A total of 81 individual G1 winners feature among a total of 1,123 entries for two-day Saudi Cup meeting on Feb 21-22 – with horses from 21 countries chasing $38.1m prize-money
A strong entry of 28 G1 winners have been put forward for this year’s edition of the world’s richest race, the Saudi Cup, which will take place at King Abdulaziz racecourse in Riyadh on Saturday 22 February, 2025.
Last year’s Dubai World Cup winner Laurel River could face Breeders’ Cup Classic victor Sierra Leone plus world #1 Romantic Warrior. Also possible for the $20m event are Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan and last year’s winner Senor Buscador.
Other notable runners that could feature in the G1 contest are last year’s Saudi Derby winner Forever Young and Japanese Derby winner Danon Decile as well as Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint star Soul Of An Angel and five-time Argentine G1 winner El Kodigo.
Including the feature race, the two-day Saudi Cup meeting has attracted a total of 1,123 entries – among them 81 individual G1 winners – from a total of 21 countries chasing $38.1m prize-money on offer across the Saudi Cup weekend held on February 21-22.
Japanese-trained Warp Speed, runner-up in the Melbourne Cup on his last start, holds an entry for the newly upgraded G2 Red Sea Turf Handicap and could be joined in the field by the UK-trained Al Nayyir, who finished fourth in the 2024 renewal, and Continuous, the 2023 St Leger winner.
Full list of Saudi Cup nominations
The Sir Alex Ferguson-owned Spirit Dancer has been given the chance of defending his crown in the G2 Neom Turf Cup and could line up alongside Japan Cup runner-up Shin Emperor and Danon Beluga, while dual G1 winners Measured Time and Al Riffa could represent the UAE and Ireland respectively.
The G2 1351 Turf Sprint entries are headed by last year’s winner Annaf and Prix Maurice de Gheest victor Lazzat, with Japanese G1 winners Ten Happy Rose and Ascoli Piceno also entered.
Remake is set to bid for consecutive wins in the Riyadh Dirt Sprint, which will be run as a G2 for the first time, with other notable entrants including Golden Shaheen winner Tuz and Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner Straight No Chaser.
Last year’s G3 Saudi Derby saw a Japanese victor in Forever Young and another Japanese horse tops the entries in the unbeaten Myriad Love, while Getaway Car for the USA, Al Qudra and the Argentine G1 winner Giustino are also entered.
As well as Thoroughbred action on Saudi Cup night, there is also the G1 Obaiyah Arabian Classic for Purebred Arabians, where 2022 winner of the race Hadi De Carrere holds an entry along with the exciting unbeaten HM Alchahine. Saturday’s card also features the Saudi International Handicap, which has attracted horses trained in eight countries.
The Feb 21 card the day before Saudi Cup night features the G1 Al Mneefah Cup for Purebred Arabians, which has attracted a strong entry including seven-time PAG1 winner Abbes and Nour Al Maury, also a seven-time PAG1 winner, who could be joined by 2022 race winner First Classs and recent President Cup winner Heros De Lagarde.
Local-bred champion Asfan Al Khalediah, who won the Al Mneefah Cup in 2023 before going on to land the Obaiya Arabian Classic last year, holds entries in both races, while his stablemate, Dubai Kahayla Classic winner Tilal Al Khalediah,is also doubly entered.
The Saudi Cup programme on Friday is also highlighted by the International Jockeys Championship featuring seven male and seven female jockeys from around the world.
HRH Prince Bandar Bin Khaled Alfaisal, chairman of the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia, said: “On behalf of everyone at the JCSA, I would like to extend my thanks to owners and trainers from around the world for their nominations for the 2025 Saudi Cup meeting. We are proud to be top of mind for the trainers of the world’s best from more than 20 countries, including so many that have won at the highest level.
“Horse racing thrives on international competition, and we believe that The Saudi Cup is the perfect event to showcase the best of global racing. The Saudi Cup itself is the pinnacle of our racing season and in a few short years has become a truly global race. This year’s renewal looks perhaps the strongest yet.
“Horse racing and celebrating the brilliance of both the Thoroughbred and Purebred Arabian are at the heart of traditional culture in Saudi Arabia, and events such as The Saudi Cup play a big role in engaging the local community in all aspects of the sport. As we continually improve our offering, through race upgrades and further investment, The Kingdom continues to grow as a destination for horse racing, both domestically and internationally.
“We look forward to welcoming all connections to King Abdulaziz Racecourse next month for what promises to be another unforgettable Saudi Cup meeting.”
• Visit the Saudi Cup website
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