France: Saudi Cup winner Emblem Road has been shipped to France for the summer ahead of an international campaign later in the year.
The shock locally-trained winner of the world’s richest race in Riyadh in February is stabled at the Chantilly yard of Alessandro Botti. Stablemate Making Miracles, the Saudi Cup fourth, has travelled with him.
In announcing the trip on Twitter, the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia said: “The pride of Saudi Arabia is off to take on the world. Emblem Road – winner of the G1 Saudi Cup and King Faisal Cup – is heading to France to prepare for an international campaign.”
Emblem Road sprang an 80-1 upset in the $20m Saudi Cup when defeating the US pair, subsequent Dubai World Cup winner Country Grammer and Midnight Bourbon, for trainer Mitab Almulawah under Wigberto Ramos.
The Breeders’ Cup Classic at Keeneland in November would be the most obvious international target for the four-year-old son of Quality Road.
Botti added: “For the moment Emblem Road is on vacation because at the moment it is very hot in Saudi Arabia. The connections looked at locations in Newmarket and Chantilly and sent him to Chantilly.”
• Visit the Saudi Cup website
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