THREE of the eight races on Saudi Cup night were run on the newly-laid turf track, the most valuable of which was the mile and seven-furlong Longines Turf Handicap. The race carried a winners’ purse of $1.5 million, with the runner-up netting $500,000.

Olivier Peslier weaved his way between horses on the Freddy Head-trained Group 1 winner Call The Wind, a son of Frankel, to record a two-and-a-half length victory. Success seemed somewhat unlikely with three furlongs to race as the pair were only sixth at that stage. Call The Wind showed his versatility for varying ground conditions as he relished the new turf surface in Riyadh.