Velazquez all excited about Riyadh return
RIYADH Three-time Kentucky Derby winner and one of America's most revered riders, John Velazquez, is relishing his next challenge when facing off against some of the world's best in the Diriyah International Jockeys' Challenge on Feb 21.
The decorated Puerto Rican-born Hall Of Famer faces 13 rivals in the four-race series at Saudi Arabia's King Abdulaziz Racecourse, and will be returning to a country he first visited nearly 30 years ago.
"I have been coming to Saudi Arabia since 1998 and have won some of the nice races over there," explained the 53-year-old.
"I am very honoured to be part of the event and it is nice to be invited to take on jockeys from all over the world."
The acceleration of racing in Riyadh in recent years with the advent of the Saudi Cup meeting and the development of King Abdulaziz Racecourse, has not slid past Velazquez unnoticed.
"I have been coming for a long time and Saudi Arabia has been very good to me," he said.
"It has changed a lot over the years and I am looking forward to coming back and seeing how it has developed again.
"They have done an incredible amount for horse racing, they should be proud of what they have achieved."
The 21-time Breeders' Cup winner has over 6,700 career successes, and while he has experience against the likes of Belgian ace Christophe Soumillon, he will go head-to-head for the first time against the man last December again voted the Longines World's Best Jockey, James McDonald.
"I have ridden against the likes of Christophe before but not James, so I am looking forward to that," he added.
Velazquez did make an appearance at the 2024 Saudi Cup meeting, doing best with a second-place finish aboard the Jimmy Jerkens-trained My Frankel in the Saudi International Handicap (2,000m) won by King Shalaa for French trainer Alban de Mieulle.
He added: "I hope to pick up a couple of extra rides on the Saturday – I think I might have one in one of the sprint races and maybe one in the Saudi Cup, too – but I am not sure yet. Fingers crossed."
Velazquez is likely to be aboard Dan Blacker's Straight No Chaser (USA) in the Riyadh Dirt Sprint presented by Saudi National Bank, after the pair teamed up together for success in the Breeders' Cup Sprint at Del Mar in November. JOCKEY CLUB OF SAUDI ARABIA
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