Saudi Cup 2026 preview: Forever Young set to defend crown as Riyadh riches lure global stars

It never rains, but it pours as they say (though not here hopefully), and from Abu Dhabi, my next stop is Saudi Arabia for the Saudi Cup meeting, the most valuable race in the World at present.

As mentioned, money certainly talks (or even shouts) in the racing world, and the prize pots have attracted some class acts to the sunshine, hoping to bring home top prize and the kudos that goes with it.

Firstly, a huge thank you to the Jockey Club Of Saudi Arabia, who have provided us scribes with plenty of food for thought with a steady stream of informative e-mails about both the runners and their connections – though whether they have clarified things or muddied the waters in a different question.

I have deliberately given the Friday meeting a miss this year as I did not want to feel my article was in any way rushed, with the International Jockey’s Challenge worthy of a brief report after the event, but perhaps not a full on preview – after all, many if not all of the jockeys will have never sat on their mounts before, and who needs an added complication when trying to search out some winners?

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The Listed Tuwaiq Cup

Nope, it’s the big day where our attentions belong, and as we have a full on nine race card, that still leaves me with plenty to do – and you with more than enough to read at your leisure.

Our first race is a handicap (midday UK time) and I won’t be getting involved for all the tea in China (or sand in Saudi Arabia to be more pertinent), while Race 2 (12.40pm UK) is the Group One Obaiyah Arabian Classic with $2,000,000 in prize money – bit I know less than nothing about Arab racing (yet) and have bigger fish to fry!

Next up, we have the Listed Tuwaiq Cup on the dirt over nine furlongs at 1.20pm, where I will have a look at the runners, though once again, I have heard very little and know even less.

Our very own Oisin Murphy has a good chance on board the Saad Aljenade trained Michael Schofield, a son of Tiz The Law who was last seen finishing seventh over course and distance in January.

He may well prove to be one of the biggest dangers to Scotland Yard, who is my tentative pick.

Trained by Nicholas Bachalard, he had an early entry in the Saudi Derby, but connections have decided to race him here instead, as he looks to double up after taking the race last year by an impressive five lengths.

Jockey Adel Alfouraidi may not be a name many have heard of, but he regularly rides the now seven-year-old, and that familiarity may well see him home in front.   

The Saudi Derby

The Saudi Derby (Race 4 2.00pm) currently sits as a Group Three despite a prize fund of $1,500,000 for the mile contest, but if they keep attracting high calibre horses as seems likely, it is only a matter of time before they move up through the ranks with Group One the obvious final objective.

Won by Saudi Cup hero Forever Young in 2024, this year’s field looks just as intriguing, with European interest centred on Karl Burke’s Shayem, who was last seen winning a Listed race at Pontefract.

Whether he handles the dirt is the $64,000 question as he is yet to even try the all-weather in the UK, but he is undoubtedly on an upward curve and I will be cheering him on regardless.

Sadly, expecting him to win looks a huge ask, and common sense suggests I come down on the side of Satona Voyage, who may well give Japan their first winner of the day.

Second on his turf debut, he has won his next three to arrive here unbeaten on dirt, taking his maiden over 1200 metres, followed by the Oxalis So over 1400 metres and most recently the Cattleya Stakes at Tokyo over a mile.

He has a lovely profile for a race like this and I am hoping we have not seen the best of him yet.

The Riyadh Dirt Sprint

Our next contest will be a “hell for leather” sprint over a little shy of six furlongs with the Group Two Riyadh Dirt Sprint (Race 5 2.40pm) and this time “just” the $2,000,000 to play for, which has again attracted a decent field.

This race has a truly international feel to it with Mick Appleby sending Royal Zabeel over from the UK, Manfred Man entering Self Improvement for Hong Kong, plus locals, Japanese (including American Stage, trained by Yoshito Yahagi who handles Forever Young in the big one), and hot favourite Imagination for Bob Baffert in the good old USA.

It’s a tough one to call with the formbook pointing to the son of Into Mischief, who was second in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint last November, but you aren’t just betting on his form, you also have to factor in travelling and a different continent and at 6/4 he looks plenty short enough to me.

Turf Sprint

Turf at last (as far as I am concerned) with the 1351 Turf Sprint (Race 6 Group Two 3.25pm) with another two million in the pot, and finally some top-class European contenders for me to talk about (no offence intended to those mentioned earlier who look up against it).

An interesting trip of six and three-quarter furlongs may test the stamina of some of these, especially if it is run at a decent pace, but with a strong European challenge, we may have something to cheer about.

A little birdie tells me the Wathnan Racing “big-wigs” will start their day in Qatar (who are also racing on Saturday) before hurrying over to Riyadh in time to watch Lazzat run here, and I am happy enough to take the hint.

Trained in France by Jerome Reynier, the five-year-old has some notable form to his name, with two Group One wins at Deauville and Ascot, and eight career victories in total.

He has won on ground ranging from heavy to good to firm, so all going seems to come alike to the son of Territories, who is proving a real money-spinner with over £2 million in the bank so far.

If he gets the rub of the green, he ought to add to that here, while Comanche Brave, Annaf, and Marvelman all deserve a mention from these shores, but if my selection is at his best, then surely there is only one winner.

Neom Turf Cup

Race 7 is the Group One Neom Turf Cup ($3,000,000 total prize money) due off at 4.10pm over the ten and a half furlong trip.

Shin Emperor is back for another crack at the prize after winning this race last year, and a chat with affable trainer Yoshito Yahagi did nothing to put me off.

He has apparently been training well ahead of this assignment and has plenty in his favour, though there is a school of thought that this is a deeper renewal.

Survie intrigues for Newmarket trainer George Boughey after the five-year-old mare was bought for 1,900,000 Gns at the sales in December for Mrs Michael Tabor, and she was given an easy prep run when winning a three-horse race at Lingfield.

Her form stands up to close inspection with Group One form in France, but she has only taken one of her 11 starts on turf, which puts me off a fraction, even with Ryan Moore in the saddle.

Alohi Alii flopped in the Arc in Paris on softer ground but did win the Prix Guillame D’Orano in his previous race and clearly has a big reputation, making him another for the shortlist, while Galen (Joseph O’Brien), Phantom Flight (George Scott), and Irish Champion Stakes third Royal Champion are also worthy of consideration in a highly competitive contest.

Red Sea Turf Handicap

Group Two handicaps are an oddity to me, but that is what we have next (Race 8 Red Sea Turf Handicap at 4.50pm) with up to 12 set to go into battle for $2,500,000 between them over the stamina sapping distance of one mile seven furlongs or so (3000mtrs).

We remain on the grass, which has attracted plenty of Europeans, but my mother didn’t raise a fool, and I would not like to second guess the winner at level weights, let alone in a handicap, so we move on to the big one.

The Saudi Cup

We wrap things up with the biggest race of the day (I wish UK racing brought things to a crescendo instead of putting the highlight mid-card), Race 9, The Saudi Cup over 1800mtrs (nine furlongs), our final Group One of the day, worth (wait for it) $20,000,000 prize money, and due off at 5.40pm.

Sorry to all the traditionalists out there, but money really does talk (or in this case screams “come and get me”), with Forever Young, the winner of the Saudi Derby here in 2024 and this race last year, back to add to his considerable winnings. 

I doubt it will come as any shock when I add that the Americans have sent over a strong squad, the Japanese have other runners, and the home team are pretty eager to keep the money on Saudi territory, though no Europeans I’m afraid which is no surprise for a dirt race, but as the World’s most valuable race, it deserves a decent mention.

With no prices to work with (sadly), I am assuming Forever Young will head the market, and rightly so – he is a machine and an absolute superstar.

I accept that the Americans have sent a strong team, seemingly headed by the Bob Baffert trained Nysos, but chatting with him this morning, even he seemed to imply it would be a big ask to beat the Japanese jolly.

Forever Young

Last year’s race saw Forever Young run down the brilliant Romantic Warrior in a race for the ages, showing both speed and heart to get up and win by a neck.

A repeat of that may be all he needs and after adding the Breeders’ Cup Classic to his CV last November, there is every reason to think he is still improving.

If there is a chink in his armour, it may be the lack of a preparation race this year, but that may be clutching at straws, though even his trainer describes him as 90% fit.

I still think, or in fact hope, he is good enough to win, though if you are looking for a bigger priced each way alternative, you could do a lot worse than the Baffert supposed second string, Nevada Beach. E

Expected to go off at a double figure price at home, he is no forlorn hope in this line-up, with Bob mentioning a good run can only increase his value at stud, so clearly, he is running for good reason.

Sean’s suggestions

Satona Voyage 2.00pm Riyadh (Saudi Arabia)

Shin Emperor 4.10pm Riyadh (Saudi Arabia)

Forever Young 5.40pm Riyadh (Saudi Arabia)

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