The constellation of elite performers assembling for Saudi Cup 2026 continues to shine brighter, with champions from multiple continents converging on Riyadh for the world’s richest race meeting on February 14. While last year’s hero Forever Young is set to defend his crown in the $20 million Group 1 Saudi Cup, the supporting programme has developed into a showcase in its own right, drawing horses of proven international distinction.
Among the most compelling undercard attractions is the Group 2 $2 million 1351 Turf Sprint, where American star Shisospicy is poised to bring championship form to the Saudi Cup 2026 stage. Trained by Jose D’Angelo for Morplay Racing, the stone-grey filly arrives as the reigning Champion Female Sprinter following a season that confirmed her status among the fastest turf performers in training.
Shisospicy closed her 2025 campaign with a commanding performance in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Del Mar, producing a sharp display over five furlongs to defeat a high-class mixed-gender field with authority. That effort followed an equally decisive victory in the Grade 2 Music City Stakes at Kentucky Downs, where she showed versatility and strength over the demanding 6½-furlong course. The Riyadh sprint now presents a new test, but one her connections believe plays to her strengths.
“She’s doing great,” D’Angelo said as preparations gathered momentum. “She’s maturing and getting more focused as she comes into this year. She’s growing and improving, and I really feel we’re going to see the best of her now.”
The Saudi distance, longer than the Breeders’ Cup sprint, is not viewed as an obstacle. D’Angelo has long maintained that Shisospicy is more than a pure five-furlong specialist, a belief reinforced by her Kentucky Downs success on a course renowned for its stamina-sapping contours.
“That race answered a lot of questions,” he explained. “Kentucky Downs is very testing, and she handled it brilliantly. The long stretch in Saudi should suit her well, especially on a flat course. I don’t see any issues with the distance at all.”
Confidence in the filly has been a constant theme throughout her career, despite one rare setback at Royal Ascot in the Commonwealth Cup, where a slow start compromised her usual early speed. Aside from that run, her record speaks volumes: six wins from nine starts and victories in five of her last six appearances. Following her Breeders’ Cup triumph, Morplay Racing underlined that belief when acquiring full ownership for $5.2 million at Fasig-Tipton’s November showcase sale.
Morplay Racing principal Rich Mendez said the decision to head straight to Saudi was a calculated one. With limited suitable opportunities for elite turf sprinters in North America at this time of year, the Saudi Cup 2026 meeting offered both sporting ambition and international appeal.
“We didn’t want to overdo it with her,” Mendez said. “This race made sense. It’s a big stage, strong competition, and something new for her. She’s been training exceptionally well, and we feel she’ll have every chance to show what she can do.”
For D’Angelo, the journey to Riyadh is supported by growing international experience. He has previously campaigned runners in Saudi Arabia, Dubai, and at Royal Ascot, learning valuable lessons with each campaign. That accumulated knowledge has shaped a carefully managed plan for Shisospicy’s travel and preparation.
“Every time you do this, you learn,” he reflected. “We feel much more prepared now as a team. The organisation in Saudi has been excellent, right down to the smallest details, and that makes a big difference for the horses.”
Shisospicy is scheduled to depart Florida for Riyadh on February 2, marking her next step on the global stage. Stablemate Bentornato is being aimed toward the Dubai Golden Shaheen later in the spring, underlining the international scope of the operation.
As ever, D’Angelo is keeping her workload measured. One more serious piece of work is planned before travel, but there is no desire to change what has already proven successful.
“She doesn’t need much,” he said. “She’s ready, she’s confident, and most importantly, she knows where the finish line is.”
With Saudi Cup 2026 fast approaching, Shisospicy adds another layer of quality to a meeting already rich in star power, reinforcing the event’s standing as a truly global championship stage.
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