Will the Fourth Time Be the Charm for Trainer Brad Cox in the Saudi Cup?

The prominent American conditioner will send out Bishops Bay, representing King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz’s White Stable

Bishops Bay enters following a victory in the Cigar Mile in the United States / JCSA

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (Special for Turf Diario).— Armed with accumulated experience and the sense of drawing closer to the finish line, Brad Cox will once again attempt to conquer the Saudi Cup (G1), the world’s richest race, this time with Bishops Bay, the ambitious recent acquisition for King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz and his sons, who defend the traditional silks of the White Stable.

The American trainer, one of the most successful today with 240 graded stakes wins—59 of them at the highest level—will face his fourth attempt in the $20-million contest, determined to finally decode a race that has so far eluded him. His best result was a third-place finish with Saudi Crown (Always Dreaming) in 2024, following a fourth with Knicks Go (Paynter) in 2021 and a ninth with Mandaloun (Into Mischief) in 2022.

“This is our fourth time going, and there are certainly advantages to having been there before,” Cox explained. “Dustin Dugas, my assistant, is already there representing the team and has a wealth of experience. When you decide to travel to Saudi Arabia, the commitment is total: if the horse is healthy and well, you run. That’s why having someone like him on the ground is so important.”

The protagonist of this new adventure is Bishops Bay, who arrives at an ideal moment. He comes off a victory in the Cigar Mile Handicap (G2) at Aqueduct on December 6, just days after being purchased for $1.3 million at Keeneland, and having also won the Forty Niner Stakes (G3) over the New York mile. This intense schedule, far from affecting him, has bolstered his trainer's confidence.

“For a horse to leave his environment, go to a sale, vanned back to New York, and win a big race shortly after, speaks volumes about his ability to adapt and handle situations,” Cox analyzed. “That gives us peace of mind that he can handle the trip to the Middle East and settle in during the days leading up. Plus, I loved his last work; it was exactly what you expect from a G1 horse.”

The challenge now will be to extend his performance beyond the mile to 1,800 meters (approx. 9 furlongs), a question mark that Cox meets with optimism. “He proved to be very good at a one-turn mile. When they are as good as he is, my experience says they can travel anywhere in the world and perform. Hit Show (Candy Ride) proved that last year.”

But Cox’s presence in Riyadh is not limited to the big race. The trainer also holds a strong hand in the Saudi Derby (G3), which this year offers a $1.5-million purse and, for the first time, provides qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby (G1). There, he will present My World (Essential Quality), winner of the Nashua Stakes (L) and the Jerome Stakes (L), both in New York.

“He’s working very well, he’s fit and ready,” Cox stated. “He’s already shown he handles the distance and likes the one-turn mile. I’m not worried about running him around two turns, but this race fits perfectly in terms of purse and timing regarding his last start. It all makes a lot of sense.”

The news that the Saudi Derby now offers points toward Churchill Downs opens a range of possibilities for deep stables like Cox’s, as well as for competitors from Japan, the Gulf, and Europe.

“Traveling to the Middle East doesn't take us off the Derby Trail; on the contrary, it gives us options,” the trainer concluded. “It’s going to be a tough race, and he’s going to have to step up. If he does, he’ll be right in the hunt.”

Regarding jockey assignments, Irad Ortiz Jr. will be tasked with riding My World, while Junior Alvarado, winner of the 2024 Saudi Cup, will have the responsibility of piloting Bishops Bay in Saturday’s grand challenge.

With careful planning, experience, and horses peaking at the right time, Brad Cox returns to Riyadh with renewed hope. This time, he believes he holds the key to getting closer than ever to Saudi glory.