Maximum Security made history earlier this year when he became the first-ever winner of the Saudi Cup in Saudi Arabia. The American-trained horse won the first-place prize of $10,000,000, the highest winning purse for a horse race, not just in Asia, but around the world.
Here is a look at where we could see Maximum Security over the next 12 months.
Maximum Security has yet to appear in Europe so far in his career. Given how well the Jason Servis-trained horse travelled to the Middle East, connections may now be considering other continents, including Europe.
Some of the most prestigious middle-distance races in the world are in Europe. Royal Ascot, Glorious Goodwood and York’s Ebor meeting hold valuable contests and are surely going to be considered. All seven of Maximum Security’s wins so far in his career have come on turf, therefore, his trainer must be confident that his four-year-old would be equally as effective on the switch in surfaces.
Another option later this season could be the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in October at Longchamp. Two-time winner Enable is the 6/1 favourite with the bookmakers for that race. If you get the latest horse racing results for the big races in 2020 in Europe, you can identity some of the other contenders for the contest later this year.
2020 Breeders’ Cup Classic
The Breeders’ Cup in the United States is generally regarded as the world championships in horse racing. The feature race of that meeting is the Breeders’ Cup Classic where Maximum Security has been installed as the 9/2 favourite for the 2020 renewal.
Servis’ talented colt missed the Breeders’ Cup meeting in 2019. After winning his last four races on the track, he is on course to meet the likes of McKenzie, Mucho Gusto and Tiz The Law in November.
Keeneland will play host to the next Breeders’ Cup meeting. The four-year-old is yet to feature at that course in his career. It will also be his second attempt at the 1m2f distance since he was disqualified from the Kentucky Derby in 2019.
2021 Dubai World Cup
The 2021 Dubai World Cup will be the 25th anniversary of the race in the Middle East and is sure to attract a strong field to mark the occasion.
Some of the best American dirt horses of all-time have won the Dubai World Cup including Cigar, California Chrome and Arrogate. In order to add to his legacy, Maximum Security will need to win this contest to add his name alongside those great horses.
The Saudi Cup winner will be five years old by the time the race comes around in March. California Chrome, Animal Kingdom and the 2019 race winner Thunder Snowwere all that age when they came out on top at Meydan.
The next renewal in Dubai could see Maximum Security take on some of the best three-year-old thoroughbreds from this season, including the leading European horses. It will present a strong challenge for him in 2021. Servis’ horse has already done enough to prove he is one of the best of his generation but the future will determine how he compares to those already in the Hall of Fame.