out of a winning mare, he is half-brother to a winner over 1400m and 1600m. A nice inside draw for his first race provides favourable conditions and he could go well. Our second race, for winners of one or two races, is over 1200m. Four-year-old filly Alhashoriyah, ridden by Camilo Ospina and trained by Bader Alsubaie, began the season with a second placed effort. A less favourable gate next time out saw her finish in midfield, but now with Ospina back in the saddle, and a good draw in stall three, her winning chances are much improved. Race three is an Apprentice Jockeys’ Hands & Heels Race over 1200m. King’s Guard, previously trained in the UK by Charlie Appleby, remains a maiden after 13 runs, but is a consistent performer and should run well. Dropping back to his best distance here, he could have winning claims. The fourth race is a maiden for Arabian fillies over 1200m. With a small field of only six runners, this could be anyone’s race. Wigberto Ramos’s ride, Alezia – who tops the ratings at 81 – drops down to this distance for the first time, having been useful over 1600m. With Ramos, who is having a good run at present, in the saddle, 1200m could prove to be her better distance. Race five is a maiden for locally-bred horses over 1400m. YaslamYaslam Allah, whose best performance so far has been a second place over 1200m from the innermost starting stall, has the advantage of the lowest draw once again today. Stepping up slightly in distance, the son of Dragon Pulse should have enough in his favour to do better today, especially now equipped with a tongue strap and sheepskin cheekpieces. Next is a race for winners of one or two races over 1400m. December, a son of Semper Fortis, won his last start over this distance in impressive style and, with Luis Morales in the saddle this time and the benefit of a low draw in stall three, he ought to have every chance once again. The seventh race is an Arabian horses’ maiden over 1600m. Having placed twice over 1400m from four career starts, Abdulrahman Alfarhan’s Alanood Fbr, a daughter of Harran, steps up in distance for the first time. Having looked to be in need of a longer trip on those occasions, this ought to suit her better and could see her improve to win. Race eight, a maiden over 2000m, could be the race to see Khaleejy Ana win for the first time. The colt has been fairly unremarkable in his five starts so far over lesser distances, and steps up significantly for this 2000m test. With both blinkers and a tongue strap on, he could put on a better display. The final race of the day is an Open race over 2000m, which is worth SAR95,000. A runner of particular interest is Peter The Great, a four-time winner for John & Thady Gosden in the UK, who debuted in KSA last season. That race did not see him at his best, but on the back of a long break, he could bounce back to his best form here.