RIYADH: Scandinavian star Square De Luynes is on course for a shot at the Group 3 Neom Turf Cup at the Saudi Cup meeting next month.

Nicknamed 鈥淔rankel of the Fjords鈥� by his fans, the three-time winner of the prestigious Stockholm Cup International is being prepared in Dubai for the $1.5 million contest over 2,100 m on Saturday, Feb. 26 by trainer Niels Petersen.

The seven-year-old could be joined by stablemates Kick On and King David at the Saudi Cup meeting, who are both aiming at the $500,000 Saudi International Handicap on Friday, Feb. 25 鈥� a race restricted to horses trained in International Federation of Horseracing Authorities-registered Part II and III racing countries, like Norway. 

There is no doubt Square De Luynes is the star of the trainer鈥檚 potential Saudi raiding party, and Petersen, a Dane based in Norway, said: 鈥淪quare De Luynes is the best horse in Scandinavia 鈥� by the figures, by his performances, by everything. He鈥檚 the star of the show here 鈥� he鈥檚 such a popular horse.

鈥淗e鈥檚 got a high cruising speed. He can run over anything from 1,800 m to 2,400 m and he鈥檚 as good on soft ground as he is on fast. He can also go from the front or come from behind, it doesn鈥檛 matter. He beat the track record at Ovrevoll by a good margin over 1,800 m in August after 11 months off the track,鈥� he said.

鈥淚 think the track in Saudi will suit him 鈥� left-handed, two bends, it should be spot on 鈥� and the 2,100 m distance should be ideal,鈥� Petersen added. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 why we are targeting the Saudi Cup meeting. Looking at last year鈥檚 Neom Turf Cup, he should be good enough and he鈥檚 so well in himself.鈥�

It had been Petersen鈥檚 plan to run Square De Luynes, among others, at last year鈥檚 Saudi Cup meeting, but the harsh Norwegian winter threw a spanner in the works.

This time he was able to ship a select team to Dubai. The horses have been in the UAE several weeks and all three of Petersen鈥檚 Saudi hopes will have prep-runs at Meydan.

鈥淲e鈥檝e been lucky with the weather in Norway this year as we鈥檝e been able to train them up until we left, so that鈥檚 a big plus. Normally we get a lot of rain in the autumn,鈥� said Petersen. 鈥淲hen that happens and it freezes, you lose everything as the track turns to concrete.

鈥淭his year it just turned cold and they were able to get a lot of salt on the track,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hey also put a lot of new sand down so we could work horses on it 鈥� you couldn鈥檛 race on it but you could do a good canter. It meant we could maintain the horses鈥� fitness which we鈥檝e been unable to do in other years.

鈥淭hat鈥檚 why we couldn鈥檛 go to Saudi last year. There was no point as it was a hard winter here and the horses lost too much of their condition. You don鈥檛 take chances with these horses 鈥� you need to do it right.鈥�

Square De Luynes is owned by the Stall Power Girls 鈥� a syndicate made up of some of his owners鈥� wives, including Petersen鈥檚 own wife. Their distinctive pink colours will certainly stand out on Saudi Cup day.