In a thrilling upset, local hero Al Haram triumphs in the Saudi Derby, leaving the highly anticipated showdown between American and Japanese contenders in the dust. But was this victory a stroke of luck or a sign of greater things to come?
The $1.5 million Saudi Derby, a Grade 3 race, had all eyes on the battle between the American-trained Obliteration and Japan's Satono Voyage. However, Al Haram, a colt by Iffraaj, had other plans. Despite appearing to lag behind at the top of the stretch, he and jockey Ricardo Ferreira unleashed a powerful surge over the 1,600-meter course at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh.
As the race neared its end, Al Haram's determination became evident. At the 100-meter mark, he was in contention, and by the 50-meter mark, he had secured his fourth consecutive victory, outpacing Obliteration by 1 1/4 lengths and leaving Satono Voyage another three-quarters of a length behind in third place. The American runners, Acknowledgemeplz, Very Connected, and My World, were never in the running.
Ferreira, who spends his European season riding in Spain before heading to Saudi for the winter, expressed his confidence in the horse's ability to catch up. "I was confident they would come back, but I maintained a calm mindset," he said. "In the last 400 meters, I knew we had it."
Ferreira believes Al Haram has the potential to go even further, but his connections remained tight-lipped about the possibility of entering the UAE Derby (G2) on March 28 in Dubai, which offers a substantial 100 points to the winner in the Euro/Mideast Road to the Kentucky Derby. This would essentially guarantee a spot in the prestigious May 2 Run for the Roses.
While Ferreira hopes for a chance to compete in Dubai, he acknowledges that the decision is not his to make. "It would be a great opportunity for Saudi Arabia and for me personally," he added.
Al Haram's impressive performance in the Saudi Derby marked his third win, and his jockey believes there's more to come. "He's an incredible horse. With three wins under his belt, he's ready for the big leagues," Ferreira praised.
The race, completed in 1:38.45, showcased Al Haram's speed, rewarding a $2 win wager with $15.60 in an international pari-mutuel wagering pool.
Obliteration, trained by Steve Asmussen, led for most of the race, closely followed by Satono Voyage, until Al Haram's late surge. Jockey Joel Rosario acknowledged Obliteration's solid performance.
Al Haram's journey to the Saudi Derby included a debut win on November 13, followed by another victory on January 3 in the Saudi Broadcasting Authority Cup. He secured his spot in the Derby with a win in the Two Thousand Guineas two weeks later. All his wins were by comfortable margins, consistently covering the 1,600-meter distance on the King Abdulaziz dirt.
Obliteration, known for his one-turn race strategy, arrived at the Saudi Derby without any points in the main Road to the Kentucky Derby standings, while My World had 10 points, Very Connected had 6, and Acknowledgemeplz had 2. Satono Voyage, a colt by Into Mischief, holds the second spot on the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard due to his Cattleya Stakes win at Tokyo Racecourse in November. However, the points earned in Saudi Arabia do not transfer to the U.S. or Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby standings.
Interestingly, neither Al Haram nor Satono Voyage is an early Triple Crown nominee, but they still have the option to be nominated for $6,000 before the late-nomination deadline on April 6.
And here's where it gets intriguing: Could Al Haram's win be a fluke, or does he have what it takes to compete on the international stage? Will his connections take a chance on the UAE Derby and potentially secure a spot in the Kentucky Derby? The racing world waits with bated breath. What do you think? Is Al Haram a one-hit wonder or a future champion in the making?
