'This is off the Richter scale' - Mullins excited for Princess Zoe Saudi bid

Tony Mullins is buzzing to be in the thick of things in Saudi Arabia this week but there can be no disguising the trainer's rising anxiety levels as he prepares stable star Princess Zoe for Saturday's $2.5 million Longines Red Sea Turf Handicap.

His horse of a lifetime has gone from 64-rated handicapper to Group 1 winner but never in Mullins' wildest dreams did he imagine Princess Zoe would be competing for a slice of the eye-watering prize-money on offer at King Abdulaziz racecourse in Riyadh.

Only the Johnny Murtagh-trained Sonnyboyliston carries more weight than Princess Zoe in the Red Sea over 1m7f, part of an eight-race card boasting $31.5m in prize-money and featuring the world's richest race, the $20 million Saudi Cup, and the Saudi sunshine has nothing to do with why Mullins is getting increasingly hot under the collar.

"I'm trying to be as cool as I can but I can tell you I'm anxious," said the trainer. "Coming up to a $2.5 million race for us is off the Richter scale and we believe we have a winning chance. To have one like this is just unreal.

"I haven't trained a good Flat horse for virtually all my life, which is over 30 years as a trainer. To have one of this calibre now is breathtaking."

Princess Zoe, winner of the Group 1 Prix du Cadran in 2020 and runner-up to Subjectivist in last year's Gold Cup at Ascot, has taken her trainer by surprise this week, bounding on to the main track for her morning workouts and Mullins decided after Thursday's work that the next time she steps foot on the track will be for Saturday's race.

He added: "She's been a little lit up on the track for a mare who has travelled plenty but she's eating and drinking everything perfect and her weight has held well, so we're quite happy with her.

"She was quite buzzy yesterday and again today but after her exercise she calmed down. Maybe she thought it was raceday because she does psyche herself up coming into a race and gets into her business mode."

Owned by Paddy Kehoe and Philomena Crampton, Princess Zoe will be making her first start on Saturday since finishing fifth in the Cadran in October but her work in Ireland has pleased her trainer.

Mullins added: "In the summer in Ireland, Britain or France you're going through the season having had a few runs but coming into this race without a run, that's maybe something you're a little anxious about but she worked well in Leopardstown two weeks ago, albeit in very heavy ground. I thought she worked as good as ever.

"It's hard to get a handle on the Argentinian [Mirinaque] and the Japanese horse [Stay Foolish] but we're quite happy to take on the others. I'm very impressed with the track. On videos it looked quite a sharp track but to me it looks fantastic with plenty of room to do what you want."

Rather than heading to the Dubai Gold Cup next month, Mullins is looking forward to getting Princess Zoe home after Saturday's race and gearing her towards another tilt at Royal Ascot in June.

"Dubai is just a bit quick and we really want to have a go at the Ascot Gold Cup now we know we have a horse who is really competitive," he said. "Unfortunately for Mark Johnston and Jim Walker, Subjectivist has been ruled out and I feel he was the one we always had to beat. If we can get through this we'll head to Ascot with our head held high."

As well Princess Zoe and Sonnyboyliston, Ireland is also represented in the Red Sea by the Joseph O'Brien-trained Baron Samedi, while British hopes rest with Nayef Road for Mark and Charlie Johnston.

Godolphin also hold a strong hand numerically in the race with Saeed bin Suroor set to saddle Dubai Future and Desert Fire, while Charlie Appleby runs Siskany.

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