Taiba drew post position 2 for Saturday’s Group 1, US$20 million Saudi Cup at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh, and stablemate Country Grammer drew post 10.
Both of the U.S. entries are trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert.
Country Grammer was runner-up in this race last year to Emblem Road and won the Dubai World Cup (G1) next out. He will be ridden by Frankie Dettori, who also rode the 6-year-old to a 4 1/2-length win in the Dec. 26 San Antonio (G2).
“The Country Grammer of ’22, we were coming over here off a layoff,” Baffert assistant Jimmy Barnes said on the draw program. “This year, the horse had been racing, and we really believe this will be our year.”
Asked whether Country Grammer will benefit from shipping before, Barnes said, “Well, he does handle everything well, and I think what really helps him is he’s a mile-and-a-quarter horse. We kind of think that’s what you need over here to win this mile-and-an-eighth race.”
Taiba is coming off a 4 1/2-length win in the Dec. 26 Malibu (G1) after he finished third in the Breeders’ Cup Classic. He will be ridden by Mike Smith, who has been aboard for all but one of his seven career starts.
“We really believe that this horse is coming into his 4-year-old year,” Barnes said. “He’s matured and has handled the ship over here very well. He has traveled in the states, but this is a longer ship. But coming is in excellent shape.”
Emblem Road drew post 8 for Saturday’s race.
