BY JOCKEY CLUB SAUDI ARABIA (EDITED)
RIYADH—Alex and JoAnn Lieblong’s homebred turf sprinter Reef Runner enters the fray of Saturday’s $2 million 1351 Turf Sprint presented by Qiddiya City (Group 2) at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in serious form for David Fawkes, who is no stranger to top-class runners in his yard.
The Florida-based trainer has conditioned the likes of Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1)-winning Florida-bred Big Drama, triple Grade 1-winning Florida-bred Sheer Drama and dual Grade 1-winning Florida-bred Take D’ Tour in a long, well-respected career. But he makes his first foray into the Gulf Cooperation Council region with his current Florida-bred stable star Reef Runner.
‘I’m hoping with the distance and the way the track is laid out that it sets up for him,” Fawkes said. “I’m confident he’s got his A-game coming, but if he’s good enough, I don’t know. He really closes and tries hard every time, so hopefully it’s good enough.”
Boasting a record of seven wins, five seconds and five thirds from his 22 starts and $627,580 in prize money, Reef Runner has been a picture of consistency against America’s top turf sprinters, ranging from five to six-and-a-half furlongs.
A good fourth in the $920,000 Prevagen Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1) won by Shisospicy after a bit of traffic and a slower-than-expected pace, he was ultra-impressive taking the G2 Eddie D Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita just prior in September over a similar trip to this weekend’s test.
In fact, in 12 stakes-race starts, he has finished fourth or better 11 times, including three victories. The total would be four, if not for being disqualified from his first-place finish in the Grade 3 Green Flash Handicap on August 30 and placed second behind well-regarded Motorious (GB).
The son of The Big Beast enters off a facile victory in Gulfstream Park’s Listed Janus Stakes on December 20.
“Here’s the thing; in the Green Flash he should not have been disqualified and I think they were a bit unfair to him there, but honestly [the five-furlong distance] is almost a bit too short for him and I think you saw that in the Breeders’ Cup, too,” Fawkes said.
“This added distance is really going to help him, I believe. He has no problem letting the pace go and sitting behind, so hopefully there is some speed.
“On paper, in the Breeders’ Cup, there was a ton of speed, but when the bell rang no-one went to the front and Irad [Ortiz Jr] on the winner [Shisospicy] just went out there by himself,” Fawkes continued.
“So that filly had an easy lead and won the race, but our horse ran a great race to be fourth. When he goes, he goes, and he’s not afraid to roll the dice.”
Hoping to do one better than America’s dual 1351 Turf Sprint runner-up Casa Creed, the muscular 5-year-old has made a positive impression in the mornings at King Abdulaziz Racecourse, boasting a positive coat and ample energy.
‘He’s been going really well and his work the other day was really great,” Fawkes said.
“The track is a little deeper than he’s used to, so he just did a maintenance three-eighths and he galloped out strong and he’s done everything right.
“He shipped like an old pro, takes everything in stride and nothing upsets him,” Fawkes concluded. “He’s ready.”
Return to the February 12 issue of Wire to Wire
