Japan has been steadily growing as a force in international horse racing and Saturday added another big accomplishment to its record by winning the $20 million Saudi Cup, the richest horse race in the world.
Panthalassa took the lead out of the gate and held off a furious closing rally by Country Grammer to win by three-quarters of a length.
Country Grammer, trained by Bob Baffert and ridden by Frankie Dettori, would have caught Panthalassa if the 1,800-meter race (about 1 1/8 miles) at the King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, were just a few strides longer.
