Japan’s horses made a huge impression in the Saudi Cup in Riyadh on Saturday with Authority, Songline, Stay Foolish and Dancing Prince all dominating their respective Group 3 races.

AUTHORITY for Japan!! 🇯🇵

Armchair ride for Christophe Lemaire (@christo68914587) in the G3 Neom Turf Cup sponsored by Jahez | #オーソリティ #TheSaudiCup | 𝟐𝟓-𝟐𝟔 𝐅𝐞𝐛 pic.twitter.com/2DXpLOeZ96

— The Saudi Cup (@thesaudicup) February 26, 2022

Authority, ridden by French-born Japanese-based jockey Christophe Lemaire won Neom Turf Cup presented by Jahez (G3).

Japan’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Fumio Iwai, took to twitter to congratulate the winners of the race and posted a picture of Authority’s racehorse trainer Tetsuya Kimura and Lemaire holding the Neom Turf Cup trophies with a caption saying “a thousand congratulations” in Arabic.

ألف مبروك🌹🌹🌹 https://t.co/cbHc2ZPhLp

— Iwai Fumio🇯🇵 (@FumioIwai) February 26, 2022

This was followed by a second win by Japanese-trained Songline ridden by Lemaire at the 1351 Turf Sprint presented by stc.

Japan and Lemaire double!! 🇯🇵 🇯🇵

SONGLINE lands the 1351 Turf Sprint sponsored by stc in a head-bob!#TheSaudiCup | 𝟐𝟓-𝟐𝟔 𝐅𝐞𝐛 | #サウジカップ pic.twitter.com/WfyDIwZ4cT

— The Saudi Cup (@thesaudicup) February 26, 2022

The third win was attained by Japan’s Stay Foolish, ridden by Lemaire at the G3 Longines Red Sea Turf Handicap.

Yoshito Yahagi, trainer of Stay Foolish, said: “I have been a trainer for a long time and this is one of my happiest moments. 

“I thought before he could win, absolutely. I knew he was training well so we had some confidence before the race. He is a one-paced sort of horse so this distance of 3000m must help him.

“To lead was one of our tactics and I depend on Christophe [Lemaire] to decide what is best in the race; I trust him. It is a great day for Japanese racing, proving how strong it is. Looking forward, I hope we can go to Australia for the Melbourne Cup later in the year.”

In the seventh race of the day, Dancing Prince, ridden by Lemaire, came home first at the Riyadh Dirt Sprint presented by Saudia (G3), marking the forth win for Japan.

Four for Lemaire!! Four for Japan!! 🤯

DANCING PRINCE powering clear in the G3 Riyadh Dirt Sprint presented by Saudia.

🇯🇵 🇫🇷 🇯🇵 🇫🇷 🇯🇵 🇫🇷 🇯🇵 🇫🇷#TheSaudiCup | 𝟐𝟓-𝟐𝟔 𝐅𝐞𝐛 | #サウジカップ pic.twitter.com/HwgilAquSy

— The Saudi Cup (@thesaudicup) February 26, 2022

Saudi Arabia took center stage on Saturday as some of the world’s best thoroughbred racehorses competed for the $20 million prize at the world’s most valuable horse-racing event, the annual Saudi Cup. This weekend’s event is the third Saudi Cup meeting with a total prize purse of more than $35 million.

The final race, determining the Saudi Cup 2022 winner was won by Saudi Arabia-trained Emblem Road, from Country Grammer and Midnight Bourbon.