Allam (Premium Tap) wins
 

From BH.....

Premium Tap Wins in Saudi Arabia
by Steve Haskin


Premium Tap, who goes by the name Allam in Saudi Arabia, won his first start back since finishing a game second to Invasor in the Dubai World Cup (UAE-I). The son of Pleasant Tap captured the one-mile Almadinah Almonawarah Gov. Cup by 1 1/4 lengths on Sept. 14.
Premium Tap defeated Radae, covering the mile in 1:37. It was another 1 1/2 lengths back to third-place finisher Mneeb in the 13-horse field.

Purchased by King Abdullah bin Aziz and Sons after romping in the Clark Handicap (gr. II) at Churchill Downs last fall, Premium Tap was sent to Saudi Arabia, where he won the country’s most prestigious race, the group I Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Cup at Riyadh before his gutsy second to Invasor at Nad al Sheba. In the U.S., he also won the Woodward Stakes (gr. I) and was third in the Breeders’ Cup Classic Powered by Dodge (gr. I).

Following his racing career, which will include another try at the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Cup, and could include another try at the Dubai World Cup, Premium Tap will be retired to King Abdullah’s farm, where he will join several fellow countrymen, including Horse of the Year Alysheba, who, according to Premium Tap’s former assistant trainer Loretta Lusteg “looks fabulous.”

“Everything is high-end there, and they treat their horses wonderful,” said Lusteg, a longtime assistant to John Kimmel who had spent six weeks with Premoum Tap in Saudi Arabia.

Bring him back to America.

With such lofty goals as the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Cup, what is the point?

True.

I wonder if he will shoot for the Middle-Eastern Triple Crown?

I think he's good enough to win the Janitor of the Six Holy Synagogues
Handicap - but, the Martyr of the Condemned Sunni Triangle Classic might be his undoing.

He is also nominated to Vatican Vase V.

i wonder how large the trophy must be to include that mouthful??

which is worse, the custodian of the whatever whatever, or the breeders cup classic POWERED BY DODGE?

neither, it's the kentucky derby presented by yum! brands

that or the john deere turf classic


just as long as there is never a distaff brought to you by playtex

at least the john deere turf classic is appropo.

yeah, it has a connection.

isn't there an alberto v05 race, or are they no longer a sponsor?

His momma call 'em Premium Tap, I'm gonna call 'em Premium Tap...

Amen to that one!!! Gosh I really liked him too. I soooooo wish he was back in the states running.

That was originally a line from a movie (edited for the horse, of course)...

There's a race in Ireland called the Madra Dog Food Purse.

A son of Serena's Song won it a couple of years back.

from wiki, defining the custodian thing:

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques (Arabic: خادم الحرمين الشريفين), a historical term, was a pious title taken by some Caliphs and modern Saudi kings.


[edit] Saudi monarchy
It is most known today as the title taken by the King of Saudi Arabia in his role as protector of the two holiest cities of Islam, Mecca and Madinah, which had traditionally been the role of the Caliph (but soon the caliphate was to lose political control over the Arabian peninsula), later falling to the Grand Sharif of Mecca.

The first Saudi king to assume the title was Fahd bin Abdul Aziz in 1986. The current king, Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz, has taken the same title after the death of King Fahd in 2005. King Fahd replaced the term "His Majesty" with "Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques" because it was said that only God is All Majestic, therefore the term "His Majesty [The King]" was replaced with this term.

Some have claimed that this term was created by the Saudi monarchy so that it could try to replace the Caliphate. Opponents of the Saudi regime and Wahhabism claim that the Saudi monarch did not declare himself the Caliph because Saudis follow the Wahhabi sect of Islam, and such a move would thus be rejected by most Muslims[

or the Kentucky Derby presented by Yum Brands.

strange that the King of Saudia Arabia would choose to run his best horse in his countries most prestigious races. what a head scratcher that is.

Not any more.....

As an aside, I can understanding not liking name changes. I don't care for Diego Garcia's new name but i'll call him Express Win since his new owners saw fit.....

No one ever called Invasor Quiet Style, his original name (although he didn't race under it).

I've never refered to Absolute Champion as Genius and Evil, Bullish Luck as Al Moughazel, Down Town as Hantu Scenic, Viva Macau as Dilek or Viva Pataca as Comic Strip.

I have no problem calling him Allam.

Glad Loretta thinks they treat the horses so well, not so sure how they treat the poor, Jews, Catholics, or women though.

I'm going to call him Terrorist Mule. I hope they bring him back to the states so we can detain him and ship to Gitmo.

Hey Loretta, come back home, wearing your high heeled shoes, and your low neck sweater......