Trainer Manfred Man has lamented Self Improvement’s costly start in Saturday night’s (14 February) G2 Riyadh Dirt Sprint (1200m, dirt) which resulted in a down the track finish at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.  

Man said: “He was slow from the start, and he got bumped from the other horse (Echo Point). Once you lose your position, the kickback is coming – and the kickback is heavy. So, the horse was not willing to run because of the kickback.”

Stepping from barrier eight under Jerry Chau, the Deep Field gelding lost all momentum after Echo Point veered wide as the starting stalls opened. Chau maintained a position at the rear, although Self Improvement couldn’t fire a shot from there as North America’s Imagination – second in the 2025 G1 Breeders’ Cup Sprint (1200m, dirt) behind Bentornato last start – swept to an all-conquering victory, surging from the tail of the field.

Self Improvement crossed the line in 11th position, roughly 17 lengths behind Imagination, who secured success under Flavien Prat in a time of 1m 12.00s for trainer Bob Baffert, with compatriot Just Beat The Odds holding second place under Irad Ortiz Jnr., while Saudi Arabia’s Muqtahem – second in the 2025 Riyadh Dirt Sprint – filled third position.

Chau said: “It was just after the jump – he was cut off and then the kickback made it difficult for him to travel in the race. He tried and he kept on, but it was just a very bad start. He lost ground and then it was difficult for him to pick up again.”

Self Improvement, whose biggest win came in last September’s G3 Korea Sprint (1200m, sand), was Hong Kong, China’s second runner to compete in Saudi Arabia after Romantic Warrior’s narrow defeat to Forever Young in the 2025 G1 Saudi Cup (1800m, dirt).

Race favourite Imagination’s triumph is North America’s third win in the Riyadh Dirt Sprint following the victories of Elite Power (2023) and Straight No Chaser (2025).

The Asian Racing Federation Local Handicap (1800m, dirt) opened the programme and was won by Tahzeem, ridden by Prat, and trained by Fahad Saad for owner His Royal Highness Prince Faisal bin Khaled bin Abdulaziz. Connections received trophies from Mr Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, Chair, Asian Racing Federation and Chief Executive Officer, The Hong Kong Jockey Club, and Mr Andrew Harding, Secretary General, Asian Racing Federation and Executive Director, Racing, The Hong Kong Jockey Club.