Saudi Arabia: Steve Asmussen is making bold claims about Saudi Cup contender Midnight Bourbon ahead of the world’s richest race, claiming the four-year-old could become “the best horse in training in the world this year”.
During a frustrating three-year-old campaign Midnight Bourbon suffered a series of near-misses in major races, finishing sixth in the Kentucky Derby, second in the Preakness Stakes, then unseating his jockey in a controversial Haskell and getting placed in two more G1 prizes without scoring at the top level.
Last month he finished second behind fellow Saudi Cup contender Mandaloun in the G3 Louisiana Stakes at Fair Grounds last month – but his trainer believes there is a lot more to come from the son of Tiznow.
“That was his prep for the Saudi Cup, not the Saudi Cup,” said Asmussen, speaking at a media conference ahead of the $20m event, where Joel Rosario will ride. “He came out of it in better shape than he went into it. It was a very good exercise.
“Midnight Bourbon is an elite level of talent without finishing it off at this stage," the trainer added. "Because of that he has not had the success that his ability would allow, but it also leaves a lot for us moving forward.
“He is still in a physical and mental development that I think allows for him to possibly end up being the best horse in training in the world this year.”
North America's all-time winningmost trainer, who saddled Midnight Bisou to finish second in 2020, admitted Midnight Bourbon had contributed to his own bad luck at times with the Kentucky Derby “the only time he has missed the break in his life”.
He explained: “That’s the frustration that it was in the Kentucky Derby, which was won by a horse [Medina Spirit] that he breaks next to in the Preakness and runs in the ground.
“It was one thing after another,” Asmussen went on. “It is there but it needs to come together. I’m hoping beyond hope and expecting that he is waiting for the Saudi Cup stage to put it all together perfectly.”
Mandaloun was awarded victory in the Haskell on the disqualification of Hot Rod Charlie, who was blamed for the incident that led to Midnight Bourbon stumbling and losing his jockey at Monmouth Park.
He also finished ahead of the Asmussen challenger in the Kentucky Derby and Fair Grounds and is on schedule for their fourth clash in Riyadh.
“The horse ran a really big race at the Fair Grounds in the Louisiana Stakes,” said trainer Brad Cox. “It was his first run in a while. He appeared to have come out of it in great order. He had a good work on Sunday morning. I think he seemed to have moved forward from three to four and if he moves forward again I think he is going to be very tough in the Saudi Cup.”
Mandaloun had a setback after the Haskell last July, but needed no surgery and was given time out to recover.
Cox said: “He’s bigger, stronger and Florent Geroux said as soon as he came back he said: ‘Wow, this is a much more polished horse mentally.’ That gives us a lot of confidence moving forward and hopefully he will have a big campaign in 2022.”
• Visit the Saudi Cup website
Pyledriver to take turf option on Saudi Cup card
German Derby hero Sisfahan injured and misses Saudi Cup card
Saudi Cup: Christophe Soumillon booked for Japanese star Marche Lorraine
Ten European-trained horses who won the hearts of American racefans