Local runner Emblem Road runs out an 80-1 shock winner of $20 million Saudi Cup

Saturday: Riyadh

Riyadh was in raptures after Emblem Road gave Saudi Arabia a first success in the world's richest race, defeating US heavyweight Country Grammer to pull off a huge upset in the $20 million Saudi Cup.

Quite how it happened will take some untangling, but for a kingdom with an unquenchable ambition to become an established power in the racing world, the importance of Emblem Road's 80-1 success can not be measured and the people of Saudi Arabia celebrated accordingly.

A local champion at a mile with a six-from-eight record going into the Saudi Cup, Emblem Road may have been discarded by the market, but assistant trainer Hisham Abdul Wahed had been talking a good game all week and the Mitab Almulawalah-trained four-year-old did not let his team down.

Jockey Wigberto Ramos celebrates after a famous successCredit: Francois Nel

Sixth at best turning into the straight, he came with an irresistible charge down the centre of the track to deny Country Grammer and Midnight Bourbon in front of a capacity crowd of 20,000.

"Today all the kingdom have to party for us and for them," said Wahed. "We did a great job today. We defeat champions like Mishriff and Mandaloun and thank God for all of this.

"I told you Emblem Road is very good – he ran an incredible race. This distance [1m1f] is better for him than a mile and he will go further. Today we put our names on it and I can't explain what it means. It's great for the people and the kingdom."

Asked if they are ready to take on the world in races like the Dubai World Cup and Breeders' Cup, he added: "We're ready and our horses are good. We can do it like today, why not?"

Victory was the pinnacle for veteran rider Wigberto Ramos, 53, coming to the end of his career after 34 years in the saddle.

Ramos, who came to ride in Saudi Arabia from Panama 24 years ago and never left, said: "I was really excited about this horse and told my people he was in good form. He likes to come down the outside so I was happy where I was. I didn't hear anything in the straight, I was just watching the finishing line and thinking: 'I want to get this thing done.'

"This is the best moment of my life. In two or three years I will retire, but right now I'm not thinking about that. I'm very happy to win one of the biggest races in the world. My family is from Panama, but Saudi Arabia is my second home, the people here support me."

Runner-up Country Grammer got the better of a prolonged duel with Midnight Bourbon before succumbing to the late charge of the winner, but there were no excuses from rider Flavien Prat, who said: "I thought I had the job done. He ran great, had a great trip and there are no excuses. He proved what a good horse he is."

Joel Rosario, rider of Midnight Bourbon, said: "Coming round the final turn I thought it might be my night, but then the winner came on in the last part.

"It was a beautiful race to watch. It's a good result for the country and for the jockey. He deserved the win and I couldn't be more happy."

Undoubtedly the disappointment of the race was last year's winner Mishriff, bidding to become the highest-earner of all time but who failed to beat any of his 13 rivals as rider David Egan let him finish in his own time.

"He's better than that," said Egan. "He didn't jump as sharply as he did last year and was on the back foot. We slowly crept up and got into a nice position, but once we turned into the bend he was struggling a long way out and it was definitely not him.

"Something must be amiss, but hopefully he's alright. I looked after him and hopefully he'll have another day."

Full race result

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