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Daniel and Claire Kubler will be hoping Astro King can mix it with the very best at Riyadh on Saturday.
Purchased for a relatively light transfer fee of around £38,000 out of the legendary Sir Michael Stoute's stable at the Tattersalls Autumn Sale at the end of 2022, Astro King has already paid his way for new connections, aided by his record-breaking weight-carrying performance in the Cambridgeshire at Newmarket back in September.
Victory in the valuable one-mile one-furlong handicap on the Rowley Mile prompted connections to have a crack at the Bahrain International Trophy in November and with Astro King short of room against the inside rail, he was by no means disgraced finishing back in sixth behind the likes of Spirit Dancer, Israr and three-time Group 1 winner Point Lonsdale.
"With a little more luck, he might well have placed second or third," Claire Kubler said speaking at King Abdulaziz Racecourse, just off the plane from the UK, on Wednesday morning.
"He was on the rail in Bahrain and ran into traffic. It was frustrating but we had to notice that it was established horses like Point Lonsdale and Nations Pride that were in his path, and he was finishing stronger than them."
Following a somewhat unlucky venture to Bahrain three months ago, Daniel and Claire Kubler have opted for further international participation in Saudi Arabia this weekend as he bids to tackle some of the world's best in the valuable US$2m Howden Neom Turf Cup.
"He looked great working on the dirt track," Claire Kubler continued. "It's amazing for our team and his owners to be a part of this occasion. It's so exciting and we feel he can run well."
Astro King is a current 20/1 chance with Paddy Power to land the US$2m Howden Neom Turf Cup at Riyadh on Saturday.