RIYADH: Hall Of Fame trainer Bob Baffert returns to King Abdulaziz Racecourse next week on a mission to secure a first win in the group one $20 million Saudi Cup, a race he is determined to add to his huge portfolio of major international successes.

The Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile winner Nysos (US) will join group one Goodwood Stakes winner Nevada Beach (US) in the feature race on Feb. 14, and Baffert is relishing the challenge of taking on last year’s winner Forever Young (JPN).

“I thought I could win it before but the thing about The Saudi Cup, every time I watch it you think you are home free but all of a sudden they show the 100-meter mark and boy, I lost so much money after that 100-meter mark,” Baffert said.

“That 100-meter mark is a killer for me. We are always ahead at the 100 meters and then I just think uh-oh, this is not good, we’ve still got 100 meters to go. We’ve come agonizingly close.”

Baffert’s three runners on the night include Imagination (US) in the group two Riyadh Dirt Sprint Presented by Saudi National Bank, and all have arrived in Riyadh and pleased Baffert’s longtime wingman, Jimmy Barnes.

“It was a long trip but they handled it well and my assistant has told me they all look healthy and happy,” said Baffert.

“They had a jog on the track on Thursday morning and all felt good. It’s amazing how resilient these horses are after going through that long journey but they’re in good shape.”

Baffert’s recollection of agony in the closing stages of The Saudi Cup is understandable having gone so close so often since the race was first run in 2020.

He watched with admiration, without a runner 12 months ago, as Forever Young and Romantic Warrior (IRE) served up a race for the ages, but in 2024 saddled National Treasure (US) to finish fourth.

Country Grammer (US) was second in 2023 and 2022, while Charlatan (US) filled the same spot in 2021 and Mucho Gusto (US) led them up the straight in the first renewal to place third.

“The Saudi Cup is new and it’s different and all these big races are different. You need a good horse in The Saudi Cup and you look at last year’s race with Romantic Warrior and Forever Young and it was fantastic,” Baffert said.

“We’ve thought about this a while back for Nysos. The fact he wasn’t going to be able to make the Breeders’ Cup Classic when we got a little bit behind on him, we gave him time off and ran him in the Breeders’ Cup Mile.

“After that we decided to run him an extra year as he didn’t get to run all that much, so The Saudi Cup has always been on the radar for him since then.

“And as for Nevada Beach, I sort of thought of it after the Breeders’ Cup that he’s the type of horse that is a big, long-jumping horse that gets over the ground well.

“He wants to go a mile and a quarter (2.25 km), the track there can be demanding and he is a horse that reminds me a little bit of Country Grammer, who ran well there.”

Baffert will be on hand to oversee preparations next week and hopes both horses will be suited by the race.

“The prize money is very important and the challenge of it all for me as a trainer, that’s the one race I haven’t won so it would be nice to win it,” he said.

“It’s a tough race but all those big races like that are all tough. We’re looking forward to it and hope everything goes well all week. At least we don’t have to worry about the weather.”

Baffert confirmed Flavien Prat rides Imagination in the Riyadh Dirt Sprint and Nysos in the big race, while Irad Ortiz Jr. will partner Nevada Beach.

“Imagination worked well leaving here,” added Baffert. “He is the kind of horse that takes off a little slow, it takes him a while to get going but the further the better.

“He should be very competitive, it’s hard to know how the form will compare, but he’s doing well.”