Six-year-old galloper PANTHALASSA led all the way to claim the fourth running of the G1 US$20 million Saudi Cup, defeating race favourite COUNTRY GRAMMER in a finish dominated by Japanese-trained horses.
Fielding six of the 13 starters, Japanese horses finished first, third, fourth, fifth, seventh and 11th and made up a remarkable four of the first five runners across the finish line.
Last year’s winner, EMBLEM ROAD, reared at the start and could not make up the lost ground, finishing sixth, while Frankie Dettori’s mount, COUNTRY GRAMMER, charged home late and finished runner-up for the second straight year.
PANTHALASSA, a son of champion sire Lord Kanaloa, dead-heated for first place in the G1 Dubai Turf in 2022 with galloper LORD NORTH, who coincidentally won the Winter Derby (G3) in England just hours before the Saudi Cup.
