Saudi Cup Prediction & Odds – Bob Baffert’s Taiba & Country Grammer Favored
- The $20 Million Grade 1 Saudi Cup is the Richest Race in the World
- An International field led by Americans Taiba and Country Grammer are in Saudi Arabia Saturday and listed as favorites in the Saudi Cup odds
- Who will win when the best in the Middle East, Far East, and North American collide in this weekend’s Saudi Cup prediction?
In 1996 Cigar, the best horse in the world won the first-ever Dubai World Cup. An enormous purse helped lure horses from Europe, Asia, and the Americas. Champions like Silver Charm, Invasor, Curlin, Animal Kingdom, and Arrogate all subsequently went to the desert and won in the Saudi Cup prediction.
In 2020 Saudi Arabia one-upped Dubai. The first Saudi Cup at King Abdulaziz Racetrack was won by Maximum Security, who crossed the finish line first at the Kentucky Derby but was disqualified. Positioned on the calendar a month before the Dubai World Cup, horses can now go to the Middle East, and compete for the two biggest cash prizes in the sport.
This year’s mile-and-an-eighth one-turn Saudi Cup is highlighted by Taiba in the Saudi Cup odds, the only American three-year-old to win three grade one dirt races last year. Is the best bet on the talented pricey Bob Baffert prodigy, or one of his international challengers?
2023 Saudi Cup Odds
| Horse | Odds |
|---|---|
| Taiba | +250 |
| Country Grammer | +600 |
| Jun Light Bowl | +800 |
| Cafe Pharoah | +800 |
| Emblem Road | +1000 |
| Panthalassa | +1000 |
| Crown Pride | +1000 |
| Scotland Yard | +2000 |
| Vin De Garde | +2000 |
| Geoglyph | +2000 |
| Sunset Flash | +3000 |
| Remorse | +3000 |
| Lagertha Rhyme | +3000 |
In the Saudi Cup odds above you can see Baffert’s tandem of Taiba (+250), and Country Grammer (+600) are favored. Post time is slated for 12:35 pm EST Saturday. Fox Sports 2 will televise the action from Riyadh. Temperatures are expected to be right around 80 degrees and there is virtually no shot of rain. Odds as of February 24.
DRF RACEBOOKDEPOSIT MATCH UP TO $250!
- FANDUEL RACEBOOK
$20 NO SWEAT FIRST BET (CO, IL, IN, LA, MD, MA, MI, NY, OH, PA, VA, WV, WY)
- TWINSPIRES RACEBOOK
$200 SIGNUP BONUS
- FANDUEL RACING
$20 NO SWEAT FIRST BET (AR, CA, DE, FL, KY, NH, NM, ND, OR, RI, SD, VT)
The three runnings of the Saudi Cup have produced radically different results, though each of the winners was four years old. America’s Maximum Security was the favorite and won in 2020, Irish-bred and European-based Mishriff won as the third choice in 2021, and last year locally stabbled Emblem Road won as an enormous longshot.
So where in the world will this year’s Saudi Cup prediction winner come from?
Baffert Wins in the Middle East
Though Baffert has not won the Saudi Cup, he has taken the Dubai World Cup four times. Taiba has faced older horses just once, finishing third behind Flightline and Olympiad in the Breeders Cup Classic. On opening day at Santa Anita he dominated three-year-olds.
Taiba is a $1.7 million son of Gun Runner. He beat three-year-olds last year in the Santa Anita Derby and Pennsylvania Derby along with the Malibu Stakes. While he was far from embarrassing himself against top horses in the Kentucky Derby and Breeders Cup Classic, he finished well behind the winners.
Country Grammer finished second in this race last year before winning the Dubai World Cup. Since then he has had one victory in four starts, and three second-place finishes. He was much the best in the San Antonio Stakes on December 26 at Santa Anita.
The Locals at the Saudi Cup
While Emblem Road was bred in Kentucky, all but one of his 11 races have taken place in Saudi Arabia. His only loss over the past 17 months came when he traveled to France in July. Can he repeat his signature victory from last year?
Emblem Road beat 18 rivals last month in Saudi Arabia.
Scotland Yard was trained by American Steve Asmussen for his first four races. None of the races in the US were wins. He has gone to Saudia Arabia and swept three contests over the past eight weeks. Each win has come by large margins.
Japanese Horses Among Saudi Cup Contenders
Over the last few years, horses from Japan have begun winning big international races. Six Japanese horses have made the trip to Saudia Arabia.
Crown Pride won in Dubai before running 13th in the Kentucky Derby. He was near the front of that suicidal pace. He has run three races since then, all in Japan, and finished second in each.
Jun Light Bolt beat Crown Pride last time out and has won three straight. His dirt form and races at this distance have been excellent. Jockey Ryan Moore is among the best in Europe.
Panthalassa is trained by Yoshito Yahagi. He conditioned Marche Lorraine and Loves Only You to Breeders Cup wins in 2021. Panthalassa has run all but one of his 24 races on turf. His last victory came in Dubai in March. He didn’t run well in Hong Kong in December, but his previous couple second-place performances were strong.
Cafe Pharoah, the son of Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, beat a second-tier field in Japan in October. Last February he scored a big win in Tokyo, however, it is unclear whether he wants to run more than a mile.
Saudi Cup Prediction
Maybe Taiba is the best horse in the world right now, but it is hard to know that at this point. He has only beaten three year olds, and hasn’t run spectacularly when faced with the top competition.
Country Grammer’s American form is ok, but he was really good in the Middle East last winter. That said, he lost to Emblem Road, who has the feel of a good not a great horse.
Racing in Japan has taken the leap. Yohagi has proven he can compete with the best. If Panthalassa likes the dirt, he is very classy and has been facing a high level of competition and is our Saudi Cup prediction to win.
Saudi Cup Picks: Panthalassa (+1000)
Dave Friedman has covered professional and college sports for two decades. From ESPN to the Associated Press, Regional Sports Networks, Metro Networks, and many local outlets, he has written about and broadcast major and minor events throughout the country.
