William Segovia: From the Scandinavian Dream to Saudi Ambition with Hans Andersen

The Argentine trainer, based in Denmark for 15 years, will saddle the Frankel gelding Hans Andersen in Friday’s Saudi International Handicap during the Saudi Cup meeting—a story of grit and perseverance.

William Segovia en Riyadh, a la espera de una gran experiencia

By Diego H. Mitagstein (Special Correspondent for Turf Diario in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia)

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (From a special correspondent).– On the eve of the world’s most powerful day on the racing calendar in terms of prize money, while all eyes are fixed on Saturday’s Saudi Cup (G1), there are stories worth telling beyond the millions and the marquee names. One of them carries an Argentine accent, a Nordic spirit, and a deep sense of personal achievement. It belongs to William Segovia, the man who left his homeland 15 years ago and will compete this Friday at King Abdulaziz Racecourse with Hans Andersen (Frankel) in the Saudi International Handicap.

The race, restricted to horses not listed in Part 1 of the cataloguing standard, opens doors for other circuits and other realities. And there stands Segovia, alongside his partner Verónica Jandová, defending a project built from the ground up that now finds them rubbing shoulders with the elite.

“I moved to Denmark about 15 years ago. I traveled through Scandinavia, was lucky enough to meet many people from Chile, Argentina, and Brazil… I also worked in England. Two years ago, the opportunity arose for my partner and me to train, thanks to an owner who gave us the chance to handle quality bloodstock. For newcomers like us, it is a privilege to be here,” he says with humility.

The path was not a straight line. He started as a galloper under Diego Lowther during his early days in Scandinavia, followed by nearly 5 years in England, absorbing knowledge at every turn. Before Europe, he had only a brief stint at Palermo. “Actually, not much; I was more involved in cuadreros (match races). I worked two months at Palermo, mostly learning and watching. Then the opportunity to come to Europe arose, and everything changed,” he recalls.

That international experience is now his foundation. Year after year, Segovia and Verónica seek to upgrade the quality of their roster. Dubai was a key stepping stone, with appearances in the Carnival that, while ultra-competitive, provided invaluable lessons. “The competition is very tough, especially in Dubai—very, very tough. But every time we return to Scandinavia, we take back a beautiful experience, trying to improve for the next year,” he explains.

His partner for this Saudi venture is Hans Andersen, a son of Frankel and former property of Coolmore Stud. A G3 winner in Ireland, he famously served as a pacemaker for none other than City of Troy (Justify) before reinventing himself under Argentine tutelage in Northern Europe.

“We bought him about a year and four months ago. Everyone knows he was a pacemaker, but he is a G3 winner in Ireland, and in Denmark, he won a Listed stakes for us, in addition to several Group placings. His last few starts were on the dirt; I don’t think he’s naturally a dirt horse, but we used those races to gauge his behavior. He is better on the turf,” he details.

The plan for Saudi Arabia was no improvisation. “We’ve been planning for this race for months. The horse arrives in great shape; he had a blow-out on the turf today, and I think this firm ground will benefit him. He might be better suited for 1,800 or 2,000 meters, but he arrives healthy, which is the most important thing, and we are very confident with Francisco Leandro in the irons,” he asserts.

There is no pretension in his words—only hard work, conviction, and a positive mindset. He is an Argentine who crossed the ocean with almost no formal experience in "big-time" racing and is now saddling a Frankel on one of the most stunning stages on the planet.

In a meeting that offers astronomical purses and attracts the world’s best, William Segovia represents something equally valuable: the certainty that dreams, when backed by effort and learning, can travel thousands of miles and eventually bloom under the desert sun.