SME/ Abdullah Al-Harazi – Riyadh
Leading them are Laurel River, Sierra Leone, and Romantic Warrior
World racing enthusiasts are close to the immortal day of the world’s most expensive races, the Saudi Cup, the first category 2025, with its highest prize of $20 million, scheduled for Saturday, February 22, at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Janadriyah.
28 winners of the first category races have been registered to participate in this year’s edition of the Saudi Cup (Category 1), which has a prize value of $20 million and will be hosted by King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh on Saturday, February 22, 2025.
The group is led by the American-born “Laurel River”, the champion of the Dubai World Cup 2024, in a confrontation that may bring him together with the American champion of the Breeders’ Cup Classic “Sierra Leone”, in addition to the three-time winner of the Hong Kong Cup title, the Irish-born “Romantic Warrior”. The list also includes the 2024 Kentucky Derby champion, Mystic Dan, and last year’s Saudi Cup champion, also from the US, Senor Poscador, which sets the tone for an exceptional event by any measure.
The list of other registered horses includes the elite of last year’s Saudi Derby champion, Forever Young, from Japan, and his compatriot, the 2024 Japanese Derby champion, Danon Desail, in addition to the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint champion, from the US, Soul of an Angel, in addition to the winner of five Group 1 races in his native Argentina, El Codigo.
In addition to the main race, the two-day Saudi Cup Festival attracted 1,123 entrants, including 81 Group 1 winners from 21 countries, in fierce competition for a total prize fund of $38.1 million over the course of two days, February 21 and 22.
Japanese horse Warp Speed, who finished runner-up in the Melbourne Cup on his last appearance, is heading to the newly promoted Red Sea Cup to a Group 2, and is expected to compete for the title with British-bred and trained Al Nair, who finished fourth in last year’s edition of the race, and 2023 Japanese St Leger winner Continentius.
On the other hand, British Neom Cup (Group 2) champion Spirit Dancer, who carries the Sir Alex Ferguson logo, will be looking to defend his title against tough competition from the likes of Japan Cup runner-up French-bred Shin Emperor and Japanese Danon Beluga, while two-time Group 1 winner British-bred Megred Time and French-bred Al Riffa will represent the UAE and Ireland respectively.
The list of horses registered to participate in the 1351st Sprint Cup (Group 2) is headed by last year’s winner, the Irish “Annaf” and the winner of the Maurice de Cais Cup 2024, the French “Lazat”, in addition to two Japanese horses, winners of the first group, “Tin Happy Rose” and “Ascoli Pechino”.
The Japanese “Rei Meek” is looking to achieve a second consecutive victory in the Riyadh Sprint Cup, which is launched for the first time in its new classification (Group 2), in a confrontation that may bring him together with prominent competitors such as the American “Toz”, winner of the Golden Shaheen race, and the American “Straight No Chaser”, champion of the Breeders’ Cup Sprint.
The Saudi Derby (Group 3) witnessed the victory of the Japanese horse “Forever Young” last year, and this year the list is headed by another Japanese horse who has not lost in the races, “Myriad Love”, in addition to participants such as the American “Get Away Car”, the Irish “Al-Qudra”, and the Argentinean winner of the first group in his country, “Giustino”.
In addition to the thoroughbreds, the Saudi Cup Festival also includes the Abayah Cup for Purebred Arabians (Group 1), with the 2022 winner, Frenchman Hadi De Carrere, on the list of entrants, along with the exciting, undefeated French-born horse HM Al Shaheen. Saturday’s programme also includes the Saudi International, which has attracted horses trained in eight countries. The first day of the festival (February 21) includes the Al Manifa Cup (Group 1) for purebred Arabian horses, which is expected to witness strong participation from the likes of seven-time Group 1 winner Abes (France), his compatriot Nour Al Mouri, who also won seven Group 1 races, as well as the American First Class, winner of the 2022 edition, and the French-born, recent winner of the President’s Cup, Heros de Lagarde.
Saudi local hero Asfan Al Khalidiah, winner of the 2023 Al Manifa Cup before winning the last Al Abyah Cup, is registered to participate in both races. The same applies to his compatriot and stablemate Tilal Al Khalidiah, winner of the 2024 Dubai Kahayla Classic.
A highlight of the Saudi Cup program on Friday is the International Jockeys Challenge, with the participation of seven male and seven female jockeys from around the world.
His Royal Highness Prince Bandar bin Khalid Al Faisal, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Equestrian Authority and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Jockey Club, stated: “On behalf of everyone at the Jockey Club, I would like to extend my sincere thanks to the owners and trainers from around the world who have nominated their horses for the 2025 Saudi Cup Festival. We are proud to be the first choice for trainers of elite horses from over 20 countries, including a wide range of top-level race winners.”
“Horse racing thrives on international competition, and we believe the Saudi Cup is the ultimate event to showcase the best in world racing. The Saudi Cup itself is the pinnacle of our domestic season, and in just a few short years it has become a truly global race. From what we can see, the upcoming edition of the event looks set to be the strongest yet.
“Horse racing and celebrating the splendor and glory of Thoroughbred and Arabian horses is an integral part of Saudi heritage and culture, and events like the Saudi Cup Festival play a huge role in engaging the local community in all aspects of the sport. Through our tireless efforts to improve the product by raising the With the races and increased investment, the Kingdom continues to strengthen its position as a global destination for horse racing at both the local and international levels.”
“We look forward to welcoming all participants to King Abdulaziz Racecourse next month for what promises to be another unforgettable edition of the Saudi Cup,” His Highness concluded.
