Mandaloun Takes On Mishriff With $20 Million On The Line

That the third operating of the $20-million Saudi Cup, with a put up time of 12:30 p.m. ET (8:30 p.m. Riyadh) on February 26, has drawn a patchwork quilt of expertise and also-rans out of the woodwork to its full subject of fourteen was broadly anticipated, for the reason that one-turn race is — proper now, till another promoters prepare dinner up a brighter concept — the horse race with the world’s richest purse. The winner’s share of that may be a reported, flat 50%, or $10 million, not a foul deal for a lower than two minutes’ livid work over 1800 meters, or in American phrases, nearly 9 furlongs — 8.9 to be precise.

The trick will probably be to win it, or to come back very shut, and that undertaking will probably be greater than a bit difficult given this helter-skelter crush of a subject. Within the broad strokes, the race is pitting a bushel of apples towards a crate of oranges with a number of bins of bananas and papayas thrown in — a passel of in contrast to rivals, to say the very least. It’s honest to say that Mandaloun — 2021’s Kentucky Derby place horse (and its declared winner, after the notorious disqualification of first-placer Medina Spirit by way of a number of failed drug checks) is a favourite. Arguably the second favourite, or at the very least a high contender, is the Irish-bred five-year-old Mishriff, the defending 2021 Saudi Cup winner, who’s comfortable on the turf and the grime in England and in France however who has not gone up towards very many robust Kentucky-breds. He’ll meet a number of on his Saturday night run in Riyadh.

Bunched round and behind these two is the proverbial worldwide grab-bag — on this subject critical horse individuals and armchair handicappers alike will encounter a form of metric-free, year-abroad scholar roster, to wit: Marche Lorraine, from Japan; T O Keynes, additionally Japanese; Brazil-born Aero Trem, who races in South America; Sealiway, from France; and two extra acquainted American contenders in Midnight Bourbon and Artwork Collector. Earlier than we name within the Bluegrass Sensible Man to assist us wade by way of this subject’s talents and questions, herewith, a refresher on put up positions and the present (London) odds. All types of playing being unlawful within the kingdom, there are not any observe odds, thus no “morning line.”

With out additional ado, herewith, the Bluegrass Sensible Man ™, a lifelong Kentucky horseman and proprietor who has been so beneficiant together with his horse sense with us in seasons previous.

Put up Postion, Horse, Odds

1) Nation Grammer, 12-1

2) Aero Trem, 33-1

3) Midnight Bourbon, 8-1

4) Actual World, 10-1

5) Emblem Street, 66-1

6) Mandaloun, 4-1

7) Magny Cours, 10-1

8) T O Keynes, 6-1

9) Artwork Collector, 7-1

10) Making Miracles, 66-1

11) Sealiway, 14-1

12) Secret Ambition, 16-1

13) Marche Lorraine, 12-1

14) Mishriff, 2-1

(Supply: BoyleSports, 25 February 2022)

With out additional ado, herewith, the Bluegrass Sensible Man ™, a lifelong Kentucky horseman and proprietor who has been so beneficiant together with his horse sense with us in seasons previous.

So, Mandaloun. As I keep in mind you had been excessive on Mandaloun for final yr’s Derby.

Bluegrass Sensible Man ™: You’re proper, I stay a fan of Mandaloun, however let’s arrange the battle. Mandaloun’s primed for a giant yr. Gained his final three, his first race this yr, and he’s simply turning 4, okay? Mishriff is final yr’s defending champion on the market in Saudi, however getting on. Older shouldn’t be essentially unhealthy, however it’s additionally not essentially wiser, is what I’m saying. If he wins he’ll double his already appreciable lifetime earnings, however that doesn’t imply a lot out on the observe, or to him, actually. I feel Mandaloun can take him. Mishriff can run on something, however Mandaloun is a mud horse. Grime, ? From what I’m listening to, this can be a deep, padded grime observe. You’re gonna must like it to do effectively on it.

Let’s again up a minute and speak concerning the hurdles of delivery out to the dominion.

Bluegrass Sensible Man ™: As they are saying in Kentucky, it ain’t simple by an extended shot. First, it’s eight time zones away. The horses don’t actually know they’re “going” anyplace that far-off after they head up the ramp, they only know that issues are totally different after they get there, and meaning every little thing, water, air, meals and topography. As civilized because the King Abdulaziz observe and stables are, and they’re civillized, they’re totally different. Hell, the gates are totally different. They’re narrower, which suggests there’s no room in there for a handler. Horses must acclimatize, and faculty, to cope with these sorts of issues. That’s why the trainers and handlers are all paying shut consideration to how they eat or whether or not they’re off their meals, how a lot water they’re consuming, issues like that. From what I’m listening to them say, most of them are dealing with it effectively and aren’t, for example, off their feed. However a lot of the actual works have been put in at dwelling. They’re simply there to take care of kind earlier than the race, breezing, galloping and whatnot, and to get to know the place.

How do you see the race taking part in out. Know that I’ll ask you that once more, nearer to put up time, so go massive.

Bluegrass Sensible Man ™: Bit quick for a few of these horses, one flip. However lemme inform you, 9 furlongs might be deceiving. You get within the center otherwise you get crushed on the break and also you suppose, can we ever get out of this? On the similar time, it’s a must to get what you are promoting completed as a result of that end line is operating at you, so to talk. So, deep observe, massive subject, a comparatively quick mile and a bit, and meaning there’s gonna be visitors. A lot of it in, on the break, within the center, within the stretch. Midnight Bourbon and Mandaloun have tactical pace and prefer to be up entrance. I see some pace within the American horses. Mandaloun must run his Kentucky Derby once more, however higher, to come back out on high, and it appears to be like like he’s going to do this with the best way he has been deepening and honing his expertise these days. Mishriff, for me, is an actual query. Can he repeat this? I suppose he might, and I like his previous performances after I examine them, however someway I simply don’t belief him as a lot as I belief the power and kind Mandaloun has been exhibiting.

The place does that depart us?

Bluegrass Sensible Man ™: Mandaloun shouldn’t be on the rail, however proper in the course of the pack there, Mishriff drew the fourteen gap, approach outdoors, in different phrases. So, Mishriff will probably be crushing in quick on the break, and Mandaloun must take care to not get boxed in or bumped within the crush. It’s going to be a bit chaotic, like the beginning of the Kentucky Derby. Past that, I feel Mandaloun’s connections simply need him to get snug up towards the entrance after which deliver his run. He can do it if he desires to. His query is whether or not he desires that.