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Ron the Greek much the best in spill-marred King Abdullah Cup American expatriate Ron the Greek (Full Mandate), known as "Wattani" in Saudi Arabia, tuned up for a likely tilt at the Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1) with a seven-length tour de force in Saturday's Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Cup in Riyadh. Dubbed the King Abdullah Cup in honor of the recently deceased Saudi monarch, the about 1 1/2-mile dirt test was marred by a multi-horse spill rounding the far turn. Ron the Greek was never endangered, though, and extended his winning streak to four. Jose Lezcano came in for the ride aboard Ron the Greek, who is campaigned by the late king's sons and trained by Nicholas Bachalard. Taking up a cozy stalking spot behind the early leader toward the inside, the multiple Grade 1 star traveled conspicuously well throughout. He was poised to pounce when disaster unfolded behind him. Further back in the pack, several horses went down in a chain-reaction incident, including Eddie Castro's mount King of the Danes (Dansili), Alonso Quinonez's mount Model Pupil (Sinndar) and Alan Garcia's mount Alsaef Alajrab (Dynever). Meanwhile, at the top of the stretch, Ron the Greek angled out, dove through a huge seam, and stamped his superiority in a final time of 2:31 2/5. Gone Dutch (Dutch Art) was best of the rest by a half-length from Fly Solo (Soviet Star). Joel Rosario rode Nausica Time (Dubawi) to a fifth-place effort of the 11 who finished. Pat Cummings (@Dubairacenight) reported that King of the Danes and two other horses were fatally injured. Initial reports coming out of Saudi Arabia indicated that all of the jockeys came through without serious injury. Castro was later found to have a "hairline crack in vertebra," Cummings reported via Twitter Sunday. "I was told it should be OK with rest, but can't confirm it myself," he added. Cummings also noted Sunday that jockey Mohammed Saeed, whose mount Singalat (Singspiel) was likewise among the fallers, suffered two fractured vertebrae. Ron the Greek now sports a 36-14-5-4 record, and his bankroll is hovering around $2.8 million. He recorded seven stakes victories during the U.S. phase of his career. Three came at the top level -- the 2012 Santa Anita H. (G1) and Stephen Foster H. (G1), where he upset Wise Dan (Wiseman's Ferry), and the 2013 Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1). He also landed the 2010 Lecomte (G3), a pair of minor stakes at Aqueduct in 2011 and the 2013 Florida Sunshine Millions Classic, and his six stakes placings include the 2012 Whitney H. (G1) and Oaklawn H. (G2) as well as the 2013 Charles Town Classic (G2) and Stephen Foster. Purchased by his new connections in late 2013, Ron the Greek opened his Saudi sojourn with a victory last February. He next tried the World Cup, but didn't enjoy himself on Meydan's old Tapeta and wound up 12th. Third off a seven-month layoff back home in Riyadh in October, he regained the winning thread a week later when romping by 10 1/4 lengths. Ron the Greek went on to add the November 22 Ministry of Education (Student's Cup) and the January 3 Crown Prince Cup, and made it four in a row here. These Saudi stakes do not count as black-type races. The eight-year-old was bred by in Florida by Jack T. Hammer. He initially raced for his breeder, who sold an interest to Brous Stable and Wachtel Stable in the summer of 2011. His dam, the winning Fortunate Prospect mare Flambe, is a full sister to stakes-placed Fortuesque, who produced Grade 2-winning millionaire Musket Man (Yonaguska). Bet Horseracing Free Online at TwinSpires.com
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