After finishing as the leading earner of any North American-trained horse in 2025 when earnings in the Middle East are included, Hit Show will chart a familiar path when he opens his 6-year-old season Feb. 11.View the full article

By Michael Guerin Talented driver Josh Dickie is hoping the next phase of his career can start with a win at Alexandra Park tonight. Dickie partners last-start winner Father Barry for his father John in the opening race tonight, the $15,000 Classique Landscapers Metro heat and punters can expect to see him doing far more driving for the family and outside stables in the future. Dickie and fiancée Sammy Kilgour have gone out on their own account after two years working for premiership trainers Steve and Amanda Telfer, that stint coming after the couple had been based in Victoria. “We just thought it was time to try to build our own business,” says Dickie. “We have a handful of horses and are training those alongside Dad on his property. “We have nice numbers there now but are looking to grow so will be at the yearling sales next week and I’ll be looking to get back into more freelance driving.” Dickie has driven 14 Group 1 winners and has already started to build his freelance contacts again now he is not tied to a stable. “And we want to train more as well,” he explains. “Dad was almost retired a couple of years ago but the three of us are enjoying being back working together so he says he will be sticking around for a few more years now too. “So the next phase is exciting.” Father Barry sits alongside Higher Power as one of the two most talented trotters in tonight’s opener but both can gallop so their clash could be decided by manners. Higher Power’s trainers Barry Purdon and Scott Phelan hold the key to a few of tonight’s races, with Sooner The Bettor favourite for the main handicap pace even off his 30m backmark. Sooner The Bettor was a last-start third in the Auckland Cup and while his best performances come when able to lead or race handy, he only faces four rivals tonight so his handicap may not be enough to stop him winning. Later in the night a rare mobile sprint for the better grade trotters could see American Muscle potentially the value option as she has produced some top class sprinting performances in the last year.   View the full article

By Michael Guerin A surprise driving decision will see two new combinations at the top of the market in tonight’s $100,000 Fahey Fence Hire Breeders Stakes (8.05pm) at Addington. Champion horseman Blair Orange produced a stunning drive to get General Jen home from five back on the markers in the Garrards Mares Championship two weeks ago, the lead-up race to tonight’s Group 1. But Orange sprung a surprise when he opted to partner General Jen’s stablemate Arafura tonight even though she has drawn the second line and not raced for two months. “Blair does most of our driving and got first choice of out three runners,” said Hayden Cullen, who trains with wife Amanda. “Once he did that it left the drive on General Jen free and we offered that to Mark [Purdon] because he was originally going to come down to partner Arafura. “Mark had already booked his tickets so will now drive General Jen instead and to be honest we can’t really split them.” That means two of the favourites have swapped drivers, with Purdon having reigned Arafura to win the NZ Oaks in November while Orange has done most of the driving behind General Jen. Which mare proves the stable’s best chance could come down to luck and tempo, with General Jen brilliantly fast but Arafura the more proven stayer and winner of both Oaks last season. “We all saw what General Jen did last start and she can win again but if I had to opt for one of ours I’d go Arafura,” says Cullen. “She may not have raced for two months but she is very forward and loves the 2600m. “She will need some luck from the second line but I think she is the best stayer.” The Group 1 is crammed with talent but the lead-up race two weeks ago suggested the four-year-old mares may have more upside than their older rivals like Francent and Esmeralda. Francent did have to work hard last start in the Garrards Championship though and with a better draw tonight gets her chance to try to fight the younger brigade off. The Breeders is the highlight of a stacked Addington programme, with Mr Love the $2.50 favourite for the Lamb And Hayward Trot (7.44pm) even off a 20m handicap. Pinseeker is red hot to win the Studholme Bloodstock feature pace (7.07pm)after easily beating Hadron Collider last start but Cullen, who trains the latter, thinks the gap between them will close tonight. “Our horse needed the run last start so will be a lot better this week but Pinseeker is going to be very hard to beat.” One of the early highlights of the meeting will be Race 1 (4.39pm), which boasts plenty talented pacers still on the way up, including the Cullen-trained Volare. “Our filly has just kept getting better but it is a really good field so it won’t be easy,” he says. View the full article

In this continuing series, we take a look ahead at US-bred and/or conceived runners entered for the upcoming weekend at the tracks on the Japan Racing Association circuit, with a focus on pedigree and/or performance in the sales ring. Here are the horses of interest for this weekend running at Kyoto and Tokyo Racecourses: Saturday, February 14, 2026 4th-TOK, ¥12,330,000 ($81k), Newcomers, 3yo, 1400m ASK DU CHAMP (JPN) (c, 3, Essential Quality–Red Lark {Ire}, by Epaulette {Aus}) is the first to race from his dam, who upset the 2020 GI Del Mar Oaks at 19-1 for Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Paddy Gallgher and was subsequently acquired privately by Haruya Yoshida's Oiwake Farm. Given that he hails from the same female family as Japanese Triple Crown winner Contrail (Jpn), Essential Quality has proved popular with the Japanese buying public and this Feb. 9 foal was sold for just over $572,000 at the 2024 JRHA Select Sale. O-Hirosaki Toshihiro HD Co Ltd; B-Oiwake Farm; T-Hideaki Fujiwara FLIGHT MAP (JPN) (c, 3, Liam's Map–Enola Gay, by Uncle Mo), whose dam won the 2020 GII Appalachian Stakes for the Allen Stable and Shug McGaughey before fetching $250,000 with this colt in utero at Keeneland November in 2022, made an appearance during the foal section of the JRHA Select Sale in 2023, hammering for nearly $156,000. The 10-year-old Enola Gay hails from an active female family, as her half-brother Tomasello (Authentic) won last year's Kentucky Downs Preview Nashville Derby Stakes at Ellis Park. The female family includes last year's GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity runner-up Blackout Time (Not This Time). O-Kazutaka Hosaka; B-Orion Farm; T-Hitoshi Kotegawa Sunday, February 15, 2026 2nd-KYO, ¥12,330,000 ($81k), Newcomers, 3yo, 1200m AMERICAN POWDER (f, 3, Charlatan–Girl Talk, by Medaglia d'Oro), a $150,000 Keeneland September acquisition by Yoshizawa Stable in 2024, is out of a stakes-placed daughter of One Caroline (Unbridled's Song), a two-time graded winner routing on the dirt and the dam of the Grade III-placed juvenile filly Improv (Distorted Humor). The third dam includes 2019 GI Kentucky Derby participant and four-time Japanese listed winner Master Fencer (Jpn) (Just A Way {Jpn}). The Feb. 17 foal is bred on a variant of the Speightstown–Medaglia d'Oro cross that resulted in Grade I winners Rock Fall, Prince of Monaco and Competitionofideas. O-Yoshizawa Holdings Co Ltd; B-Rock Ridge Thoroughbreds LLC (KY); T-Koicho Tsunoda 4th-KYO, ¥15,620,000 ($102k), Allowance, 3yo, 1900m DANON BOURBON (c, 3, Maxfield–Wild Ridge, by Tapit) could hardly have been more impressive on his lone racetrack appearance to date, streaking home to graduate by 10 lengths going 1800 meters over a rain-affected local main track Oct. 26 (video, SC 8). A $450,000 Keeneland September purchase by Katsumi Yoshida, the Triple Crown nominee is out of a daughter of MGSW & GISP Wild Gams (Forest Wildcat), the dam of former 'TDN Rising Star' presented by Hagyard Cazadero (Street Sense), GII Remsen Stakes hero Dubyuhnell (Good Magic) and SW Mt. Brave (Malibu Moon). O-Danox Co Ltd; B-Blue Heaven Farm (KY); T-Manabu Ikezoe     AMERICAN STYLE (c, 3, Gun Runner–Medina Thunder, by Thunder Gulch) is a half-brother to SW & GSP Lights of Medina (Eskendereya), herself responsible for GSW Pioneer of Medina (Pioneerof the Nile) and June Eos (Constitution), a two-time winner in Japan. With Christophe Lemaire in the irons, the chestnut colt opened his account at first asking last Nov. 22 defeating Kirios (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}–Ivy Bell), who returned to graduate as a long odds-on favorite at this venue Feb. 7. American Style cost $400,000 at KEESEP in 2024. O-Yoshizawa Holdings Co Ltd; B-International Equities Holding Inc (KY); T-Hideaki Fujiwara The post Maxfield’s Explosive Debut Winner Danon Bourbon Back To Work at Kyoto appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

While the $20 million Saudi Cup (G1) and the $1.5 million Saudi Derby (G3) at King Abdulaziz Racetrack feature American-trained runners or owned interests, other races on the Saudi Cup undercard also include notable U.S. representatives. View the full article

Bob Baffert's horses have found heartbreak in the final 100 meters of the Saudi Cup (G1) and will have to overcome that late-race challenge again Feb. 14 against a rival who has mastered that task.View the full article

Well-bred Aga Khan mares dominated on the second and final day of the Goffs February Sale, with Alex Elliott going to €190,000 to secure Shamalza (Lope De Vega), who the bloodstock agent said would continue her career for Valmont and trainer Ralph Beckett.  A winner on debut for Dermot Weld back in September, Shamalza failed to land a blow on her only other start when the ground was heavy. A daughter of dual Group 2 scorer Shamreen (Dubawi), Shamalza is a sister to talented sprinter Shartash (Invincible Spirit) and Elliott said he is hopeful that she could have a lot to offer still on the track before ultimately ending up in the covering shed.  Elliott said, “I wasn't really thinking about racing when I came over, rather to cover her with Kingman, but when I got here I loved her. She did well to win on her debut on good ground, but then she was well-beaten next time out on heavy ground. She is a good mover, so I think we will put her back in training and she will go to Ralph Beckett and see how we go.  He added, “I actually bought her for Valmont and she will race in their colours. We will see what mark she has and how she is training. She is a winner, so we have nothing to lose. If we want to chuck her in at the deep end we can. She looks like she has been in training. There are lots of positives to her. She was in the range I had her, just a bit below the budget. I am happy to get her.” Shamalza was the highest-priced lot on Thursday and cemented a memorable renewal of the February Sale at Kildare Paddocks. The turnover for the two-day sale climbed by a massive 63% to €6,301,400 while the average was also on the rise by 37% to €24,615 and the median by 48% to €14,750. The clearance rate of 68% was also up by 1% on last year. Meanwhile, the newly-introduced point-to-point section of the sale brought in a respectable €585,000 for 11 horses selling at a clearance rate of 92%. Goffs chief executive Henry Beeby commented, “What a start to the new year. Goffs February has always been a first choice for so many at this time of year and, this year's renewal has recorded its highest turnover since 2007 when the sale was a four-day affair with over double the number of lots catalogued. However we frame it – premier, leading, whatever – what is beyond dispute is that we have enjoyed a sale that has exceeded expectations and has returned a turnover that is double last year and significantly ahead of any other sale this month. “Yesterday was extraordinary with the session accounting for the top 22 weanlings at any UK or Irish February Sale and huge increases at the top of the market as illustrated by the four six-figure transactions and quadruple the number at €50,000 or above. If that doesn't deserve the “premier” tag, I don't know what does! And those market leaders came from both the Flat and National Hunt spheres so underlining the diversity and appeal of the catalogue.” He added, “These results continue the very positive trends at superb renewals of our recent November Foal and December NH Sales, both of which make us very proud and grateful for the support we receive as we take nothing for granted whilst deriving quiet satisfaction that both are now clear market leaders in their own right, as is the case with this sale these days.  “Today's mixed offering continued the vibrant trade headed by the top prices of the season for a filly and in foal mare at €190,000 and €98,000 respectively. Again, these highs are the result of the Goffs Purchaser Attraction Team and our friends at Irish Thoroughbred Marketing combining to ensure another truly international contingent of buyers have converged on Kildare Paddocks over both days with bidders from France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Kuwait, Sweden, and, of course, the UK and Ireland. “The new Point-To-Point section attracted a large group of buyers despite some pre-sale predictions and would have benefited from further entries if the weather had been kinder (have we ever seen a January as wet as this one?) as we had more buyers than lots for the category so ensuring a very competitive trade. With a top price of €125,000 it made a good start to ensure it will become a regular feature of the sale in future. It just makes so much sense when we're here and the handlers can do a day trip so, if we get more favourable weather in early 2027, it will only grow. “As is our familiar refrain, always highly relevant and definitely bears repeating, we are indebted to every vendor for every entry as we are nothing without their horses whilst it is always a pleasure to welcome all our purchasers. It is gratifying that so many enjoy the unique customer experience the Goffs team and ITM provide to everyone who attends a Goffs sale, regardless of category or location.” The post Alex Elliott Lands Session-Topping Shamalza At Strong Renewal Of Goffs February Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — It's what sport is all about, isn't it? Choosing your team and rooting for them, through good games and bad times.  The fleeting nature of the careers of some racehorses can make it harder to be a fan, but not if you pick Team Yahagi. For a start, there is a good chance that Yoshito Yahagi will turn up at a major meeting almost anywhere in the world with at least one horse. In Riyadh, a city which has become a happy hunting ground for the Japanese trainer in recent years, he has a team of three, and two of them are returning heroes from last year's Saudi Cup meeting. If ever there was a horse to get behind it is Forever Young. He has just turned five but it feels as though he has been around for ages. Let's hope that there's plenty of mileage left in those legs as valuable as Cyd Charisse's once were. He is grown up enough for us to call him a stallion now and he has already collected plenty of airmiles in travelling from Japan to Saudi Arabia, Dubai, America, home again, and then back to the USA – and that was just his three-year-old season. Last year, it was almost a case of rinse and repeat, bar the fact that he made just the one hugely memorable trip to the States in 2025 for the Breeders' Cup Classic. Forever Young could hardly have a more appropriate sire than Real Steel, for that appears to be what he is made of and he is gathering an expanding army of followers with every step he takes on a racecourse. Even Bob Baffert, who fields two rivals in the Saudi Cup, is a fan. “He's unbelievable, I have so much respect for that horse,” he said on Thursday morning.  This Saturday, in defending his Saudi Cup crown, Forever Young will aim to add a further $10 million to his earnings of $21.2 million already accrued from 13 starts and 10 wins. And, for those suggesting that he may not be quite fit enough, having not raced since November 1, we're sorry to disappoint you but he looks, well, a million dollars, maybe more.  A question was posed in Thursday morning's press conference as to whether the Japan Racing Association uses data scientists to give their licensed trainers an edge in honing runners for the racecourse. It was batted away by the jovial Yahagi, who, despite being one of the world's most successful trainers, doesn't appear to take himself too seriously. After winning the Breeders' Cup Classic he was filmed singing and dancing in a Mexican restaurant where he had gone to watch his team, the LA Dodgers, complete a memorable sporting double – for Yahagi at least – by winning the World Series. Data is useful, of course, but no weights or measures or stride-pattern programmes can replace the eyes and the intuition of a horseman.  And when it comes to certain horses, attitude almost transcends talent. In Forever Young, there is a heady blend of both those attributes. Plenty of horses would never have put up another bold show after the kind of scrimmaging he was subjected to in the 2024 Kentucky Derby. That was the race that made the boy a man, and instead of raising a metaphorical white flag at that tender stage of his career, Forever Young appeared to gain strength from that narrow loss and double down on his will to win. However good Yahagi is at keeping his horses sweet, that kind of mettle cannot be taught. They either have it or they don't, and the fact that this horse is plainly as sound of limb as he is of mind only helps him in his quest. Travel doesn't faze him, neither does hard training. To watch Forever Young in the morning is a joy to behold, especially because such routinely unflappable behaviour is only exhibited by a horse with nothing to fear in being asked to draw deep once more on his athletic reserves.   Forever Young and Shin Emperor paddock schooling on Thursday | Emma Berry   “It's an honour to be back here for myself, and also Forever Young loves this place, so I am very pleased to be here,” said Yahagi, who has brought the horse here twice to win the Saudi Derby and Saudi Cup, having also trained Panthalassa to win the Cup in 2023. He is the only trainer to have won the world's most valuable race twice, and he has also claimed wins in the Neom Turf Cup and 1351 Turf Sprint. No wonder he likes returning.  Having assured another questioner that Forever Young, who heads next to the Dubai World Cup, is “over 90 per cent fit”, Yahagi added, “There is a bit of a gap between the Breeders' Cup and here, and back in Japan I thought he was gaining a little bit of weight, but when I saw him this morning, I thought he looked very fit and ready for the race.” Reflecting on last year's unforgettable victory over 12-time Group 1 winner Romantic Warrior (Acclamation), the trainer said, “Honestly speaking, I would like to compete with him again. It was like something from a movie script. I wanted to give Forever Young an Academy Award.” If he romps through another season like he has his last two, then there is certainly a film to be made of Forever Young's career, even if there may be no Hollywood ending. Having competed in the last two Breeders' Cups in California, he appears unlikely to be asked to make the trip to Keeneland later this year.  “The situation is going to be different from what we had in Del Mar, which is the on the west coast of the United States and closer to Japan,” Yahagi explained. “For Mr Fujita, the horse's owner, it is a long trip, so we haven't decided yet.” He added of achieving the accolade of becoming the first Japanese trainer to win the Breeders' Cup Classic, “For me, it's something I can be proud of in Japan. For horseracing in Japan, the Breeders' Cup Classic was a big obstacle. Everyone was reluctant to participate in it but I'm glad that it has been overcome, and I'm glad that there will be more challengers in the future.” Yahagi's regular jockey Ryusei Sakai sat alongside him in the morning press conference and appears to be drinking from the same well of confidence as his boss. He proclaimed that he will ride five winners on Saturday. He only has five mounts. Along with Forever Young, Sakai will be aboard Best Green (Smart Falcon) in the Saudi Derby, American Stage (Into Mishief) in the Riyadh Dirt Sprint, Fortune Time (Greater London) in the 1351 Turf Sprint and returning champion Shin Emperor (Siyouni) in the Neom Turf Cup. He'll sit out the Red Sea Turf Handicap and let someone else have a chance.  Shin Emperor, the French-bred Arqana August-topping brother to Arc and Prix du Jockey Club hero Sottsass, has been another globetrotter for Yahagi, who was bullish in his assessment of the five-year-old pulling off a repeat performance in the newly upgraded G1 Howden Neom Turf Cup.  “Shin Emperor has a very big chance because this race track – 2,100 metres on a left-hand course – is perfect for him, so he has a great chance,” he said.  A double-double in the two Group 1 contests of the day on dirt and turf? If anyone can pull it off it's the man in the hat: the all-singing and dancing Yoshito Yahagi.   The post Yahagi Returns With Sights Set on a Desert Double-Double appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Saturday, King Abdulaziz (Riyadh), Saudi Arabia, post time: 20:40, SAUDI CUP-G1, $20,000,000, NH/SH4yo/up, 1800m Field: Banishing (Ghostzapper), Bishops Bay (Uncle Mo), Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}), Haqeet (Arrogate), Luxor Cafe (American Pharoah), Mhally (GB) (Sergei Prokofiev), Nevada Beach (Omaha Beach), Nysos (Nyquist), Rattle N Roll (Connect), Star Of Wonder (Uncle Mo), Sunrise Zipangu (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}), Thundersquall (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), Tumbarumba (Oscar Performance), Ameerat Alzamaan (GB) (Ghaiyyath {Ire}). TDN Analysis: Forever Young will be a prohibitive favourite to become the first to go back-to-back in the world's richest race. The Japanese Horse of the Year and American champion older dirt male makes his first start since taking the GI Breeders' Cup Classic Nov. 1. 'TDN Rising Star' presented by Hagyard Nysos was also a winner on Breeders' Cup Saturday in the GI Dirt Mile, but tries a distance as far as 1800 metres for the first time. He will have to do much better than his head defeat of stablemate Nevada Beach in Grade II company at the back end of December. Mhally and Ameerat Alzamaan enter off a 1-2 finish in the G3 King's Cup on Jan. 17. Saturday, King Abdulaziz (Riyadh), Saudi Arabia, post time: 19:10, NEOM TURF CUP (Presented By HOWDEN)-G1, $3,000,000, NH/SH4yo/up, 2100mT Field: Alohi Alii (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}), Bolide Porto (Ire) (Le Havre {Ire}), Facteur Cheval (Ire) (Ribchesters {Ire}), Galen (GB) (Gleneagles {Ire}), Phantom Flight (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}), Royal Champion (Ire) (Shamardal), Shin Emperor (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}), Silawi (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), Yamanin Bouclier (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}), Direct Security (Ire) (Sioux Nation), Survie (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}). TDN Analysis: Shin Emperor made every yard in winning this when contested at Group 2 level last year, but has not been close in four starts since and looks vulnerable here. Royal Champion was outclassed in last year's G1 Prince of Wales's Stakes, but won the G2 York Stakes and defeated Galen in the G2 Bahrain International Trophy either side of a third to Delacroix (Dubawi) in the G1 Irish Champion Stakes. Alohi Alii was midfield in last year's G1 Satsuki Sho, but was impressive in taking out the G2 Prix Guillaume d'Ornano at Deauville in August and will appreciate these quicker underfoot conditions, having finished well down the field in a soft-ground renewal of the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe when last seen. Saturday, King Abdulaziz (Riyadh), Saudi Arabia, post time: 19:50, RED SEA TURF HANDICAP (Presented by Longines)-G2, $2,500,000, NH/SH 4yo/up, 3000mT Field: Presage Nocturne (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Tabletalk (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), Epic Poet (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), Sons And Lovers (GB) (Study Of Man {Ire}), Struve (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}), Tennessee Stud (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Burdett Road (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}), Espoir Avenir (Fr) (Montmartre {Fr}), Vermicelles (Jpn) (Gold Ship {Jpn}), Real Dream (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), Tarriance (GB) (Frankel {GB}). TDN Analysis: Tabletalk is all set for Riyadh glory and was not disgraced when runner-up in the Listed Chester Stakes in August. Trainer Tom Clover is bullish on the son of Camelot, who has to contend with a duo of Joseph O'Brien runners, not least Group 1 winner Tennessee Stud. Group winner Sons And Lovers also represents O'Brien. Japan is always a danger when shipping to the Middle East and fields multiple group hero Struve and the multiple group-placed Vermicelles. Saturday, King Abdulaziz (Riyadh), Saudi Arabia, post time: 18:25, 1351 TURF SPRINT (Presented By Qiddiya City)-G2, $2,000,000, NH/SH 4yo/up, 1351mT Field: Annaf (Ire) (Muhaarar {GB}), Comanche Brave (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Fortune Time (Jpn) (Greater London {Jpn}), Geography (Jpn) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}), Lazzat (Fr) (Territories {Ire}), Love De Vega (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), Marvelman (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), Panja Tower (Jpn) (Tower Of London {Jpn}), Reef Runner (The Big Beast), Shin Forever (Complexity), Zefzaf (Mo Town), Zio Jo (Nyquist), Time To Dazzle (Not This Time). TDN Analysis: Panja Tower is aiming to give Japan back-to-back victories in this race after the 2025 tally of Ascoli Piceno (Daiwa Major). The G1 NHK Mile Cup hero last year is coming off a fifth-place effort Down Under in The Golden Eagle. Annaf, a winner of the 2024 edition of the 1351 Turf Sprint returns to the scene of his greatest triumph. Placed in the G1 King's Stand Stakes of 2023, the seven-year-old entire has to contend with multiple Group 1 winner Lazzat, who was second in the G1 British Champions Sprint Stakes in the autumn. For the U.S., GII Eddie D Stakes winner Reef Runner steps up after a tally in the Listed Jannus Stakes. Saturday, King Abdulaziz (Riyadh), Saudi Arabia, post time: 17:40, RIYADH DIRT SPRINT (Presented By Saudi National Bank)-G2, $2,000,000, NH/SH 3yo/up, 1200m Field: American Stage (Into Mischief), Colour Up (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), Don Amitie (Jpn) (Asia Express), Echo Point (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), Imagination (Into Mischief), Just Beat The Odds (Munnings), Lovesick Blues (Grazen), Muqtahem (Ire) (Soldier's Call {GB}), Royal Zabeel (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}), Self Improvement (Aus) (Deep Field {Aus}), Transferred (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), Yamanin Cerchi (Jpn) (Four Wheel Drive), Gabby's Sister (Jpn) (Apollo Kingdom). TDN Analysis: Straight No Chaser (Speightster) landed this prize in 2025, and the Americans are back for more with Bob Baffert's Imagination (Into Mischief). The son of Into Mischief was second in the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint last autumn. GIII Elite Power Stakes hero Just Beat The Odds makes his first start away from the East Coast in the Riyadh Dirt Sprint. A consistent sort, he's been on the board for all barring one of his 13 starts to date. Yoshito Yahagi saddles American Stage, who was second in last year's G3 Mahab Al Shimaal. UAE regular Colour Up has a brace of stakes victories to his name and carries five group placings. Saturday, King Abdulaziz (Riyadh), Saudi Arabia, post time: 17:00, SAUDI DERBY (Presented By ZOOD Realty)-G3, $1,500,000, NH/SH 3yo, 1600m Field: Acknowledgemeplz (Bucchero), Al Haram (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}), Best Green (Jpn) (Smart Falcon {Jpn}), Cielo Di Roma (Fr) (Romanised {Ire}), Keiai Agito (Jpn) (Espoir City {Jpn}), My World (Essential Quality), Obliteration (Violence), Satono Voyage (Jpn) (Into Mischief), Shayem (Ire) (King Of Change {GB}), Tuwajeri (Ire) (Phoenix Of Spain {Ire}), Union Security (Maximum Security), Very Connected (Connect), Wonder Dean (Jpn) (Dee Majesty {Jpn}), Tokai Ma Cherie (Jpn) (Drefong). TDN Analysis: All eyes here should be trained upon Satono Voyage, who looks to give Japan a fourth win in the event in its seven-year history. Unblemished in three runs on the dirt, he most recently validated odds-on favouritism in the Cattleya Stakes (conditions) going Tokyo's one-turn mile Nov. 29. If he stays the trip, 'TDN Rising Star' presented by Hagyard and last-out listed romper Obliteration can be in the thick of this, as can My World, whose victories in the Nashua Stakes and Jerome Stakes in New York have come over a one-turn mile. Saudi Arabia's Al Haram will try to make it four-from-four lifetime, having whooshed home in the local 2000 Guineas on Jan. 17. Saturday, King Abdulaziz (Riyadh), Saudi Arabia, post time: 16:20, TUWAIQ CUP (Presented By SHG)-Listed, $1,000,000, NH/SH4yo/up, 1800m Field: Akfeek (Macho Uno), Alaham (Ire) (Belardo {Ire}), Bernard Shaw (Into Mischief), Carracci (Quality Road), Final Destination (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}), Havildar (Arrogate), Lionel (Authentic), Michael Scofield (Tiz The Law), Power Of Beauty (Ire) (Slade Power {Ire}), Riyadh El Ezz (Demarchelier {GB}), Sa'aeid (Munnings), Scotland Yard (Quality Road), Wadaatak Allah (Hard Spun), Waqtuk (Not This Time), Webinar (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}), Wootton'sun (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Ya Dar (Fr) (Cracksman {GB}), Gharamy (Ire) (King Of Change {GB}). Saturday, Al Rayyan (Doha), Qatar, post time: 16:15 p.m., H. H. THE AMIR TROPHY (Presented By Longines)-G2, $2,500,000, NH/SH4yo/up, 2400mT Field: Byzantine Dream (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}), Deep Monster (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), El Cordobes (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), GIavellotto (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}), Goliath (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}), Lion's Pride (GB) (Roaring Lion), Satono Glanz (Jpn) (Satono Diamond {Jpn}). TDN Analysis: Some 51 weeks ago, Byzantine Dream ran out a ready winner of the G3 Red Sea Turf Cup Handicap in Riyadh and is the top-rated galloper here in a field short on numbers but high on quality. Last year's G2 Prix Foy hero makes his first start since a sound fifth in the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. Godolphin took last year's running with the globetrotting Rebel's Romance and Charlie Appleby sends in US Grade I winner El Cordobes, who was last seen finishing third in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf in California Nov. 1. Fourth in the Arc, Giavellotto fell a half-length short of repeating in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Vase, with Goliath a half-length adrift in third. Satono Glanz returns looking to improve on his third-place effort from last year's contest. Click here for the complete fields. The post Black-Type Analysis: Can Baffert Duo Dethrone Forever Young? appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article