News from the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia, an award for Cody’s Wish, Medina Spirit and a big day in Dubai feature in our weekly round-up of international racing news
Maximum Security faces Saudi Cup DQ
Saudi Arabia: Nearly four years after the event, the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia has recommended the disqualification of Maximum Security from his victory in the inaugural edition of the world’s richest race, the Saudi Cup, in February 2020.
After concluding its investigation into disgraced trainer Jason Servis – sentenced in 2022 to four years’ imprisonment for charges relating to the use of performance-enhancing drugs – the JCSA advised stewards on Tuesday [Jan 23] that winning prize-money be redistributed.
Ridden by Luis Saez, Maximum Security was first past the post in the first running of the $20m event, coming home three-quarters of a length over US compatriot Midnight Bisou, who is now set to be promoted to first place. More here
Cody’s Wish wins NTRA Moment of the Year award
USA: Cody’s Wish has won the National Thoroughbred Racing Association’s ‘Moment of the Year’ award for the second year in a row.
In a result announced on Wednesday [Jan 24], the five-year-old’s emotional repeat victory in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile came out on top over 12 fellow nominees in a poll conducted on the NTRA website and via social media.
The story of Cody’s Wish and his namesake, the late Cody Dorman, with whom the horse formed such a famous bond, captured the imgaination of the US public well beyoind the confines of the racing world.
The FanDuel Racing-NTRA Moment of the Year will be recognized during the 53rd annual Eclipse Awards in Palm Beach, Florida, on Thursday night [Jan 25]. Jockey Club chairman Stuart Janney will receive the Eclipse Award of Merit, while veteran broadcaster Tom Hammond will receive a Special Eclipse Award. More here
Baffert drops Medina Spirit appeal
USA: Bob Baffert and owner Amr Zedan have dropped their appeal against the disqualification of Medina Spirit following the 2021 Kentucky Derby.
According to various reports, a court filing in Kentucky on Monday [Jan 22] said Medina Spirit’s connections “agree and stipulate to dismiss” the appeal. Medina Spirit failed a post-race dope test for betamethasone – allowed in training but prohibited on raceday. As a result, the Brad Cox-trained Mandaloun is confirmed as official winner.
Baffert, meanwhile, is still banned from entering horses at any venues operated by Churchill Downs Inc. More here
Star two-year-old City of Troy to reappear in 2000 Guineas
GB: Classic favourite City Of Troy is set to reappear in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket on May 4 without a prior run after being named Europe’s champion two-year-old for 2023.
Speaking at Tuesday’s Longines World’s Best Racehorse ceremony in London, trainer Aidan O’Brien issued an update on the Dewhurst winner. “He’s made good physical progress,” said O’Brien. “He’s moving very well and looks like a horse who should have no problem over a range of distances.”
Unbeaten in three starts, the son of Triple Crown winner Justify was given a rating of 125 by the official handicappers – only a pound lower than the great Frankel achieved as a juvenile. More here
In accordance with Thoroughbred Racing Commentary’s Global Rankings, where he has been world #1 for 44 weeks, Japanese superstar Equinox was named world champion with a mark of 135. More here
How good was Equinox? Assessing the world champion alongside Frankel, Flightline and Winx
Mawj headlines showpiece Dubai Carnival card
UAE: The Dubai World Cup Carnival steps up a gear on Friday [Jan 26] when 1000 Guineas winner Mawj (Saeed Bin Suroor/Oisin Murphy) is the star attraction on the ‘Fashion Friday’ all-stakes card featuring a pair of G1 events for Thoroughbreds.
Appearing for the first time since a narrow defeat in the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Santa Anita, Mawj kicks off her four-year-old campaign against eight rivals (including Bahrain International winner Spirit Dancer) in the $500,000 Jebel Hatta; the Dubai Turf on World Cup night [March 30] is the filly’s primary target.
A total of seven Group races are on tap at Meydan, where the official highlight is the $1m Al Maktoum Challenge on dirt, where Lukas Classic winner Clapton represents US-based Chad Summers. More here
New Zealand’s richest-ever race highlights summer revamp
New Zealand: The richest race ever run in New Zealand will take place next year with the introduction of the ‘NZB Kiwi’ as part of a major revamp of the nation’s premier racing summer programme.
Sponsored by NZ Bloodstock with a purse of at least NZ$3.5 million ($2.15m), the new race is a 1,500-metre ‘slot’ event that will immediately become the southern hemisphere’s richest three-year-old contest.
The NZB Kiwi be a highlight of a new ‘Champions Day’ programme also featuring the NZ Derby and three more G1 events to be held at Ellerslie in Auckland on the second Sunday in March 2025. Total prize-money will total NZ$9m ($5.5m), rising to NZ$10m in 2026. More here
Elsewhere in racing …
USA: Preakness winner National Treasure favored for Pegasus More here
USA: Breeders’ Cup Distaff heroine Idiomatic stays in training More here
USA: Belmont Stakes Festival at Saratoga – details released More here
France: Four-time G1 winner Blue Rose Cen moved to new trainer More here
Japan: Rachel King makes history with JRA G2 win More here
Japan: First JRA winner for Richard Kingscote More here
• View all previous editions of Seven Days In Racing
View the latest TRC Global Rankings for horses / jockeys / trainers / sires