THE Japanese-trained Panthalassa made all the running to win the $20 million Saudi Cup on Saturday, just holding off the Frankie Dettori-ridden Country Grammer in the world's richest race.

Trained by Bob Baffert, Country Grammer finished second in this race last year too under Flavien Prat before going on to win the Dubai World Cup with Dettori on board.

Just like 2020 Saudi Cup winner Mishriff, Panthalassa had done all his racing on turf coming into this race but the dirt track in Riyadh is often described as being more like an all-weather surface than an American dirt circuit.

By Lord Kanaloa, Panthalassa had dead-heated for first place in the Dubai Turf last year with the British-trained Lord North. His regular rider Yutaka Yoshida was again in the saddle on Saturday and they were never headed.

Country Grammer was forced to race wide and lost his place turning for home before staying on strongly at the finish but the line came too soon for Dettori's mount.

Japanese horses also filled the third, fourth and fifth positions.

"Unbelievable"

Winning trainer Yoshito Yahagi – who had earlier saddled Bathrat Leon to win the Turf Sprint – said: “It is unbelievable. I have no words. I am very, very happy. He was in stall one, so I said it was OK to go to the front. I was happy when he went three wide off the rail. The ground was a little bit faster and he needs it fast.

“This win is higher than any other I have had – of course it is the best feeling, because the prize-money is the best, too!

“I really can’t believe it at the moment. It does not feel real, but I’d like to say thanks to my staff and the horse.

“Winning this is not easy. Japanese racing tries everything to improve and develop and (make) Japanese horse racing to become more international – and we have done that.”

He added: “I will discuss with my owner and then we will decide if we go to Dubai for the World Cup, which is of course a possibility.

“If my owners let me go to Europe, I would love the challenge. When I started training, no one knew me and when I wore a hat they knew who I was. Today, I wore the same hat I wore at the Breeders’ Cup. I have between 200 and 300 hats. I don’t count. It would be fun if they started a game where they bet on the colour of my hat.”

Good start

A jubilant Yoshida said: “He sometimes doesn’t jump well, so I concentrated on giving him a good start and he did it. When he took an early lead the others did not give too much pressure to him. The pace was not too strong for him, it was another factor for him to keep finding until the line.

“I did break well and then it was straightforward. Mr Yahagi said to me to ride my race and I would get a good result. I didn’t think about the surface. I just rode my race and thought if he adapts to the track, it would be all right. Of course, they were coming for me in the straight, but Panthalassa always found another gear and so I kept riding.

“It is an unforgettable moment and I am very happy to have ridden the winner.”

Dettori, meanwhile, is hopeful Country Grammer can repeat his heroics of last year in the Dubai World Cup, with an extra furlong in his favour.

He said: “He ran a super race. I was outpaced all the way. I travelled to stay and thought I would be sixth really, then they all died and bless him, he’s got so much heart.

Dettori winner

Earlier in the day Frankie Dettori brought Elite Power with a devastating run down the centre of the track to win the Riyadh Dirt Sprint.

Slightly taken off his feet in the early stages, the Eclipse Award winner engaged overdrive inside the final two furlongs and ran out a wide margin scorer.

Winner of the Breeders’ Cup Sprint last time out, Elite Power was simply in a different league to his rivals – but this was a poignant success for Dettori.

He was sporting the silks of the famous Juddmonte operation, founded by the late Saudi prince Khalid Abdullah and worn to many big-race wins by Dettori on the likes of Enable and most recently in the Dewhurst on Chaldean.

“The first word that comes to mind is ‘aeroplane’,” said Dettori of the Bill Mott-trained five-year-old.

“As soon as I asked him to get a little bit closer he just took off and the race was over.

“The Abdullah family has been so good for the sport and I love the colours. It’s given the locals something to cheer about.”

British winner

The only British-trained winner on the Saudi Cup card was Mostahdaf, trained by John and Thady Gosden, and ridden by Jim Crowley for owners Shadwell Stud.

The five-year-old son of Frankel, who was last seen finishing last of 20 in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, simply ran away with the 10-and-a-half-furlong Neom Cup on turf.

There was to be no fairytale comeback for 2021 Ascot Gold Cup winner Subjectivist who finished well down the field behind Silver Sonic in the Red Sea Turf Handicap.

Now trained by Charlie Johnston, Subjectivist was undoubtedly the leading stayer in Europe when adding Ascot’s showpiece race to his win in Dubai a few months prior.

However, he picked up a tendon injury and was off the track for over 600 days before this return on the Saudi Cup undercard.

Joe Fanning – himself only recently back from a long-term injury – attempted to dictate but he could never get away from the field and soon after turning into the straight he was beaten.

Silver Sonic, trained in Japan by Yasutoshi Ikee and ridden by Australian Damian Lane, burst clear and while Ian Williams’ Enemy briefly threatened, he was no match for the grey close home.

Ebor winner Trawlerman, trained by John and Thady Gosden, also failed to land a blow.

“He’s a good horse and good stayer and the race unfolded well for him,” said Lane.

“I was obviously very happy to follow Subjectivist. Trawlerman on my outside was just giving me a little bit of grief – he was getting in on me a little bit and I just knew I needed some luck at some stage. When the run presented itself, he was too strong.

“I think the Tenno Sho in Japan is next on the cards. I’m back to Australia for a few weeks then off to the Dubai Carnival, hopefully.”

Asked if he would be coming to Britain at any stage, he quipped: “For the right offer, for sure!”

Richard Kingscote, who rode Enemy, said: “With the track riding as it is, I wanted to get a bit handier than in Dubai. To be fair he did everything really well. He got a good, smooth run round the bend to get out and challenge, but the winner picked up extremely well.”

Johnston said: “He had to light him up from that draw a bit and he would have been keen, regardless. That was made worse by what he had to do early.

“We will see if he comes out of it in one piece, but he will probably go to the Sagaro or the Henry II, just lower our sights closer to home. I would say he won’t go to Dubai now.

“We knew what we are asking him to do was a big, big ask, but at the same time, where do you take the horse that won the Ascot Gold Cup last time out?”