Saudi Arabia: Likely fields have been released for Saudi Cup weekend featuring the world’s richest raceday in Riyadh on February 26 and $35.1m in prize-money altogether.
Horses for 16 different racing nations are set to compete over two eight-race cards over the weekend at King Abdulaziz racecourse, which will again host an international jockeys’ challenge on the Friday [Feb 25] as an appetiser to the main event on Saturday.
On its own, the $20m Saudi Cup alone looks set to be contested by the winners of 16 G1 races from six countries headed by last year’s winner Mishriff. A second victory in the world’s richest race – in its third year, now eligible for G1 status – would see the John & Thady Gosden-trained horse surpass Winx and become the highest- earning racehorse of all-time.
Probable fields for Saudi Cup meeting
Champion Stakes winner Sealiway makes his debut on dirt for trainer Francis-Henri Graffard after leaving the stable of Cedric Rossi, while Japan fields Champions Cup winner T O Keynes and Marche Lorraine, who completed a historic double for the nation at last year’s Breeders’ Cup.
The US contingent features old rivals Mandaloun and Midnight Bourbon plus three more G1 performers in Art Collector, Happy Saver and Country Grammer. GP Latinoamericano winner Aero Trem is set to become the event’s first South American runner for Uruguayan-based Antonio Cintra.
The field is completed by locally trained pair Emblem Road and Making Miracles, a former Chester Cup winner who qualified by winning the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Cup last time out.
Saturday’s card also features six more Group races headed by the $1.5m Neom Turf Cup which features Coronation Cup hero Pyledriver and dual Hong Kong Vase winner Glory Vase.
Friday’s card 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 new Eclipse Award-winning apprentice Jessica Pyfer already announced.
The $500k Saudi International Handicap has attracted a cosmopolitan group, 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.
“After such a difficult year in 2021, we are delighted to be able to welcome racing fans from around the globe back to King Abdulaziz Racecourse. Everyone has worked incredibly hard to ensure the success of the event this year and that the Saudi Cup continues to showcase the best in world horse racing.”
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