MY inaugural visit to Saudi Arabia this week took in the first official trialling of the new turf track at King Abdulaziz racecourse on the outskirts of Riyadh, capital of the kingdom. The trial went smoothly, all four riders who travelled to take part being praiseworthy of the surface.

While the upcoming $20 million Saudi Cup is being run on the well-established dirt track, the best of its kind anywhere in the world according to Frankie Dettori and modelled on Belmont Park, three valuable races on the undercard will take place on the lush grass. It is expected that there will be Irish challengers.