Panthalassa holds on to deny Dettori and Country Grammer in Saudi Cup
Frankie Dettori and Country Grammer just missed out as Panthalassa produced a remarkable front-running performance to strike gold for Japan in the $20million Saudi Cup.
The Bob Baffert-trained Country Grammer was narrowly denied in the world’s most valuable race 12 months ago when ridden by Flavien Prat, before providing Dettori with a fourth Dubai World Cup success at Meydan a few weeks later.
Following a readying win in California on Boxing Day, the six-year-old returned to Riyadh as one of two leading contenders for the Baffert team along with multiple Grade One winner Taiba – but Panthalassa set a strong gallop from the off at the King Abdulaziz Racecourse and could not be reeled in.
Trained by Yoshito Yahagi and ridden by Yutaka Yoshida, Panthalassa dead-heated in last year’s Dubai Turf with Lord North who earlier in the day had landed a far less lucrative Winter Derby at Lingfield.
🇯🇵 Japan win the $20 million @thesaudicup!
Panthalassa is the hero for Yutaka Yoshida & Yoshito Yahagi to give Japan a first win in the world's richest race!
#TheSaudiCup🏆 #サウジカップ🏆🎌 #パンタラッサ #矢作芳人 pic.twitter.com/bsZscA0KGK
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) February 25, 2023
Such was the pace Panthalassa set, Baffert’s pair were under pressure before the home turn and it briefly looked like it could be a Japanese one-two-three-four with a trio of compatriots chasing Panthalassa up the straight.
But Dettori conjured a storming late rally out of Country Grammer, with the line coming just too soon as he was narrowly denied once again.
Yahagi – who also on the mark with Bathrat Leon in the Turf Sprint – said: “It is unbelievable. I have no words. I am very, very happy. He was in stall one, so I said it was OK to go to the front. I was happy when he went three wide off the rail. The ground was a little bit faster and he needs it fast.
“This win is higher than any other I have had – of course it is the best feeling, because the prize-money is the best, too!
“I really can’t believe it at the moment. It does not feel real, but I’d like to say thanks to my staff and the horse.
“Winning this is not easy. Japanese racing tries everything to improve and develop and (make) Japanese horse racing to become more international – and we have done that.”
He added: “I will discuss with my owner and then we will decide if we go to Dubai for the World Cup, which is of course a possibility.
“If my owners let me go to Europe, I would love the challenge. When I started training, no one knew me and when I wore a hat they knew who I was. Today, I wore the same hat I wore at the Breeders’ Cup. I have between 200 and 300 hats. I don’t count. It would be fun if they started a game where they bet on the colour of my hat.”
A jubilant Yoshida said: “He sometimes doesn’t jump well, so I concentrated on giving him a good start and he did it. When he took an early lead the others did not give too much pressure to him. The pace was not too strong for him, it was another factor for him to keep finding until the line.
“I did break well and then it was straightforward. Mr Yahagi said to me to ride my race and I would get a good result. I didn’t think about the surface. I just rode my race and thought if he adapts to the track, it would be all right. Of course, they were coming for me in the straight, but Panthalassa always found another gear and so I kept riding.
“It is an unforgettable moment and I am very happy to have ridden the winner.”
Dettori, meanwhile, is hopeful Country Grammer can repeat his heroics of last year in the Dubai World Cup, with an extra furlong in his favour.
He said: “He ran a super race. I was outpaced all the way. I travelled to stay and thought I would be sixth really, then they all died and bless him, he’s got so much heart.
“I stayed on well, but his game is a mile and a quarter and we go back to Dubai.
“I was way back because I couldn’t lay up. I pushed him all the way. It was a super run. Like I said, at the quarter pole, I’m sixth here and thought ‘I’m not going to get any money’.
“In fairness, it was a bit like last year and he was closing all the while.
“It has been a great experience, this meeting. I’m always smiling!”
