Star-studded field gear up for the world's richest race
RIYADH - International Group 1 winners Romantic Warrior, Laurel River, White Abarrio and Forever Young are all on course to clash in a glittering renewal of the US$20 million (S$27 million) Group 1 Saudi Cup (1,800m) at the King Abdulaziz racecourse on Feb 22.
Three-time Group 1 Hong Kong Cup winner Romantic Warrior, who is ridden by regular partner James McDonald, will face a new challenge at his first run on the dirt. The Danny Shum-trained gelding will take on last year’s Group 1 Dubai World Cup winner Laurel River trained by Bhupat Seemar, and the 2024 Group 3 Saudi Derby winner Forever Young for trainer Yoshito Yahagi.
The strong Japanese contingent is further bolstered by two runners from trainer Noboru Takagi, who fields last year’s Saudi Cup runner-up Ushba Tesoro and Wilson Tesoro, while the Shozo Sasaki-trained Ramjet is also set to enter the starting gate.
White Abarrio, who won the 2023 Group 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic and the 2025 Group 1 Pegasus World Cup, is now trained by Saffie Joseph Jr. The multiple Group 1 winner ran 10th to Senor Buscador in the same race last year.
The other United States representative will be the Kenny McPeek-trained Rattle N Roll, who won the Group 3 The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Cup on Jan 25.
Walk Of Stars, who won the Group 1 Al Maktoum Challenge at Meydan on Jan 24, will be the second runner for the United Arab Emirates’ Seemar, while Facteur Cheval, who chased Walk Of Stars home in third in the Al Maktoum Challenge, will represent France for trainer Jerome Reynier.
Meanwhile, the home team will see six runners lining up in the Saudi Cup. They are El Kodigo, Al Musmak, Wait To Excel, Intense For Me and two emergency acceptors, Defunded and Wootton’sun.
Commenting on the likely fields for the Saudi Cup, His Royal Highness Prince Bandar bin Khaled Alfaisal, chairman of the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia said: “We are delighted with the depth and quality of this year’s Saudi Cup field and are hugely looking forward to a brilliant two days of racing at King Abdulaziz racecourse as we welcome the best horses and their connections to the kingdom of Saudi Arabia.”
Eight other races on the undercard will be held over the two-day Saudi Cup meeting on Feb 21 and 22. Seven of the races carry Group status, comprising two Group 1 contests for purebred Arabians, four at Group 2 and one at Group 3.
Several former winners are returning for the international meeting, including the Sir Alex Ferguson co-owned and Richard Fahey-trained Spirit Dancer, winner of last year’s Group 2 Neom Turf Cup.
Back to defend his title, the son of Frankel is one of two United Kingdom nominations for the US$2 million race run on turf, along with the Richard Hannon-trained Persica. They will be joined by Group 1 winner Al Riffa and Trustyourinstinct, who will represent Irish trainer Joseph O’Brien.
The Yahagi-trained Shin Emperor, third in last year’s Group 1 Irish Champion Stakes, is set to be joined by fellow Japanese-trained galloper Killer Ability, who is prepared by Takashi Saito.
A Group 3 race previously, the US$2 million Riyadh Dirt Sprint (1,200m) will be run as a Group 2 race for the first time and the field is headlined by the 2024 Group 1 Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner Straight No Chaser, who represents US handler Dan Blacker.
Defending champion Remake will line up again for trainer Koichi Shintani, while the Japanese challenge will be further strengthened by the Kazutomo Mori-trained Group 3 Capella Stakes winner Gabby’s Sister.
Annaf will bid for consecutive successes in the US$2 million Group 2 Turf Sprint (1,351m) for UK trainer Mick Appleby, after winning last year with rider Rossa Ryan, who will take the reins again.
Last year’s US$2.5 million Group 2 Red Sea Turf Handicap (3,000m) was won by Irish master trainer Aidan O’Brien and he saddles the 2023 Group 1 St Leger victor Continuous in the race this year.
Unbeaten Japanese filly Myriad Love, trained by Shintani, headlines the nominations for the US$1.5 million Group 3 Saudi Derby (1,600m), which was won by Yahagi’s Forever Young last year. Yahagi is set to field Mistress this year, with Happy Man and Shin Forever other likely Japanese contenders.
In the US$2 million Group 1 Obaiya Arabian Classic (2,000m) for purebred Arabians, Tilal Al Khalediah will be seeking his second victory after winning the race in 2023. The Nasir Mutlaq-trained seven-year-old will face challengers from the UAE, Qatar and France.
Tilal Al Khalediah won last year’s edition of the Group 1 Al Mneefah Cup (2,100m), which will be run on Feb 21 this year. His stablemate Asfan Al Khalediah will contest in the US$1.5 million turf race this time.
The only non-Group race, the US$500,000 Saudi International Handicap, at the meeting has also attracted nominations from Italy, Spain, Czech Republic, Qatar and Bahrain other than the Saudi Arabian runners.
JOCKEY CLUB OF SAUDI ARABIA
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