American trainer Kenny McPeek praised his G1 Saudi Cup (1800m, dirt) contender Rattle N Roll ahead of Saturday’s (22 February) US$20 million (approx. HK$155.69 million) contest at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Speaking at a press conference in Riyadh on Thursday (20 February), McPeek outlined horse racing’s unique global reach and the significance of uniting at internationally attended meets, as well as ‘special horse’ Rattle N Roll – the Saudi Cup’s sole US-trained challenger.   

“Events like this are exactly why the thoroughbred is so special because it connects the whole world. Whether you’re an American trainer, an English trainer, Irish, Japanese or Australian.

“I’m sure I’m leaving someone out, but you really have this common denominator of being around the thoroughbred and it’s such an amazing animal. I have been worldwide because of the thoroughbred, and I’m just extremely blessed,” McPeek said.

McPeek, 62, nailed a rare Derby-Oaks double last year in Kentucky with stable flagbearers Mystik Dan and Thorpedo Anna. He purchased champion Curlin as a bloodstock agent and has been renowned for achieving success with horses who have unfashionable pedigrees.

McPeek’s six-year-old Group 1 winner Rattle N Roll made his Saudi Arabian debut on 25 January in Riyadh’s local lead-up – the G3 Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Cup (1800m, dirt) – under jockey Joel Rosario, punching his Saudi Cup ticket with a devastating finish.   

“This morning (Thursday, 20 February) is probably as good as I have seen this horse gallop – maybe in his career. He’s a really intelligent horse, he knows how to run, knows when to finish and I think you can’t train that into him – he’s just a really special horse.

“The colt came here almost two months ago now, so he has been here a while, and he has had plenty of time to acclimate – he’s thrived. We’ve been really pleased with how the whole process has gone,” McPeek said.

Rattle N Roll faces Hong Kong’s global champion Romantic Warrior – the only horse in the line-up without experience racing on a dirt surface – as well as Forever Young, Facteur Cheval, Walk Of Stars, Ushba Tesoro, El Kodigo, Ramjet, Al Musmak, Defunded, Intense For Me, Wilson Tesoro, Wait To Excel and Wootton’sun.

“I’ve paid a little bit of attention to the competition, but I honestly don’t put much energy into trying to train or analyse other people’s horses. I think Romantic Warrior is obviously a unique horse and it’s going to be interesting to see how he transitions from turf to dirt,” McPeek said.

Hong Kong’s reigning Horse of the Year Romantic Warrior is aiming to capture an 11th Group 1 this weekend.

McPeek’s Rattle N Roll won the 2024 G2 Clark Stakes (1800m, dirt) at Churchill Downs before shipping to the Middle East under a lease partnership between American owner Mike Mackin (Lucky Seven Stable) and Saudi Arabian businessman Sharaf Al Hariri.

“It’s a fantastic event to be involved in and I’m fortunate Mike Mackin has given me opportunities with his horses in America and this is a horse who has rewarded us for the time we’ve given him,” said McPeek, referencing a recent lengthy break between starts due to bone bruising.

US-based Rosario partners Rattle N Roll from barrier seven. The 40-year-old has won 13 Breeders’ Cup races, the 2013 G1 Kentucky Derby (2000m, dirt) with Orb, and the 2014 and 2019 G1 Belmont Stakes (2400m, dirt) with Tonalist and Sir Winston, respectively.

“Joel (Rosario) is a fantastic rider; he’s won a lot of races for me in his career. You really don’t have to give him any instructions. I’ve used the analogy that you don’t tell Picasso or Rembrandt how to paint – you just hand them a brush.

“Joel won’t get any instructions, we’ll let him do what he knows how to do well,” McPeek said.

Action in Riyadh, a World Pool event, kicks off at 9.20pm (HKT) for Hong Kong viewers on Saturday, 22 February. The G3 Saudi Derby (1600m, dirt) is followed by the G2 Riyadh Dirt Sprint (1200m, dirt), Saudi International Handicap (2100m), G2 Neom Turf Cup (2100m), G2 1351 Turf Sprint (1351m), G2 Red Sea Turf (3000m) and G1 Saudi Cup (1800m, dirt).