Spanish Pair Heading for Al Rajhi Bank International Handicap
In-form Leon stars spells double trouble for Saudi rivals

Enrique Leon with his pride and joy Noray who he trains and owns - Credit: Oscar Blazquez @skoti15

Spanish trainer Enrique Leon is preparing a two-pronged challenge for the inaugural $500,000 Al Rajhi Bank International Handicap.

The 38-year-old, one of his home country's top trainers, will run both Noray and Federico in the 2100m contest on Friday February 19.

The race, which will take place the day before the $20 million Saudi Cup, is open to horses trained in countries not included in the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities' Part One nations.

Noray enjoyed a fine end to last season completing a hat-trick over 2000m at La Zarzuela, while Federico was also successful at the Madrid track over 2200m in October.

Leon said: "Noray is a very strong horse, he's been one of the top horses in Spain for the last three years. He's a nine-year-old but he's still got the will to win and he keeps himself very sound.

"He finished last season well but a little tired, so we gave him a rest in December and he put on quite a bit of weight. We took him to Madrid for a gallop last Sunday and that will help him a lot. In two weeks, he will be 100 per cent ready.

"He's a horse who likes to set a fast pace from the beginning. He's a very strong puller, you just have to let him roll. He's been running well over 2000m and we hope on a flat track like in Saudi he will last the extra 100m.

"He's a very quiet horse – very strong minded. Both my horses are very professional so I've no worries about the travelling.

"Federico has been in the best form of his life in the last few months – he's never been in such good condition. He's always been a good horse, a bit lower than Noray in the ratings, but they galloped together on Sunday and everyone thought Federico worked better. He also has a very good chance.

"He's perhaps better over 2400m but this distance will be fine for him. He likes to come from the back – totally different from Noray. He needs a good pace because he hasn't got a fast turn of foot. He comes home very well and stays very well.

"If they go very fast and the rest of the field follow Noray, it's going to be positive for Federico. If they don't follow Noray and stay with Federico, then it's going to be positive for Noray."

Leon, who finished third in last season's Spanish trainers' championship, moved his 36-strong team to a state-of-the-art yard in Milagro, Navarra in northern Spain, just an hour from the tracks of southern France, in November.

He is well versed in travelling horses to some of the world's biggest meetings. In 2014 he sent Noozhoh Canarias, who had finished runner-up in the Group 1 Jean-Luc Lagardere at Longchamp on Arc de Triomphe day, to contest some of Britain's top races.

He finished sixth in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket behind Night Of Thunder, Kingman and Australia, and returned later in the season to fill the same position behind Slade Power in the July Cup.

Leon, who grew up in Gran Canaria, remembered: "He ran really well in the 2000 Guineas and it was a very strong race. I was proud just to show that we deserved to be there.

"I still believe if it wasn't for Noozhoh, Kingman would have won. Noozhoh was travelling so well that Kingman had to make his move early. It was just my luck. I don't get the opportunity to train this kind of horse too often and when I did, we got a very strong year.

"He was unlucky in the July Cup as he needed fast ground. It was quick all week but one summer storm turned the ground soft."

Newmarket was a track Leon knew well. Spanish jockey Oscar Urbina helped him secure a job in the town working for James Fanshawe, where Leon was star filly Soviet Song's regular work rider, nearly 20 years ago. He also worked for David Loder and US trainer Doug O'Neill before returning to Spain to set up on his own.

Now Leon will head to King Abdulaziz Racetrack in Riyadh with two live chances in the $500,000 Al Rajhi Bank International Handicap, 24 hours before some of the world's best horses battle it out in The Saudi Cup.

He will put the finishing touches to the preparations of Noray and Federico before the pair ship to Saudi Arabia on February 14.

Leon added: "It's not our first experience at this level but we don't get too many chances in these races so it's very exciting for us. We're looking forward to it."