RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — Six-year-old Japanese horse Panthalassa, ridden by Yutaka Yoshida and trained by Yoshito Yahagi, clinched the $20 million Saudi Cup, the richest horse race in the world.
Panthalassa edged out Country Grammer by three-fourth of a length at the King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh.
Ridden by Italian jockey Frankie Dettori, Grammer’s second-place again left Bob Baffert with another runner-up finish, eluding the famed trainer a win in the race.
Japan nearly swept the first four places until Country Grammer rallied late on the outside under Frankie Dettori.
Defending champion Emblem Road was sixth.
Sent off at 15-1 odds, Panthalassa ran 1 1/8 miles in 1:50.79 under Yutaka Yoshida. The 6-year-old overcame starting from the No. 1 post.
He switched from grass, where he had run 23 of his first 24 races, to dirt for the Saudi Cup.
“You know this is not easy. Japanese racing tries everything to improve and develop. Japanese horse racing has become more international,” winning trainer Yoshito Yahagi said.
The victory, worth $10 million, increased Panthalassa´s career earnings to $14,418,903, AP reported.
Yahagi had a winner last year when Japanese horses earned four victories on the Saudi Cup card. Japan earned three victories this year.
Taiba, the 8-5 favourite also trained by Baffert, finished eighth in the field of 13.
Dettori and Baffert also took a narrow defeat in the Saudi Cup, when Havnameltdown lost by a head to Commissioner King.
Elite Power (USA) ran out a dominant winner of the G3 Riyadh Dirt Sprint to give star jockey Dettori the victory he craved at the Saudi Cup meeting.
“My first word has to be aeroplane. I was a little out of reach and asked him to get a little closer and then the turbo just kicked in and I was a passenger then,” the Italian said.
Fans in Riyadh were treated to an absolute thriller in the G3 Saudi Derby as locally trained Commissioner King (USA) wore down American raider Havnameltdown (USA) in the final strides.
The 1600m event developed into an equine prize fight, with Dettori and Havnameltdown and Luis Morales and Commissioner King taking it right to the final bell.
“He ran a super race, I was outpaced all the way, I travelled to stay and thought I would be sixth really, then they all died and bless him, he’s got so much heart,” Dettori said.
“I stayed on well, but his game is a mile-and-a-quarter and we go back to Dubai. I was way back because I couldn’t lay up. I pushed him all the way. It was a super run.”
