Time flies! It has been a year since SA Jockey Academy graduate and past dual national champion apprentice Rachel Venniker carried the South African flag with pride when she booted Cliffs Of Fury home to win the final leg of the International Jockey Challenge at King Abdulaziz racecourse in Riyadh.
While Rachel will be watching from home this year, the sixth renewal of the two day festival will be a celebration of action-packed horseracing. Opening night is Friday 21 February, while Saudi Cup race night is on Saturday 22 February.
Witness Stand with Jamie Insole (right) and Dr Richard Newland (left) at Urloxhey Stables (Pic – JCSA)
And it will be a watershed moment for the training partnership Dr Richard Newland and Jamie Insole who will saddle their first international runner when new acquisition Witness Stand (GB) takes his place in the $2million 1351 Turf Sprint presented by Saudi National Bank.
Annaf (IRE) landed the Group 2 event for Britain 12 months ago and Witness Stand will face the defending champion having been purchased by Insole for owners Scott and Debbie Turner at the Tattersalls Autumn Horses-in-Training Sale for 100,000 Guineas.
Insole joined forces with Grand National-winning Newland in December 2023 and their string is split between Flat and National Hunt horses – with Insole specialising in two-year-olds.
“It’s a huge step,” said Insole. “Last year we showed we could improve older horses and develop two-year-olds.
“Now we want to prove we can compete on the biggest stage and attract international owners. This race is fully funded, so it’s a free hit at big prize money. Even finishing sixth would bring home £50,000.”
Witness Stand was a wide-margin winner of a Listed race at Newbury last October and the unexposed four-year-old could be a potent force this season over 1400 metres.
“The trip is perfect for him in a race that brings together 1000 and 1200 metre sprinters and 1800 metre horses dropping back in distance,” said Insole. “He’s shown good form on quick ground at Goodwood so that holds no concern.”
Witness Stand’s improved form in the autumn came after cheekpieces were added and his new trainer sees no reason to dispense of them.
“They’ve sharpened him up and he’s worked well at home in them, so we see no reason to change what’s proven to be successful,” Insole added.
Witness Stand has prepped for his trip to the Middle East with two away days at Wolverhampton Racecourse in the UK, and will be reunited in Riyadh with Keiran Shoemark who has twice delivered the son of Expert Eye to success, including at Glorious Goodwood last summer.
“He’s done a couple of pieces of work at Wolverhampton, and I’m happy with where he is at this stage,” the rider said.
“The quick ground and track in Saudi won’t be an issue—he’s incredibly versatile both in terms of ground and trip. All he did last year was improve in a short space of time, and with his rating of 114, he fully deserves his place in this field.”
