Royal Ascot winner Holloway Boy could take an unorthodox route to next year’s 2,000 Guineas by travelling to Saudi Arabia to run on dirt for the first time.
The colt is being aimed by trainer Karl Burke at the $1.5 million Group 3 Saudi Derby on February 25 on the same card as the world’s richest horse race, the $20m Saudi Cup, in Riyadh.
Holloway Boy became the first horse for 26 years to win a race at Royal Ascot on his racecourse debut when landing the Chesham Stakes in June. He ended his campaign by finishing third in the Group 1 Vertem Futurity Trophy at Doncaster in October behind Derby favourite Auguste Rodin..
“It was always in my mind to give him a prep run before the 2000 Guineas,” said Middleham trainer Burke.. “If we go out to the Saudi Derby, it still gives us the guts of two months into the Guineas.
“Timewise, it’s ideal and the prize money is huge. As long as he’s fit and well at the end of January, I would imagine that’s where we’ll go.
“He’s a horse with a lot of ability. He showed that again in the Vertem Futurity at Doncaster when he probably should have been second. The winner, Auguste Rodin, is obviously a very useful horse.”
Dirt would be a new surface for Holloway Boy but the trainer added: “The jockeys reported the dirt track was very horse friendly compared to some others. The kickback wasn’t as severe, so it helped put it in our minds to give Holloway Boy a chance around there.
“I wouldn’t be keen to run him on ‘normal’ dirt but, from what I saw myself and listening to the jockeys, it’s a very kind surface in Saudi.
“Mishriff obviously went out there and won The Saudi Cup in 2021, so it’s proven to be friendly to the European horses so to speak.”
