Japanese horses win big at the 2021 Saudi Cup

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Japanese horses win big at the 2021 Saudi Cup

Japanese horses win big at the 2021 Saudi Cup

Pink Kamehameha, ridden by Keita Tosaki, won the ¥158 million Japanese yen ($1.5 million) Al Rajhi Bank Saudi derby. (Reuters)

Japanese jockey Keita Tosaki greets his horse Pink Kamehameha after he wins the ¥158 million Japanese yen ($1.5 million) Saudi Derby competition of the Saudi Cup, at King Abdul Aziz race track in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Saturday, Feb. 20, 2021. (AP)

Jockey William Buick celebrates after riding Copano Kicking to victory in the ¥158 million Japanese yen ($1.5 million) Saudi Arabian Airlines Riyadh Dirt Sprint at King Abdul Aziz race track in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Saturday, Feb. 20, 2021. (Reuters)

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21 Feb 2021 04:02:08 GMT9

Clareto Monsorate

Two Japanese-bred horses, Pink Kamehameha and Copano Kicking, won big at the Saudi Cup in Riyadh on Saturday.

Pink Kamehameha, ridden by Keita Tosaki, won the ¥158 million Japanese yen ($1.5 million) Al Rajhi Bank Saudi derby.

Japanese winner at @thesaudicup! Pink Kamehameha wins the Al Rajhi Bank Saudi Derby #サウジカップ pic.twitter.com/e4J0qCL60u
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) February 20, 2021

After seeing his horse win for the second year running at the Saudi Cup, trainer Hideyuki Mori said that he wasn’t too confident coming into the race but the rainy conditions proved beneficial for Pink Kamehameha.

The second last race, the Riyadh Dirt Sprint sponsored by Saudi Arabian Airlines, brought a second successive Japanese win worth ¥158 million Japanese yen ($1.5 million) for Copano Kicking, owned by Sachiaki Kobayashi.

William Buick that is brilliant! Japan have another winner at @thesaudicup as Copano Kicking wins the Saudi Arabian Airlines Riyadh Dirt Sprint #サウジカップ pic.twitter.com/pWAWufdl8f
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) February 20, 2021

Second place went to Matera Sky, owned by Japan’s Tsuyoshi Ono.

Last year, Japanese racing also won big, as Full Flat triumphed in the Saudi Derby with Yutaka Take in the saddle – ¥84,356,000 Japanese yen ($800,000) was the prize pool for that one.

In other news, tennis superstar Naomi Osaka clinched her fourth Grand Slam title Saturday after beating American Jennifer Brady at the Australian Open.