Jockey Christophe Lemaire opened Saudi Cup Day with a triple aboard Japanese shippers in the turf races. Neom Turf Cup favorite Authority and Red Sea Turf H. outsider Stay Foolish benefited from enterprising frontrunning rides, while Songline rallied with a perfectly-timed move in the 1351 Turf Sprint.

The rich Saudi Cup program includes three turf stakes, all upgraded to international Group 3 status for Saturday. The 1351 Turf Sprint caters to the speed brigade, the Neom Turf Cup suits the middle-distance types, and the Red Sea Turf H. is a prize for stayers.

Just 12 years after Yeats won the Gold Cup (G1) for a record fourth time, Stradivarius is in position to emulate that historic achievement at Royal Ascot Thursday. At the opposite end of the distance spectrum, the Norfolk S. (G2) serves as a “Win and You’re In” for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G2)

And on Thursday at Royal Ascot, Stradivarius delivered the pièce de résistance of his stellar career, recording a third consecutive victory in the historic 2 1/2-mile Gold Cup (G1).