AS IT HAPPENED: Emblem Road takes shock Saudi Cup victory

RIYADH: Saudi longshot Emblem Road came from behind to claim a shock win in the world's richest horserace, the $20 million Saudi Cup, in Riyadh on Saturday.

The outsider, ridden by Panamanian jockey Wigberto Ramos, stormed up the outside in the home straight to win a five-horse sprint by a head from US trainer Bob Baffert's Country Grammer.

Saudi-based Ramos and owner Prince Saud bin Salman Abdulaziz were jubilant afterwards as they were surrounded by fans celebrating the 1,800m race's first Saudi winner in its third edition.

The $10 million first prize capped a lavish, two-day meeting at the King Abdulaziz Racecourse dirt track where 240 horses from 16 countries competed for a total purse of $35.1 million.

Earlier, Christophe Lemaire rode four Japanese winners in the Neom Turf Cup, the Turf Sprint, the Red Sea Turf Handicap and the Riyadh Dirt Sprint.

American trainer Baffert, who is battling doping charges after Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit tested positive last May, won the Saudi Derby with Pinehurst.

Follow all the coverage below. (All times GMT)

18:45 - Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was in Riyadh for the third edition of the Saudi Cup.

#PHOTOS: #SaudiArabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in attendance for the #SaudiCup $20m feature race #SaudiCup2022 @thesaudicup https://t.co/QioD67S2DN pic.twitter.com/kIeV8TmSnS

— Arab News (@arabnews) February 26, 2022

17:40 - RESULT - Wow! Emblem Road shocks the field to win the big one! Saudi Cup winner 2022...

17:00 - Yoshito Yahagi, trainer of Stay Foolish, who won the third race of the day said: “I have been a trainer for a long time and this is one of my happiest moments. 

“I thought before he could win, absolutely. I knew he was training well so we