NEWMARKET TRAINER TOM CLOVER AIMS TO REPEAT QATAR SUCCESS AT THE SAUDI CUP MEETING

Royal Ascot winning trainer Tom Clover, who trains from the historic Kremlin House Stables in Newmarket, has his eyes set on the Saudi Cup meeting this week with AL NAYYIR (GB) after his success in the Dukhan Sprint in Qatar with ROGUE LIGHTNING.

Rogue Lightning was purchased by Blandford Bloodstock agent Richard Brown at the Goffs British Champions Day Sale for £1,000,000 on behalf of The Emir Of Qatar’s Wathnan Racing.

Speaking to Great British Racing International, Clover discussed the emphatic success of the five-year-old on Sunday at Al Uqda racecourse:

“Rogue Lightning was always a horse we held in high regards. It was really exciting for the whole team, particularly for Carrie who has been out there with him. It was important for us to get a win for the owner Wathnan Racing, who have supported us and it was great to deliver a major win for them on their big day. It was a huge thrill and it is a day we will always remember.”

Clover enjoyed a fantastic year in 2024 with his highest number of winners and prize money since he started training eight years ago. Momentum started building in 2023 when he won the Group 2 Duke Of Cambridge Stakes at Royal Ascot with ROGUE MILLENIUM. In 2024 he continued to put his name on the map, with successes at the York Ebor Festival and at Newmarket’s Cambridgeshire Meeting.

Al Nayyir, who runs in the red and white colours of Elbashir Elhrari will line up in the Group 2 Red Sea Turf Handicap on at The Saudi Cup meeting. He only joined Clover’s yard in July 2024 but has already finished second in a Group 2 at the York Ebor Festival and won a Listed race at Newmarket’s Rowley Mile Racecourse by eight lengths. Should he run well on Saturday, the plan is to aim for the Group 2 Dubai Gold Cup at the Dubai World Cup meeting.

Clover talked about his hopes for the gelding in the Red Sea Turf on Saturday:

“I am very pleased with Al Nayyir’s condition. He’s travelled well and improved in his coat with a bit of sun in Saudi Arabia. It’s a big ask giving this weight away to the rest of the field but he has drawn nicely and he is a high-class horse and we think he will run a big race.

“He is a seven-year-old now, but he is by DUBAWI and they improve with age. He is just a wonderful horse to deal with and we hope to see him win a big race this year.”