Defending champion Forever Young heads the usual stellar list of names put forward for this year's Saudi Cup, which will take place at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh on Saturday, February 14.
The two-day meeting, which begins on February 13, has attracted 57 individual Thoroughbred G1 winners in its entirety and 14 Purebred Arabian G1 winners.
View the Saudi Cup nominations for 2026
The nominations, spread among 22 different countries, will be competing for total prize-money of almost $40 million, with the main feature worth $20m.
Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Forever Young has been successful on both his two previous visits to Saudi Arabia, winning the 2024 Saudi Derby before his gallant performance in the world's most valuable race last year.
The Yoshito Yahagi-trained superstar could face a major challenge from the US. Former BC Classic champion White Abarrio and Preakness Stakes victor Journalism have been entered along with BC Dirt Mile winner Nysos and Magnitude, who beat a smart field in the G2 Clark Stakes last time.
Further strength in depth from Japan could be added by W Heart Bond, the mare who won the recent Champions Cup, as well as Diktaean and Mikki Fight. They were first and second in the Tokyo Daishoten, the race used previously as a launchpad by Forever Young.
Sayyah, impressive in the recent Crown Prince Cup, and Star Of Wonder, who claimed the King Faisal Bin Abdulaziz Cup in late December, are among a number of promising home-trained horses looking to secure a spot in the signature race.
However, one big name missing from the list is Romantic Warrior, narrowly beaten by Forever Young in the 2025 running. The four-time Hong Kong Cup winner is staying at home for a domestic campaign.
This year's Neom Turf Cup has been upgraded to G1 status, making it the first ever top-level turf race staged in the jurisdiction, and the purse has been increased to $3m.
Godolphin’s dual Breeders’ Cup winner Rebel’s Romance, a nine-time G1 winner, heads the entries for this Howden-sponsored contest. Bahrain International Trophy scorer Royal Champion and The Lion In Winter could be up against him.
The G2 Red Sea Turf Handicap, worth $2.5m, draws the cream of international stayers. Both Japan's Durezza and Irish star Al Riffa have been handed entries both here and in the Neom Turf.
The $2m 1351 Turf Sprint could be a cracker with entries headed by Breeders’ Cup winner Shisospicy and Royal Ascot victor Lazzat.
Similarly, the $2m Riyadh Dirt Sprint has drawn top US dirt speedster Book’em Danno and Shisospicy's BC-winning stablemate Bentornato. Likeely types from the UAE include the prolific Tuz and Dubai Golden Shaheen winner Dark Saffron.
Khamal, stylish winner of the G1 Premio Derby Nacional in Peru in late November, is among the jet-setting entries in the $1.5m Saudi Derby.
The Friday card includes the International Jockey Challenge while the $500,000 Saudi International Handicap has attracted potential runners trained as far afield as Bahrain, Czechia, Denmark, Norway, Oman, Qatar and Spain.
HRH Prince Bandar Bin Khaled AlFaisal, Chairman of the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia said:
“This is only the seventh time we have staged the Saudi Cup meeting and it has already delivered countless memorable races and performances.
With the nominations we have received for this year, we can be sure that the spectacular racing will continue. It is wonderful to see such a collection of both familiar and new names from all around the world due to be involved at King Abdulaziz Racecourse next month.
We are delighted and honoured that so many people have chosen to aim their horses for the 2026 Saudi Cup races and, on behalf of everyone at the JCSA, I would like to extend our gratitude to those owners and trainers.
Year-on-year, thanks to the vision of our leadership, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz and His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister – may God protect them – The Saudi Cup has evolved into The Kingdom’s key sporting and social event.
It has been especially pleasing to see the races recognised by the international authorities, too. The Saudi Cup has held Group 1 status since 2022 but we will now be staging our first ever Group 1 race on grass, the Neom Turf Cup, after its consistent level of performance.
The Saudi Cup meeting is not only about world-class racing; it is a celebration of the horse as well as the culture and the hospitality of The Kingdom. The list of nominations only increases the excitement and we look forward to welcoming connections and racing fans alike next month for an event that has quickly made a huge impact on the global calendar.”
• Visit the Saudi Cup website
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