Prosser Joins Saudi Cup Team

[Wandering Eyes]

Newmarket Head of Racing Michael Prosser will join the Saudi Cup project as Clerk of the Course.

Also race-day Clerk of the Course at the headquarters of British racing in Newmarket, Prosser will travel to Riyadh next month to oversee final preparations ahead of the two-day event on Feb. 28 and 29.

“I’m extremely proud to be involved with the Saudi Cup and I can’t wait to travel out to Riyadh in January,” Prosser said. “The Saudi Cup team are all doing an extraordinary job in bringing such a bold and imaginative project to fruition and it’s an honour to be part of such an historic event.”

One of Prosser’s main tasks will be overseeing the final touches to the newly installed King Abdulaziz Racetrack turf course, which has been developed and installed by global leaders in sporting surfaces, STRI–the company responsible for Lords’ cricket grounds, the grass courts at Wimbledon, the straight mile at Ascot and pitches at three FIFA World Cups.

Prosser said: “There are clearly unique challenges to producing a turf course in Saudi Arabia and STRI has met every one. We’re confident that, come race day, there will be good, fast ground that will be consistent, safe and fair for all competing horses.

According to Richard Stuttard, head of consultancy for STRI, the 3000-metre (15-furlong) track, which was seeded in November, obtained full grass cover ahead of schedule, with crucial rooting depths already nearing race-ready levels.

Studdard said: “With only weeks to go until race day, the track is being carefully maintained, with monitoring of the surface, and the profile beneath being undertaken multiple times daily to ensure the track receives the optimum amount of water and other required inputs. We are delighted with progress so far.”

 

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