George Boughey targets Middle East riches with bargain buy Oscula

George Boughey is to break new ground twice this month when he has his first runner in Saudi Arabia.

Oscula, a daughter of Galileo Gold who cost just 4,000gns as a yearling, has been invited to run in the Saudi Derby on February 26 at Riyadh, where she is set to be the Newmarket trainer's first runner on dirt.

The three-year-old filly is an experienced traveller, having made four appearances in France last year as a juvenile, including a Group 3 win in the Prix Six Perfections and third place behind Zellie in the Group 1 Prix Marcel Boussac at Longchamp.

Owned by Nick Bradley Racing, Oscula was also effective closer to home, winning the Woodcote Stakes at Epsom in June before registering placed efforts in Group company at Royal Ascot and Newmarket's Cambridgeshire meeting.

Boughey said: “Oscula is on course for the Saudi Derby and we took her to Chelmsford for a spin before racing last Friday as an away day. They were kind enough to let her jump out of the stalls and breeze seven furlongs."

Looking ahead to the $1.5 million contest, he added: “It will be our first runner in Saudi and our first on dirt. Ryan Moore has been booked to ride. The surface is a bit of an unknown but chatting to Ryan about it he thought it was a good idea to run and the mile trip will pose no questions.

"Looking at previous runnings of the race, you have to be able to jump and travel and she’s good in that regard and also very tough. She’s in the UAE Derby on World Cup night if she were to run well at Riyadh."

Laura Toller leads Oscula at George Boughey's Saffron House Stables in NewmarketCredit: Edward Whitaker

Moore has also picked up the ride on Solid Stone for his old mentor Sir Michael Stoute in the Group 3 Neom Cup on the same card and partnered the six-year-old in a piece of work in Newmarket on Saturday.

Solid Stone enjoyed a productive end to last season with Group 3 wins at Windsor and Newbury and will be making his first start overseas.

Bruce Raymond, racing manager to owner Saeed Suhail, said: “Ryan rode Solid Stone in a piece of work on Waterhall and was pleased with him. He heads to Saudi, where the fast ground on the turf course should suit him well.”

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