TWO-HORSE RACE FOR THE CROWN PRINCE CUP

Defending champion My Frankel out to turn tables on last-start nemesis Wait To Excel

- Michael Lee

The Saudi racing season keeps getting through its gears with the 1 million riyal (S$358,000) Listed Crown Prince Cup (2,400m) at Riyadh shaping up as a thriller on Dec 14.

As is the recurring intrigue for such thoroughbred events in the Kingdom, breeding lines all the way from Europe and the US will be pitted against each other while the locally bred steeds will do battle in the other Crown Prince race, also run over 2,400m on dirt, but which is classified as a domestic Group 1.

Given the Saudi form is still relatively unexposed to most parts of the wagering world, finding a winner can be a tricky exercise.

But the field can safely be narrowed down to two horses who finished 1-2 at their last encounter in an Open race over 2,000m on dirt on Nov 16, the winner Wait To Excel and runner-up My Frankel.

Some may debate that it was daylight that ran second, though.

An English-bred five-year-old by Postponed, Wait To Excel drubbed My Frankel, also an English-bred but two years older, and whose name is a giveaway of his sire, by 91/2 lengths.