Premium Tap Wins in Saudi Arabia

Premium Tap, who goes by the name Allam in Saudi Arabia, won his first start back since finishing a game second to Invasor in the Dubai World Cup (UAE-I). The son of Pleasant Tap captured the one-mile Almadinah Almonawarah Gov. Cup by 1 1/4 lengths on Sept. 14.

Premium Tap defeated Radae, covering the mile in 1:37. It was another 1 1/2 lengths back to third-place finisher Mneeb in the 13-horse field.

Purchased by King Abdullah bin Aziz and Sons after romping in the Clark Handicap (gr. II) at Churchill Downs last fall, Premium Tap was sent to Saudi Arabia, where he won the country’s most prestigious race, the group I Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Cup at Riyadh before his gutsy second to Invasor at Nad al Sheba. In the U.S., he also won the Woodward Stakes (gr. I) and was third in the Breeders’ Cup Classic Powered by Dodge (gr. I).

Following his racing career, which will include another try at the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Cup, and could include another try at the Dubai World Cup, Premium Tap will be retired to King Abdullah’s farm, where he will join several fellow countrymen, including Horse of the Year Alysheba, who, according to Premium Tap’s former assistant trainer Loretta Lusteg “looks fabulous.”

“Everything is high-end there, and they treat their horses wonderful,” said Lusteg, a longtime assistant to John Kimmel who had spent six weeks with Premoum Tap in Saudi Arabia.