In the days leading up to the $20 million Saudi Cup (G1) at King Abdulaziz Racetrack in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Feb. 26, usracing.com is publishing profiles of the starters in the world’s richest horse race. Profiles will be updated with odds, post positions and jockeys several days before the race.
By Jenny Kellner
2022 Saudi Cup Horse Profile: Secret Ambition
After nearly a year off after winning the Godolphin Mile (G2) in Dubai, Secret Ambition returned to the races last month and ran second to rival to Golden Goal.
The solid return in the 1 ½-length loss to a horse he beat by six lengths the 2021 Godolphin Mile, gives trainer Bupart Seemar hope his veteran 9-year-old can contend with the younger, top horses in the Saudi Cup.
Bred in Britain by Darley, Secret Ambition is the most experienced horse in the field as he’ll be making his 44th career start, boasting 11 victories and 12 runner-up finishes, during a career that began in Britain and wound up in Dubai in 2017.
Seemar is UAE’s current leading trainer and will send out two other horses on Saudi Cup day for Zabeel Stables, Gladiator King and Switzerland (both in the Riyadh Dirt Sprint).
Betting advice: Secret Ambition could be sitting on a big race here, now that he had a satisfactory prep following nearly a year off. However, I can’t see how he can challenge the elite horses lining up on Saturday, even with a strong effort.
Post position: 12
Odds: 25-1 (BUSR.com odds)
Jockey: Tadhg O’Shea
Trainer: Bupart Seemar
Owner: Naser Askar
Age: 9
Career record: 43-11-12-2
Career earnings: $1,222,393
Top Equibase speed figure: N/A
Pedigree: Exceed and Excel-Inner Secret, by Singspiel
Color: Bay
Running style: Midpack
Notes: Secret Ambition had his best campaign as an 8-year-old, winning two of four races, the Firebreak Stakes (G3) and the Godolphin Mile (G2) and ran second in the Jebel Ali Mile (G3) prior to the two victories. Earnings in 2021 totaled $556,015 … He didn’t break his maiden until the eighth race of his career, back in 2015.
Jenny Kellner is an award-winning journalist and proud owner of Toby, an 11-year-old prize-winning palomino quarter horse. Jenny was among the first female sports columnists in the United States, and has worked for the New York Times, the New York Post, the New York Daily News, and Newsday. Jenny also was a senior media director at the New York Racing Association, and has been an elementary school and middle-school teacher in New York, and currently in Colorado.
