Trackwork Notes – Tuesday February 10, 2026
BAFFERT ON HAND FOR FINAL SAUDI CUP BREEZES
American Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert made his first appearance at King Abdulaziz Racecourse on Tuesday morning to see his two contenders for The Saudi Cup get through their final pieces of serious work.
The first horse to hit the track during the 7am training session was Nysos (USA), who backed up to the finish line before going about his work smartly under exercise rider Beto Gomez.
Picking up gradually around the turn and into the stretch, the once-beaten son of Nyquist (USA) appeared comfortable throughout.
Minutes later, Gomez swapped horses to climb aboard G1 Goodwood Stakes winner Nevada Beach (USA), a head second to his aforementioned stablemate when both were last seen in the G2 Laffit Pincay Jr. Stakes at Santa Anita on December 28.
"I was happy the way they went over track," Baffert said. "Just a little leg-stretcher. Looking forward to Saturday. Nevada Beach, if he runs well, will head to Dubai World Cup."
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LUXOR CAFE TAKING LATEST VENTURE WELL
Image: Luxor Cafe at King Abdulaziz Racecourse, February 9, 2026. Credit: Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia / Neville Hopwood.
Luxor Cafe (USA) has used the experience of previous overseas travel to take his latest trip to King Abdulaziz Racecourse in his stride as he gears up for Saturday's Group 1 USD$20m Saudi Cup.
One of two runners this weekend for vastly-experienced trainer Noriyuki Hori, Luxor Cafe is the American Pharoah full-brother of Cafe Pharoah (USA), who won the G1 February Stakes at Tokyo in both 2021 and 2022.
Luxor Cafe had a steady workout on Tuesday morning just behind his stablemate Struve (JPN), a runner in the G2 $2.5m Red Sea Turf Presented by Longines, on the dirt track.
Although he only finished in the middle of the pack in last year's G1 Kentucky Derby after a slow start at Churchill Downs, Luxor Cafe built himself back up and claimed the G3 Musashino Stakes in Tokyo, a 1600m event in the middle of November. He was down the field on his latest start in the G1 Champions Cup, from a wide draw in a rough race.
"He was highly adaptable when we went to the US and easily adjusted to new environments, so he didn’t have much trouble this time either," assistant trainer Naoto Suzuki said. "Since he had already been conditioned and had done almost what he needed in Japan, today’s workout was planned to avoid leaving any fatigue.
"We had a gate handler during a gate practice this morning, anticipating a situation in the actual race where the horses on either side might also have gate handlers. He shares many similarities with his older brother Cafe Pharoah, so I believe he’s well-suited for this race."
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SHIN LEG-STRETCH PLEASES SAKAI
The Yoshito Yahagi-trained five-year-old Shin Emperor (FR) breezed on the dirt track on Tuesday. Yahagi’s stable jockey, Ryusei Sakai was aboard the defending champion of the G1 $3m Neom Turf Cup Presented by Howden.
"I breezed him over eight furlongs [1600m] and asked him to quicken in the home straight. Shin Emperor responded well and he is in good form, just like he was last year," Sakai said.
The Japanese-trained five-year-old has placed four times in G1 races, including the 2024 Japan Cup. "I would like to secure his Group 1 victory," Sakai added.
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LOVESICK BLUES SEEING RED AHEAD OF RIYADH DIRT SPRINT
Mia Familia Racing Stable’s star performer Lovesick Blues (USA) has reportedly exited his work two days ago in smart form, according to trainer Librado Barocio.
Under Danny Ramsey, last year’s G1 Bing Crosby Stakes conqueror did a three-quarter tempo "leg-stretcher" down the stretch with his conditioner in attendance.
"He came out of it really well and is definitely on the muscle," Barocio said. "On Monday, the day after, he was bouncing in the walk ring and today again. One of the tricks that I’ve done with him is after we do anything serious, we give him a couple days off.
"He’s an older guy and enjoys that. This morning he was tearing up the stall. He’s wound up and I think we’re ready to go. He will come out to the dirt track tomorrow and show his attitude."
In order to win the G2 $2m Riyadh Dirt Sprint Presented by Saudi National Bank, the flashy grey must topple the likes of Imagination (USA), who was second in Lovesick Blues’ traffic-troubled sixth in the G1 Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Del Mar on November 1.
"He breaks sharp and I’m hoping he can get out there and slot down in the middle without getting shut off like he did in the Breeders’ Cup," Barocio concluded. "I’m ready to take on Imagination again, especially over this longer stretch. Once he gets into that stride and he gets going, he’s so good.
"In the Breeders’ Cup, I don’t know if he would have won - Bentornato (USA) is a tremendous animal - but I believe he would have been right there if he didn’t meet so much trouble."
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