Allam (AKA Premium Tap) VS two former Argentina HOY's

[The Indomitable DrugS]

On Friday, in Sudai Arabia, our 3rd place finisher in the Breeders Cup Classic (who's new muslim name is "Allam") will take on a field that includes an Argentina Horse of the Year from 2004 (Firewall was his slave name in South American name, Sadeq Alwaed is his muslim name) and 2005 Argentina Horse of the Year (Forty Licks was his slave name and Alhakem is his muslim name)

Premium Tap's toughest test will come from Forty Licks, who has won four races over the winter in Suadi Arabia. In his most recent start, he was a 9 length winner of an allowance race, getting 10 furlongs in a snappy 1:59.88

The 2nd place finisher in that allowance race was Sattaie. He was a multiple Graded Stakes winner at 9 furlongs in the USA under the slave name Zakocity. He also finished 2nd in the Sunshine Millions Classic a few years back.

The 3rd place finisher in that allowance race, beaten 16 1/4 lengths, was a former 2yo champion in Peru. The 4th place finisher, won a Group 3 race in Ireland earlier in his career, and was once 4th in a Group 1 in Europe.

Two starts back, Forty Licks got the better of Firewall, winning a 1 1/2 mile stake race by one length. It was an 18 horse field. the 3rd place finisher was beaten 5 lengths.

Now I'm going to go shoot myself in the head, for spending my Valentine's night on Suadi Arabain websites, and inventing Derby trends---when I should either be handicapping tomorrow's card, or banging some chick.

[eajinabi]

Thanks for the scouting report!

[Hickory Hill Hoff]

Pleasant Tap kinda changed his name...like Ali did.

[slotdirt]

Wow, all horses we probably know. I didn't realize Zakocity and Forty Licks were sold to the sheiks.

[SniperSB23]

I hate it when they change their names. As if buying them up and taking them out of the country isn't enough of a slap in the face they have to rub it in by showing no respect for American racing and changing his name.

[slotdirt]

What did they change poor old Dynever's name to when he retired?

[Gander]

I love Premium Tap and really think he is the most underrated horse thats raced in America in quite some time. Maybe since Formal Gold.

A shame he isnt running in the states. Really frustrating when our handicap division is already very weak, a horse that is clearly one of our top 3 gets sent somewhere liek Saudi Arabia.

Not what this sport needs right now.

[slotdirt]

I met some of the Premium Tap "crew" down in L-ville for the Breeders Cup this year. They seemed like a jovial bunch, and I was saddened to see them sell. I guess when that kind of cash is thrown at you, it's hard to say no.

[Gander]

Certainly cant blame them for selling, but it still crushes our fanfare. Some of these horses you see recently in the big handicap races leave a lot to be desired. Sun King may actually get his grade 1 if this trend continues, and even funnier, Jazil may get another one.

[brockguy]

from racing post

King’s Cup
Janadriyah 1m4f (dirt)
THE best race in the Gulf this week isn’t in Dubai, it won’t be on TV and there certainly won’t be any betting.

The race in question takes place on Friday, at the King Abdul Aziz racecourse at Jandriyah, near the Saudi Arabian capital Riyadh, which hosts what amounts to a majortrial for the Dubai World Cup.

The King’s Cup - or the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Cup, to give the race its proper title – is Saudi Arabia’s foremost race. Formerly a 2m1f event, it is now a 1m4f race – and it features a clash between Breeders’Cup Classic third Premium Tap and Forty Licks, Argentina’s Horse of the Year. Both are being aimed at the World Cup next month.

Mick Kinane flies in from Dubai to partner Forty Licks for Englishman Ian Jory, who also saddles Chiquitin (Johnny Murtagh), fifth in the 2006 World Cup.


They will be running under different names, however, racing as Alhakan (Forty Licks) and Alnuman (Chiquitin), while the John Kimmel-trained Premium Tap is, for Friday’s race at least, now known as Allam. He will be ridden by US pilot Kent Desormeaux.

All these horses are now owned by various members of the Saudi royal family, including Forty Licks, whose victories include the last two legs of the Argentine Triple Crown in 2005-06.

“It’s going to be agreat race and we’ll get a better understanding of our chance in the Dubai World Cup after this,” said Jory. “The Prince and I are obviously keen to win the big race at home before aiming at the Dubai World Cup.”

[Scav]

So IF Preminum Tap were to come back to the States, would he run under his Saudi name, or his US name?

[Gander]

THE best race in the Gulf this week isn’t in Dubai, it won’t be on TV and there certainly won’t be any betting.

May as well not even take place.

[SniperSB23]

Originally Posted by Scav

So IF Preminum Tap were to come back to the States, would he run under his Saudi name, or his US name?

I think he would have to run as Premium Tap but I'm not positive on that.

[slotdirt]

Nobody's answered my Dynever question yet.

[paisjpq]

Originally Posted by slotdirt

Nobody's answered my Dynever question yet.

Ittasak

[slotdirt]

Thank you.

[Dunbar]

Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS

On Friday, in Sudai Arabia, our 3rd place finisher in the Breeders Cup Classic (who's new muslim name is "Allam") will take on a field that includes an Argentina Horse of the Year from 2004 (Firewall was his slave name in South American name, Sadeq Alwaed is his muslim name) and 2005 Argentina Horse of the Year (Forty Licks was his slave name and Alhakem is his muslim name)

You know, I thought you were joking about all the muslim names, and I thought it was funny enough to read aloud to my wife. But I did a Google search for "Premium Tap Allam", and a Japanese website came up. It was all in Japanese, but I could see "Premium Tap (Allam)".

I presume Discreet Cat and Bernardini also have muslim names?

--Dunbar

[slotdirt]

I wonder if this is like the horse's barn name? Lots of horses aren't referred to by their God-given name in the sanctity of the barn area.

[The Indomitable DrugS]

I remember a few years back, some expensive 2-year-old owned by Arabs was approved to race under the name Mufawker and was working up to his debut at Saratoga.

However, if I remember correctly, they made them change his name about a week or so before he was set to debut.