2026 Saudi Cup Entries and Odds

$20M Saudi Cup runs Saturday, February 14

The Saudi Cup race - a one-turn dirt oval event held at King Abdulaziz Racetrack, Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia - is worth US $20M and will again attract the finest thoroughbreds and top jockeys from around the globe.

Feb 11 - Forever Young (JPN) will emerge from gate six when bidding to defend his Group 1 $20 Million USD Saudi Cup crown at King Abdulaziz Racecourse on Saturday, February 14.

The reigning champion was the penultimate horse to be given a barrier and only five or six remained when Japanese trainer, Yoshito Yahagi picked out the starting berth.

"I think six is a good number," Yahagi said. "We don't have to change anything with tactics. Honestly, I feel a lot of pressure on my shoulders bringing a defending champion but Forever Young doesn't feel any pressure at all."

American Hall of Famer Bob Baffert is in Riyadh and Flavien Prat will guide Nysos (USA) from gate 12, while Irad Ortiz Jr and Nevada Beach (USA) have drawn gate seven.

"I'd rather be on the outside than the inside," Baffert said after drawing the wide gate for Nysos. "As long as the horse shows up that is more important. I think he is a really good horse and has always shown brilliance, he's a trier and knows where the wire is. From the outside he will have a clear run."

"Gate seven is good for Nevada Beach too. We just didn't want to be in the one-hole," Baffert added.

Last year's fifth-place finisher Rattle N Roll (USA) raced from seven on that occasion but this time around Joel Rosario will steer Kenny McPeek's 6-year-old from stall 11.

Kyoko Maekawa was on hand to draw stall one for Sunrise Zipangu (JPN) who will be ridden by Oisin Murphy. The Japan Racing Association's first-ever female trainer was Yahagi's assistant in Saudi Arabia when Panthalassa (JPN) won The Saudi Cup from stall one in 2023. Noriyuki Hori's Luxor Cafe (USA) has a wider starting point in barrier 10.

Leading local contender Mhally (GB) will break from stall 13, which pleased his connections.

"We are very happy with that draw, we wanted something on the outside," Sheikh Faisal Al Sabah, son of owner, Sheikh Abdullah Homoud Almalek Alsabah said. "Hopefully he proves himself on Saturday."

Banishing (USA) was described as a horse with "a heart of gold" by trainer David Jacobson's son, Zachary, and the American raider will break from stall three, while the Brad Cox-trained Bishops Bay (USA) will come from nine.

The Saad Aljenade-trained Star Of Wonder (USA) will start from the same stall five that Emblem Road (USA) won the race, while his stable companion Haqeet (USA) is inside that in box two under Mickael Barzalona. Ryan Moore is a notable jockey booking for the Sami Alharabi-trained Ameerat Alzamaan (GB) who breaks from four.

Thundersquall (GB) will start from the widest draw of all in 14 for trainer Muteb Almulawah and jockey Danny Tudhope, while Tumbarumba (USA) and James Doyle will begin the richest race in the world from barrier eight for Hamad Al Jehani and Wathnan Racing.

Forever Young Bids For Historic Second Saudi Cup

Feb 9 - Trainer Yoshito Yahagi believed Forever Young (JPN) to be virtually unbeatable when he thwarted Romantic Warrior (IRE) 12 months ago and he returns to Riyadh with his Breeders' Cup hero bidding to become the first dual winner of the Group 1 Saudi Cup at King Abdulaziz Racecourse this Saturday.

Hong Kong legend Romantic Warrior was the only possible danger to victory in the 2025 renewal of the USD$20million feature in the mind of the decorated trainer.

And he was proved correct as the pair went head-to-head down the stretch with Forever Young prevailing by neck - having only led inside the final 25 metres.

"I didn't think he would be beaten by any horse," revealed Yahagi. "But I wasn't completely sure about Romantic Warrior, as it was his first time racing on dirt. If Forever Young was going to be beaten, it had to be by Romantic Warrior."

Romantic Warrior made a big move at the top of the stretch and looked assured of success, only for Ryusei Sakai to wear him down aboard the brilliant entire in a dramatic climax.

"It was unbelievable. To be honest, I thought we had been beaten at the finish. It was a great race," added Yahagi.

The trainer bids for a third win in just seven renewals of The Saudi Cup following on from Panthalassa (JPN) in 2023, and Forever Young will be having his first start after writing another chapter in the history books when becoming the first Japanese-trained winner of the Breeders' Cup Classic at Del Mar last November.

"He skipped the Tokyo Daishoten this year after the Breeders' Cup,' explained Yahagi. "He was carrying a little extra weight at first, but he has been improving steadily.

"The anti-clockwise track and the long home straight really suit him in Saudi Arabia and Sakai knows everything about him. Their partnership is very reliable," added the trainer of the pairing who also claimed the 2024 Saudi Derby.

Yahagi has been one of the leading advertisers of Japanese racing with wins also in Dubai on World Cup night, in Hong Kong and with a Cox Plate victory in Australia.

"Winning the Breeders' Cup Classic definitely brought about a big change in the Japanese racing industry. Horse racing is still not the biggest sport in Japan, but I would like to continue working to grow it," he explained.

"The Japanese racing industry is aiming to be the best in the world. Strong fan support, including wagering turnover, contributes to high prize-money. Because of that, Japanese owners are willing to invest significant sums. The industry is healthy thanks to the support of the fans."

Forever Young went on to be third in the Dubai World Cup last year and a return to Meydan is again on the cards, but another tilt at a Breeders' Cup has yet to be decided.

Yahagi said: "He will run The Saudi Cup and the Dubai World Cup. He is scheduled to run in those two races. We are focusing on these two Middle Eastern races for his spring campaign. Nothing has been confirmed yet for his autumn campaign.

"The Breeders' Cup will be held at Keeneland this year, which makes it a different situation for us compared to when it is held on the West Coast of the United States. I need to discuss our plans with the owner, Mr. Fujita, who was keen to keep him in training."

Team Yahagi return with not one but two defending champions as Shin Emperor (FR) also bids for a repeat win after making all from stall three last year in the Howden Neom Turf Cup, which now carries G1 status and $3m in prize-money.

"He is in very good form and this race has always been the target," said Yahagi. "The anti-clockwise, flat 2100-metre track on good ground suits him very well. He doesn't have to lead, but we would like to see him settle into a good position."

And ominously for opponents to the full-brother to Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Sottass (FR), he added: "I thought he had fully matured, but in fact he is still improving."

Feb 7 - Hall Of Fame trainer Bob Baffert will return to King Abdulaziz Racecourse next week on a mission to secure a first win in the G1 USD $20M Saudi Cup, a race in which he is determined to add to his huge portfolio of major international successes.

Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile winner Nysos (USA) will join G1 Goodwood Stakes winner Nevada Beach (USA) in the feature race on Saturday February 14, and Baffert is relishing the challenge of taking on last year's winner Forever Young (JPN).

"I thought I could win it before but the thing about The Saudi Cup, every time I watch it you think you are home free but all of a sudden they show the 100-metre mark and boy, I lost so much money after that 100-metre mark!" Baffert said.

"That 100-metre mark is a killer for me. We are always ahead at the 100 metres and then I just think uh-oh, this is not good, we've still got 100 metres to go. We've come agonisingly close."

Baffert's three runners on the night include Imagination (USA) in the G2 Riyadh Dirt Sprint Presented by Saudi National Bank, and all have arrived in Riyadh and pleased Baffert's longtime wingman, Jimmy Barnes.

"It was a long trip but they handled it well and my assistant has told me they all look healthy and happy," said Baffert. "They had a jog on the track on Thursday morning and all felt good. It's amazing how resilient these horses are after going through that long journey but they're in good shape."

Baffert's recollection of agony in the closing stages of The Saudi Cup is understandable having gone so close so often since the race was first run in 2020.

He watched with admiration without a runner 12 months ago as Forever Young and Romantic Warrior (IRE) served up a race for the ages, but in 2024 saddled National Treasure (USA) to finish fourth. Country Grammer (USA) was second in 2023 and 2022, while Charlatan (USA) filled the same spot in 2021 and Mucho Gusto (USA) led them up the straight in the first renewal to place third.

"The Saudi Cup is new and it's different and all these big races are different. You need a good horse in The Saudi Cup and you look at last year's race with Romantic Warrior and Forever Young and it was fantastic," Baffert said.

"We've thought about this a while back for Nysos. The fact he wasn't going to be able to make the Breeders' Cup Classic when we got a little bit behind on him, we gave him time off and ran him in the Breeders' Cup Mile. After that we decided to run him an extra year as he didn't get to run all that much, so The Saudi Cup has always been on the radar for him since then.

"And as for Nevada Beach, I sort of thought of it after the Breeders' Cup that he's the type of horse that is a big, long-jumping horse that gets over the ground well. He wants to go a mile and a quarter, the track there can be demanding and he is a horse that reminds me a little bit of Country Grammer, who ran well there."

Baffert will be on hand to oversee preparations next week and hopes both horses will be suited by the race.

"The prize money is very important and the challenge of it all for me as a trainer, that's the one race I haven't won so it would be nice to win it," he said.

"It's a tough race but all those big races like that are all tough. We're looking forward to it and hope everything goes well all week. At least we don't have to worry about the weather!"

Baffert confirmed Flavien Prat rides Imagination in the Riyadh Dirt Sprint and Nysos in the big race, while Irad Ortiz Jr. will partner Nevada Beach.

"Imagination worked well leaving here," added Baffert. "He is the kind of horse that takes off a little slow, it takes him a while to get going but the further the better. He should be very competitive, it's hard to know how the form will compare, but he's doing well."

Jan 30 - Defending champion Forever Young (JPN) will face a strong American challenge including two runners for Hall of Famer Bob Baffert as the likely fields are unveiled by the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia for The Saudi Cup meeting at King Abdulaziz Racecourse on February 13 and 14.

Yoshito Yahagi's Breeders' Cup hero is one of three Saudi Cup entries for Japan along with the Noriyuke Hori-trained Luxor Cafe (USA) and Sunrise Zipangu (JPN), who will fly the flag for the country's first-ever female handler, Kyoko Maekawa.

Forever Young returns to Riyadh after edging out Hong Kong legend Romantic Warrior (IRE) last February to provide Yahagi with a remarkable second strike in the USD$20m feature following on from the victory of Panthalassa (JPN) two years previous. If Forever Young is successful he will be the first horse to win two Saudi Cups.

There is a strong American representation with six of the gates to be taken by US runners and chief amongst them are the Baffert pair of Breeders' Cup Mile winner Nysos (USA) as well as Grade 1 Goodwood Stakes winner and Breeders' Cup Classic seventh, Nevada Beach (USA).

Also making the journey are Steve Asmussen's Magnitude (USA) who recently beat the Dubai World Cup winner, Hit Show (USA) in the Clark Stakes, with Kenny McPeek's returning Rattle N Roll (USA), partly owned by Saudi connections, Sharaf Al Hariri in partnership with Lucky Seven Stables, back in fifth place.

The latter will again line up over the 1800m following on from his 2025 success in the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Cup and fifth in The Saudi Cup, with the American challenge completed by David Jacobson's Banishing (USA) and the Brad Cox-trained Cigar Mile winner, Bishops Bay (USA) carrying the colours of local owners, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Sons, following his November purchase.

Mhally (GB) earned his place with victory in the same qualifier which Rattle N Roll won last year and will represent owner Sheikh Abdullah Homoud Almalek Alsabah, with the other local runner being the former Cox inmate, Star Of Wonder (USA) who is unbeaten in two Riyadh outings and scooped the Listed King Faisal Cup last month also running in the White Stable colours of King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Sons.

The first running of Neom Turf Cup presented by Howden as a Group 1 will see runners from Japan, the UK, Ireland, France, Japan, Qatar and Saudi Arabia compete for $3m, an increase in prize money from the $2m on offer in 2025.

Yahagi's Shin Emperor (FR) is back to defend his crown and will clash with Karl Burke's Bahrain International Trophy winner, Royal Champion (IRE), former French runner Survie (IRE) who has joined UK trainer George Boughey and now carries Doreen Tabor's colours and White Stable's Saudi qualifier winner, Bolide Porto (IRE).

French trainer Jerome Reynier will also unleash Facteur Cheval (IRE) back on turf over the 2100m after the seven-year-old tried his hand on dirt last year and ran seventh in The Saudi Cup.

Irish trainer Joseph O'Brien dominates the likely field for the $2.5m Red Sea Turf Handicap presented by Longines with three entries in G2 winner Tennessee Stud (IRE), Melbourne Cup runner-up Goodie Two Shoes (IRE) and Sons And Lovers (GB), with his fellow countryman Willie Mullins - winner of the 2021 Neom Turf Cup - having entered Absurde (FR).

Epic Poet (GB) ran a slightly unlucky second last year and is back again over the 3000m for trainer David O'Meara, with fellow Englishman James Owen set to have his first Saudi Cup night runner with Burdett Road (GB).

Japan won the race last year and have both Struve (JPN) and Vermicelles (JPN) engaged with local interest lying with impressive qualifier winner Sayyah (USA), who bolted up by over seven lengths and carries the colours of King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz.

Royal Ascot winner Lazzat (FR) is the star name in the G2 $2m 1351 Turf Sprint and he will take on former winner Annaf (IRE), Donnacha O'Brien's Comanche Brave (IRE) and American runners Time To Dazzle (USA), Reef Runner (USA) and Zio Jo (USA).

Also in the lineup will be qualifier winner Zefzaf (USA) along with the also locally-trained pair Love De Vega (IRE) and Geography (GER).

The G2 $2m Riyadh Dirt Sprint presented by SHG over 1200m is another international affair with Baffert having engaged Breeders' Cup Sprint second Imagination (USA) along with other American hopes Lovesick Blues (USA) and Just Beat The Odds (USA).

Japan has five in the Likely Field, including last year's Saudi Derby runner-up Shin Forever (USA) while also coming from the Far East is Manfred Man's Hong Kong challenger, Self Improvement (AUS) a G3 winner in South Korea last year.

American handlers are well represented in the $1.5m G3 Saudi Derby presented by Zood, with Brad Cox and My World (USA), Kenny McPeek and Acknowledgemeplz (USA) and Steve Asmussen with Obliteration (USA) all bidding for glory and the 30 Kentucky Derby points available to the winner.

The US team will take on five runners from Japan, UK representative, Shayem (IRE), French runner Cielo Di Roma (FR) and the over seven-length winner of the Saudi 2000 Guineas, Al Haram (IRE) owned by Sheikh Al Sabah.

The Saudi International Handicap presented by Lucid, a race for horses from IFHA Part II and Part III countries, has, for the first time, attracted runners from Belgium and Denmark in the form of Iradie (FR) and Hans Andersen (GB). The 2100m turf event also likely to see representation from Spain, Bahrain, Qatar, the Czech Republic and Saudi Arabia.

France is set to have two runners in the G1 Purebred Arabian turf outing, the $1.5m Al Mneefah Cup presented by the Ministry of Culture with Xavier Thomas Demeaulte having both Nabucco Al Maury (FR) and Lacaro Du Croate (FR) entered in a possible field of 13.

The Purebred Arabian dirt contest, the G1 $2m Obaiyah Arabian Classic presented by Al Hammadi Hospitals Group is likely to see strong representation from Saudi trainer, Naser Mutlaq who has Mubarizat Al Khalediah (KSA) and Bint Ghaliat Al Khalediah (KSA), while his rising star Nadem Al Molwk Al Khalediah (KSA) is also likely to start.

2000 Guineas Victor Mhally Lands Saudi Cup Start

Jan 17 - Last year's winner of the 2000 Guineas, Mhally (GB), stepped up to the mark 12 months later to earn a place in the 2026 Saudi Cup with victory under in-form Ricardo Ferreira in the Group 3 Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Cup.

The success in the SAR1,500,000 feature at King Abdulaziz Racecourse was part of a Ferreira four-timer and capped a terrific day for the rider who, along with trainer Thamer Aldaihani and owner Sheikh Abdullah Homoud Almalek Alsabah, also won the 2000 Guineas again, this time with Al Haram (IRE).

Mhally progressed from his 2000 Guineas success to be third on Saudi Cup night in the Derby in 2025, and will be back again this time in the main USD$20million event on February 14 after proving his stamina in the qualifier over 1800m.

There were four in with a chance halfway down the home stretch, but Mhally knows where the winning post is at King Abdulaziz and found more when required to deny last year's US-winning-rider, Joel Rosario, aboard Ameerat Alzamaan (GB) by three-quarters of a length.

And the owner-trainer-jockey combination could have another superstar on their hands given Al Haram's devastating success in the SAR465,000 2000 Guineas sponsored by J Event.

The three-year-old had won both of his previous starts over the 1600m trip but took his form to a new level to qualify for the USD$1.5million G3 Saudi Derby.

Al Haram was slightly slowly away and found himself at the rear of the field leaving himself with a huge task ahead, but he found generously for pressure and surged through the field to win in monstrous fashion by seven and a quarter lengths.

Maestro Du Croate (FR) ran well to be third last week and got off the mark at the seventh attempt under Camilo Ospina to take the SAR165,000 G3 Al-Dareyah Cup sponsored by STC.

Nijinski Al Maury (FR) looked to be going best turning in but the Bassim Almousa-trained four-year-old found more under an inspired Ospina, and after an almighty tussle collected by one length to qualify for the USD$2million G1 Obaiya Arabian Classic.

Ospina also took the SAR165,000 Riyadh Dirt Sprint Qualifier sponsored by Nova as his Min Shan (KSA) led home a one-two for the White Stable of King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz & Sons.

Over three lengths separated Min Shan from the Mickael Barzalona-ridden Jeddah Beach (USA) at the line, with the winner completing a hat-trick over the 1200m trip to land a gate in the USD$2million G2 Riyadh Dirt Sprint.

One of Ferreira's other winners came as Thayaf (KSA) maintained his unbeaten record with a fourth career victory in the domestic G1 King Abdulaziz Cup, while Christophe Soumillon landed back-to-back wins aboard Wanaameen (KSA) as they followed up last month's success in the domestic G1 Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Cup.

Forever Young (JPN) features among top-class nominations for blockbuster Saudi Cup 2026

January 2 - Title holder on course to clash with top-level winners from United States and Japan in world's most valuable race

Defending champion Forever Young (JPN) heads a stellar list of names put forward for this year's Group 1 $20 million Saudi Cup, which will take place at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh on Saturday 14 February, 2026.

The two-day meeting, which begins on February 13, has attracted 57 individual thoroughbred Group or Grade 1 winners in its entirety and 14 Purebred Arabian Group 1 winners. The nominations, spread among 22 different countries, will be competing for total prize-money of almost $40 million.

Officially rated the joint-top dirt horse in the Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings, 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.

Yoshito Yahagi's superstar, last seen winning the Breeders' Cup Classic, could face a major challenge over the 1800m from the United States. Former Classic champion White Abarrio (USA) and Preakness Stakes victor Journalism (USA) have been entered along with rising stars Nysos (USA), the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile hero, and Magnitude (USA), who beat a smart field in the Grade 2 Clark Stakes last time.

Further strength in depth from Japan could be added by W Heart Bond (JPN), the mare who won the recent Champions Cup as well as Diktaean (JPN) and Mikki Fight (JPN). They were first and second in the Tokyo Daishoten, the race used previously as a launchpad by Forever Young.

Sayyah (USA), impressive in the recent Listed The Crown Prince Cup, and Star Of Wonder (USA), who claimed the Listed King Faisal Bin Abdulaziz Cup in late December, are among a number of promising Saudi Arabian-trained horses looking to secure a spot in the signature race.

This year's Neom Turf Cup sponsored by HOWDEN has been upgraded to Group 1 status, making it the first ever top-level turf race staged in the jurisdiction, and the purse has been increased to $3 million.

Charlie Appleby and Godolphin's Rebel's Romance (IRE), the winner of nine top-level races all around the world and a former Breeders' Cup title-holder, is set to extend that extraordinary record in the 2100m showdown. The likes of Bahrain International Trophy scorer Royal Champion (IRE) and Aidan O'Brien's multiple Group 1-placed The Lion In Winter (IRE) could be up against him.

The Group 2 $2.5 million Red Sea Turf Handicap sponsored by Longines draws the cream of international stayers. Both Japan's Durezza (JPN) and Joseph O'Brien's Irish star Al Riffa (FR) have been given entries for this race and the Neom Turf, while last year's fourth Presage Nocturne (IRE) has improved again for Alessandro Botti.

This year's Group 2 $2 million 1351 Turf Sprint sponsored by SHG could be an absolute cracker with entries headed by Jose d'Angelo's Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint sensation Shisospicy (USA) and Europe's leading sprinter and Royal Ascot winner Lazzat (FR).

Similarly, the Group 2 $2 million Riyadh Dirt Sprint has drawn the cream of the international speedsters including Book'em Danno (USA) and Shisospicy's Breeders' Cup-winning stablemate Bentornato (USA) from the United States and two incredible talents from the United Arab Emirates in Bhupat Seemar's prolific Tuz (USA) and last year's Dubai Golden Shaheen winner Dark Saffron (USA) for Ahmad Bin Harmash.

Khamal (CHI), stylish winner of the Group 1 Premio Derby Nacional in Peru in late November, is among the jet-setting entries in the Group 3 $1.5 million Saudi Derby sponsored by ZOOD Realty.

The card on Friday 13 February includes the International Jockey Challenge while the $500,000 Saudi International Handicap sponsored by LUCID has attracted potential runners trained as far afield as Bahrain, Czech Republic, Denmark, Norway, Oman, Qatar and Spain.

There are two Group 1 races for Purebred Arabians across the weekend. The main turf event, the US$1.5 million Al Mneefah Cup sponsored by Ministry of Culture was taken in brave fashion in 2025 by RB Kingmaker (USA) and Helal Alalawi's grey is set for a return visit.

The $2 million Obaiyah Arabian Classic, the principal event on dirt, was won spectacularly last year by the decorated Tilal Al Khalediah (KSA), who could feature again in a strong field from around the Gulf region.

Alalawi has entered not only RB Kingmaker but HM Alchahine (FR), who was a commanding winner over his third-placed stablemate in the Group 1 HH The President Cup in Abu Dhabi last time.

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."

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