Remake and Yuga Kawada after their powerful victory (Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia/Erika Rasmussen)
Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia Press Release
A matchless finishing kick from Remake (JPN) continued a fine night for Japan on The Saudi Cup programme in the US$1.5m Sports Boulevard Riyadh Dirt Sprint.
Just as in the previous race, the Boutique Group Saudi Derby, an American horse was run down by one from the other side of the Pacific with Skelly (USA) succumbing to the winner’s telling burst with 50m to race.
Skelly had disputed the initial speed into the homestretch and established an outright lead with 300m to race just as jockey Yuga Kawada asked for the maximum and ultimately decisive acceleration from his mount.
The winning margin was a length and a half with the same margin separating Skelly and the fast-finishing American challenger Bold Journey (USA). The clock stopped at 1:10.42.
This was a third Japanese win in five editions of the Riyadh Dirt Sprint, with Remake having finished third a year earlier to Elite Power.
Quotes
Koji Maeda, owner, Remake, 1st: “I have won three Japan Derbies but this is even more. When he came into the final bend he was travelling so well and I was pretty sure he was going to win.
“Physically he has improved since last year. The trainer and all his staff put everything together and brought the horse here for a brilliant result which makes it really special. I came from no background in racing and now I have 30 Group 1 winners as an owner-breeder. It means a lot. I will bring the trophy back to hotel and sleep with it tonight.”
Koichi Shintani, trainer: “If Remake showed his performance, I was pretty sure he was going to get there. But as he got beaten last year it was so disappointing so we spoke with the staff and tried to better that performance. I think he is at an advantage that he can race from anywhere and that is his strength.”
Yuga Kawada, jockey: “I expected a fast pace in the early stages and it went as I expected so I was nice and calm and waited to the straight. It means a huge amount.”
Ricardo Santana, Skelly, 2nd: “Turning for home, I was feeling really confident. He gave me another kick, but that other horse was much the best. Skelly is a decent horse and he always tries hard.
“He gave me everything he had and he really tried hard. I’m really happy with him. To come all the way and travel from the US is hard, but he ran his race.”
Joel Rosario, Bold Journey, 3rd: “Very good. The first two went very fast but he had a very good run. I am happy with it.”
Christophe Lemaire, Keiai Dorie, 6th: “The American horse on our outside left [the stalls] very quickly and came across us. He then finished well, but we never found our rhythm and it was just too complicated.”
Tadhg O’Shea, Tuz, 10th: “He travelled well but never did pick up unfortunately.”
