$20 million Saudi Cup Feb. 26; First Winner Still Undecided

The third edition of the $20 million Saudi Cup (G1) at King Abdulaziz Equestrian Centre in Riyadh will be run Saturday, February 26 as part of the Saudi Cup meeting beginning Feb. 25. This comes two years after Maximum Security won the first edition of the race, unofficially. The colt’s win and purse earnings are on hold as his trainer Jason Servis was indicted for use of performance-enhancing drugs in the U.S. and is awaiting trial.

The race is held four weeks after the Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream (won by the now-retired Knicks Go) and four weeks before the $12 million Dubai World Cup. King Abdulaziz Equestrian Centre and racetrack are about 11 hours west of Meydan where the Dubai World Cup will be held on March 26.

The Feb. 26 card is offered on Horseplayer Interactive beginning at 8 a.m. EST.

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Likely runners for the $35.1m Saudi Cup meeting with horses from 16 racing nations set to compete over the two days include:

The Saudi Cup field is headed by three-time Group 1 winner and last year’s Saudi Cup champion, Mishriff (IRE). A historic second win in the race would see the John and Thady Gosden-trained runner surpass Winx and become the highest earning racehorse of all time.

Last season’s Group 1 Champion Stakes winner, Sealiway (FR), will make his debut for trainer Francis-Henri Graffard, after leaving the stable of Cedric Rossi.

Japan’s chances of winning a first Saudi Cup lie with the Daisuke Takayanagi-trained T O Keynes (JPN), an impressive winner of his last start in the Grade 1 Champions Cup at Chukyo in December, and Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Distaff winner, Marche Lorraine (JPN). Trainer Yoshito Yahagi has indicated that his six-year-old will make her final start in Saudi as she bids to end her career with another win at the highest level.

Once again there is a strong contingent from the USA, headed by Brad Cox’s Mandaloun (USA), who narrowly got the better of Steven Assmussen’s Midnight Bourbon (USA) in the Grade 3 Louisiana Stakes last month. Grade 1 winners Art Collector (USA), Happy Saver (USA) and Country Grammer (USA) are also set to line up.

Antonio Cintra’s Grade 1 Gran Premio Latinamericano winner Aero Trem (BRZ), trained in Uruguay, will be the first South American runner in the Saudi Cup.

The field is completed by locally-trained Emblem Road (USA) and Making Miracles (GB), a former Chester Cup winner who qualified by winning the domestic Group 1 Custodian Of The Two Holy Mosques Cup last time out.

Many other top-class horses are set to take their places in Riyadh, across a card which features a further six Group races.

In the $1.5 million Group 3 Neom Turf Cup presented by Jahez, Group 1 Hong Kong Vase runner-up Pyledriver (GB) will bid to go one better for trainers William Muir and Chris Grassick. A strong French entry includes Ebaiyra (USA), Eudaimonia (FR) and Magny Cours (USA), while Bahrain-based trainer Fawzi Nass is set to be represented by Port Lions (IRE), winner of the inaugural running of this race in 2020.

Irish hopes of a winner at the meeting could hinge on Sonnyboyliston (IRE) and the Tony Mullins-trained Princess Zoe (GER) in the $2.5m Group 3 Longines Red Sea Turf Handicap, where they will be joined by Nerium (IRE), a Group 2 winner in Germany and Maria Cristina Munoz’s Argentine Group 1 winner, Mirinaque (ARG).

In the $1.5 million Group 3 Riyadh Dirt Sprint presented by Saudia, Japanese star Copano Kicking (USA) returns to defend his crown from last year and will face stiff opposition from Nakayama G3 Capella Stakes winner, Dancing Prince (JPN), and the Richard Baltas-trained Ginobili (USA).

The Group 3 1351 Turf Sprint presented by stc also features a strong field, including last year’s fourth-placed Glorious Journey (GB), Japanese-trained Songline (JPN) as well as Royal Ascot Wokingham Stakes winner Rohaan (GB).

The locally-trained Alnaader (KSA) has been making waves on the track in Saudi this season and is unbeaten in four career starts, including when winning the domestic Group 1 King Abdullah Cup last time out. He is set to line up in the $1.5 million Group 3 Saudi Derby presented by Al Rajhi Bank.

The Saudi Cup card also features the $2 million Obaiya Arabian Classic presented by Lexus, which has been upgraded to Group 2 status after being run as a Listed contest last season.

There has been a strong entry with horses from France, Bahrain, Qatar and Oman joining locally trained runners. Saudi hopes look to lie with Tilal Al Khalediah (KSA), while the Didier Guillemin-trained Deryan (FR) and Fawzi Nass runner RB Rich Lyke Me (USA) are sure to pose a threat.

Friday 25 February sees 14 of the world’s top international riders – seven female and seven male – compete in the stc International Jockeys Challenge, with jockeys including last year’s winner Shane Foley as well as Glen Boss, Hayley Turner and Jessica Pyfer already announced.

The $500k Saudi International Handicap presented by Al Rajhi Bank has once again has attracted a strong group of runners, with horses from Norway, Bahrain, Uruguay, Qatar, Greece and Spain joining locally-trained Saudi runners.

Tom Ryan, Director of Strategy and International Racing for the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia, said, “We are thrilled with the list of likely runners for this year’s Saudi Cup meeting. It really highlights the international appeal of the event and shows that the biggest owners, trainers and jockeys in the world are increasingly looking towards Saudi Arabia.

“If Mishriff can retain his crown in The Saudi Cup, it would be a fantastic story for horse racing, but he will have to be at his best with some brilliant horses entered from Japan, Europe, the US and elsewhere.”

📽️ 𝑻𝑯𝑬 𝑺𝑻𝑶𝑹𝒀 𝑶𝑭 𝑴𝑰𝑺𝑯𝑹𝑰𝑭𝑭 📽️

"As a foal he was horrible."

… and now he's on the brink of becoming the highest earning racehorse of all-time.#TheSaudiCup | 𝟐𝟓-𝟐𝟔 𝐅𝐞𝐛 pic.twitter.com/B2GwCGjPrH

— The Saudi Cup (@thesaudicup) February 21, 2022