Laurel River Ruled Out of Saudi Cup

[Wandering Eyes]

Juddmonte Farms's Laurel River (Into Mischief) has been removed from consideration for the $20-million G1 Saudi Cup on Feb. 22 after picking up a minor injury that will require 'two weeks' rest', according to a tweet from racing personality Nick Luck, who was first to report the news.

“Just a knock apparently, but it prevented him from getting in a critical workout before traveling,” Juddmonte USA's General Manager Garrett O'Rourke said in a text message. “Will wait for the Dubai World Cup.”

Trained by Bhupat Seemar, the homebred 7-year-old demolished a field including defending champion Ushba Tesoro (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}) and 2024 Saudi Cup hero Senor Buscador (Mineshaft) in last year's World Cup, for which he was recently recognized as the world's joint top-rated runner in the Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings. Put away for the season with an eye on the Saudi Cup and a title defense at Meydan in April, Laurel River returned to action in the G3 Firebreak Stakes on the Fashion Friday program Jan. 24. Aggressive in the run beneath his regular rider Tadhg O'Shea, Laurel River carried what appeared to be an insurmountable advantage into the final 400 meters, but he began to feel the pinch, shortened stride and was nabbed on the wire by King Gold (Fr) (Anodin {Ire}).

Seemar told the Dubai Racing Club: “He had a small setback in training and missed his intended workout for the Saudi Cup. We will keep him in Dubai and aim him at the Dubai World Cup.”

Laurel River began his career under the care of Bob Baffert, winning four of seven starts, including the GII Pat O'Brien Stakes in 2022. The would-be favorite for that year's GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile, he was taken out in the days leading up to the race and was transferred to Seemar. After faltering in a Group 3 sprint over 1200 meters on his local debut last winter, the bay bounced back in no uncertain terms in the G3 Burj Nahaar, a course-and-distance prep for the G2 Godolphin Mile. Connections elected to take their shot in the World Cup instead and the results were sensational, as he had 8 1/2 lengths on Ushba Tesoro on the wire.

A full field of 14 is still expected for the 1800-meter contest. With Laurel River's defection, Wootton'sun (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) is eligible to draw in from the reserves. He is also entered for the G2 Red Sea Turf Handicap over 3000 meters.

The post Laurel River Ruled Out of Saudi Cup appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

View the full article