Bob Baffert seeks the missing jewel with Nysos and Nevada Beach in the Saudi Cup

The trainer will seek his first victory in the most expensive race on the planet; Imagination is his card for the Riyadh Dirt Sprint

Nysos looks in great shape ahead of the Saudi Cup / JCSA

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (Special for Turf Diario).- With intact ambition and a pending account that has kept him awake for five years, Bob Baffert will return next week to King Abdulaziz Racecourse with a clear goal: to win for the first time the Saudi Cup (G1), the world’s richest race with US$ 20 million in purses. The legendary American trainer will arrive in Riyadh with a powerful double hand and the determination to add this trophy to his already impressive international record.

The Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) winner, Nysos (Nyquist), and the Goodwood Stakes (G1) victor, Nevada Beach(Omaha Beach), will be his representatives in the main event on Saturday, February 14, where they must face, among others, the defending champion Forever Young (Real Steel). Additionally, Imagination (Into Mischief) will complete Baffert’s trident on the big day, taking part in the Riyadh Dirt Sprint (G2).

“The Saudi Cup is a very special race. Every time I watch it, you think it's already won, but suddenly the 100-meter sign appears and that's where the suffering begins,” confessed Baffert, with a mix of humor and frustration. “That last stretch has cost me a lot of money. We are always in front and when I see there are 100 meters left I think: ‘uh-oh, this is not good.’ We have been painfully close.”

The trainer's words are not exaggerated. Since the creation of the race in 2020, Baffert has brushed with success on several occasions: Mucho Gusto (Mucho Macho Man) was third in the inaugural edition, Charlatan (Speightstown) and Country Grammer (Tonalist) finished second in different seasons, and National Treasure (Quality Road) was fourth last year. He only needs that final step to complete the work.

On this occasion, the team is already in Saudi Arabia and the first signs were encouraging. “It was a long trip, but they handled it very well. Jimmy Barnes told me the horses arrived healthy and happy. They jogged on Thursday morning and everything was in order,” explained Baffert. “It’s incredible how resilient they are after a transfer like that.”

The plan with Nysos was carefully mapped out. “We always had the Saudi Cup in mind. When his preparation was delayed and he couldn't go to the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1), we decided to give him time and run the Dirt Mile. After that, we decided to keep him in training for another year, and since then this race has been on his radar,” he detailed.

Regarding Nevada Beach, Baffert highlighted his physical and functional profile: “He is a big horse, with a long stride, who covers a lot of ground. The 2000 meters suit him well and the Riyadh track can be demanding. He reminds me a bit of Country Grammer, who always performed very well here.”

Beyond the financial attraction, the sporting challenge is what motivates the trainer the most. “The prize is very important, of course, but for me, as a trainer, the challenge is enormous. It is the only big race I have left to win, and it would be very special to get it,” he recognized. “It’s very tough, like all the big ones, but we are excited and we hope everything goes well. At least this time we don’t have to worry about the weather.”

In terms of riding assignments, Flavien Prat will be in charge of piloting Nysos in the Saudi Cup and Imagination in the sprint, while Irad Ortiz Jr. will have the responsibility of guiding Nevada Beach.

On Imagination, Baffert was cautious but optimistic: “He worked very well before traveling. He is a horse that starts slowly and needs to get into a rhythm, but the more he runs, the better he feels. He should be very competitive. It’s hard to measure form between different countries, but he is doing very well.”

With experience, hierarchy, and a thorn in his side since the birth of the race, Bob Baffert returns to the Saudi Cupwith renewed hope. History says he has been close too many times. Next Saturday, in Riyadh, he will try to finally turn that closeness into victory.