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Straight No Chaser takes the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (Ernie Belmonte/Past The Wire)
Breeders’ Cup Sprint Winner to Run In Riyadh Dirt Sprint on Saudi Cup Undercard
Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia Press Release
California-based Dan Blacker is aiming to make his first international runner a winning one when Breeders’ Cup hero Straight No Chaser (USA) lines up in the $2 million Group 2 Riyadh Dirt Sprint presented by Saudi National Bank.
The six-year-old son of Speightster was a cosy winner of the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Sprint (1200m) at Del Mar in November under Johnny Velazquez, a victory that British-born Blacker describes as “very special”.
“It was an emotional day,” said the 42-year-old. “I’ve always dreamed of having runners in Breeders’ Cup races and to win one was very special. I feel very thankful to be able to train such a talented horse. It was thrilling to win such a big race.
“There was a lot of talk about how the horse had to have the lead, but I never felt that at all. He’s just a very fast horse, he’s fast out of the gate, but he’s a sensible and professional racehorse. I felt that if the time came where he could sit back off the pace, then that would be a possibility for him.
“Johnny felt that was the tactic he’d like to use, and the horse responded really well. Johnny is a great jockey and timing is part of what makes him so great. He got the horse to switch off and relax behind the pace and then come with a run.”
Following Straight No Chaser’s win at Del Mar and a subsequent break, Blacker has been pleased with his stable star’s condition.
“He’s done excellently, he really hasn’t missed a beat,” said the trainer. “He’s a superior work horse in the mornings and his work has been exceptional.
“He’s in very good form and runs very well fresh, so I’m not worried about the time between races. As long as he ships well and trains well once we arrive in Riyadh, I expect him to run a big race.”
Blacker is optimistic that Straight No Chaser can take the long trip to Riyadh in his stride and adapt to the conditions on the dirt track at King Abdulaziz Racecourse.
“He’s done two trips to the East Coast [USA] on flights and he’s been no trouble,” Blacker said. “Obviously this will be the longest trip that he’s done but he’s always been a very sensible traveller. He’s a high energy horse on the track but he’s a pro and he understands when it’s game time and when it’s time to be relaxed.
“He’ll probably have one steady gallop early next week. My assistant, Juan Landeros, who gets on him every day is going over and will take care of the horse and hopefully everything will go to plan. I’m going to try to be there for his gallop, so I will be there all next week.”
Blacker himself is no stranger to different racing jurisdictions, having grown up in the UK and graduated from the Godolphin Flying Start program which saw him placed with trainers Jeremy Noseda in the UK, David Hayes in Australia, Godolphin in Dubai and Richard Mandella in California.
Blacker took out his own training licence in 2011, celebrating his first Grade 1 winner in 2021 when Hit The Road won the Frank E Kilroe Mile Stakes at Santa Anita, and second this November with Straight No Chaser’s success at the Breeders’ Cup.
Of the challenge ahead, Blacker said: “I think it’s a credit to the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia that they’ve managed to get such an international field. None of these races are easy, and there are a lot of horses that we respect in there.
“I know Jimmy Jerkens has got a horse in there [Ancestral Land] that has done really well locally.
“Obviously, we got the better of Remake at Del Mar, but that was our home track, and now we’re going to the other side of the world to race on a track we’re not familiar with and he’s already proven himself over.
“It seems like a competitive field and we’re looking forward to the challenge.”
For more information, please visit www.jcsa.sa
