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 (jockeys listed as of last race).
By Ed McNamara
2022 Saudi Cup Horse Profile: Making Miracles
Making Miracles – Photo courtesy of Arab News press release
On the negative side, Making Miracles’ opening odds on BUSR were 66-1. On the plus side, he’s a horse for course, with five wins in eight starts at King Abdulaziz. He took his Saudi Cup prep, the Group 1, 1 1/4-mile Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Cup, by 3 1/2 lengths on Jan. 27, extending his winning streak to three.
The Britain-bred gelding began his career in England in 2018. Making Miracles needed eight starts to break his maiden for top trainer Mark Johnston before living up to his name in the Chester Cup in May 2019. The 16-1 shot led most of the way and scored by six lengths in a driving rain on a marshy course.
The son of Pivotal was a one-hit wonder in Great Britain, where he was only 4-for-22 before coming to the Middle East for the 2020 season. He’s won three Group 1 stakes in Riyadh, which is why he’s been thrown into the deep end again.
A year ago, Making Miracles ran a credible fifth in the 1 7/8-mile Red Sea Turf Handicap, a $2.5 million race on the Saudi Cup undercard. Stakes winners Gifts of Gold and Spanish Mission ran 1-2 in the Red Sea, and Making Miracles was leading them in upper stretch before fading.
Then again, that was a grass marathon, not 9 furlongs on dirt against superstar Mishriff, who will be trying to repeat in the world’s richest race. But no matter where Making Miracles finishes, just being in a $20 million race is a major achievement for a horse who began his career 0-for-7.
Betting advice: It would be a miracle if Making Miracles wins the Saudi Cup. It would be a highlight if he could run sixth, and I can’t imagine him finishing in the top three.
Post position: 10
Odds: 40-1 (BUSR.com odds)
Jockey: Alexis Moreno
Trainer: Mitab Almulawah
Owner: Prince Saud Bin Salman Abdulaziz
Age: 7
Career record: 30-9-5-3
Career earnings: $867,835
Top Equibase speed figure: N/A
Pedigree: Pivotal-Field of Miracles, by Galileo
Color: Bay
Running style: Front-runner/stalker
Notes: Trainer Mitab Almulawah deserves the credit for Making Miracles’ turnaround since he arrived in Saudi Arabia about two years ago … Almulawah is based at King Abdulaziz, and he’s running two horses in the Saudi Cup. His other horse, Emblem Road, is also a 66-1 shot.
Ed McNamara is an award-winning journalist who has been writing about thoroughbred racing for 35 years. He has handicapped races for ESPN.com, Newsday and The Record of New Jersey. He is the author of “Cajun Racing: From the Bush Tracks to the Triple Crown” and co-author of “The Most Glorious Crown,” a chronicle of the first 12 Triple Crown champions.