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Elusive State is exciting on the dirt
SAUDI CUP 2021
LATE ENTRY FEE OF $200 000 FOR MILLARD The US$20 million Saudi Cup in Riyadh remains Millard’s preference for Elusive State despite the winner of Sunday’s Class 1 Egret Handicap at Sha Tin not being among the original entries for the world’s richest race. Millard is keen to contest the US$12 million Dubai World Cup (2000m) on dirt at Meydan on 27 March but would clearly prefer the Saudi Cup on 20 February in Riyadh, where a late entry fee of US$200,000 is required to compete. “One would have liked to have gone to Saudi Arabia – the Saudi Cup would have been his race over 1800m and that would be the actual race for him,” Millard said before referencing significant obstacles surrounding travel from Hong Kong to Riyadh.
Millard is confident Elusive State would contend regardless of where the All American gelding heads next after Joao Moreira unfurled a supreme tactical ride on the dirt specialist. “Quite clearly, he gave them a galloping lesson here because it (the race pattern) wasn’t what we wanted,” Millard said. “On the back of this, we’ll be definitely be going for the World Cup instead of the Gr2 Godolphin Mile because Joao feels that with him losing his early speed, he reckons that will be the right race for him. “I don’t think he could have had a better run in than this – I’m quite excited. I think he’s going to be a big runner. “It’s taken a bit of time to get him back into form,” he concluded. Features of the Saudi Cup:
The Saudi Cup (dirt, 1800m) has attracted more than 100 entries headed by a string of Gr1 winners, including Preakness Stakes winner Swiss Skydiver, Charlatan, Knicks Go, Addeybb, Mishriff, Japan’s Omega Perfume and Danon Pharaoh.
• A race for thoroughbreds aged four and up, to be run at weight-for-age terms over 1800m (9f), worth US$20m with a prize of US$10m to the winner. On the one-turn dirt oval at King Abdulaziz Racetrack, Riyadh, the
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capital of Saudi Arabia. • $10,000,000 to the winning horse. • The second to receive $3,500,000, the third $2,000,000, the fourth $1,500,000, the fifth $1,000,000, the sixth $600,000, the seventh $500,000, the eighth $400,000, the ninth $300,000, the tenth $200,000. • Open to Northern Hemisphere four-year-olds and upwards and Southern Hemisphere three-year-olds and upwards. • Supplementary entry for non-original entries of $200,000 to be paid on Tuesday February 9, 2021. • Weights: Northern Hemisphere and Southern Hemisphere four-year-olds and upwards: 57kg / 126lb. Southern Hemisphere three-year-olds: 53.5kg / 118lb. Fillies and mares allowed 2kg / 4lb. • Lasix and Bute will not be allowed in the Saudi Cup.