A familiar rivalry will take centre stage at King Khalid Racecourse on Saturday as Tuwajeri and Yaltahem meet again in the SAR350,000 Taif Derby, three weeks after producing a closely fought finish over the same course. The rematch will form part of a strong weekend programme, with 13 runners set to contest the 1600-metre feature.
Taif Derby 2026 will bring together several horses with contrasting profiles, but much of the attention will naturally fall on Tuwajeri and Yaltahem after their previous meeting on August 1.
Tuwajeri finished just over a length ahead of Yaltahem in that trial, with the pair pulling nine lengths clear of the third-placed runner. The result underlined the strength of their rivalry and gives Saturday’s contest an intriguing starting point.
Tuwajeri will be one of three runners for owner Sheikh Abdullah Homoud Almalek Alsabah and trainer Abdullah Alsidrani. The former Richard Hannon inmate brings notable international form to the race, having finished second in the 2000 Guineas last season before taking sixth behind stablemate Al Haram in the Saudi Derby in February.
The son of Phoenix Of Spain will be joined by Raakeb and Midhaal. Raakeb, another former Hannon-trained runner, made an encouraging start to local racing when winning a conditions race three weeks ago, while Midhaal will make a fresh bid for a breakthrough after two previous starts.
Yaltahem will represent the Red Stable of Prince Faisal bin Khaled bin Abdulaziz. The five-race campaigner won on debut last November and will return to the 1600-metre trip after finishing 13th in the 2000 Guineas.
Among the other leading contenders is Alhisham, representing the White Stable of King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz. The American-bred runner followed a successful Riyadh debut in November by finishing behind Raakeb last time out, setting up another meeting with his recent rival.
The Taif Arabian Derby will provide another feature on the card, with seven runners set to contest the SAR350,000 event over 2000 metres.
Maestro Du Croate heads the field. The established colt won the Al-Dareyah Cup before finishing seventh in the Group 1 Obaiyah Arabian Classic on The Saudi Cup weekend. Saturday will mark his first appearance since that effort.
Bouchra will bring a different profile to the race, with the filly making only her third domestic appearance after securing a maiden victory two weeks ago. Almujather will also enter the contest with recent form behind the runner, having won the Taif Arabian Derby Prep.
The SAR150,000 Taif University Cup over 1400 metres has attracted an 18-runner field and could provide another notable moment for the Red Stable, which has four representatives.
Jahdoon will be the standout name among them as the runner aims for a third consecutive victory. The recent sequence includes a success in the Taif University Cup Prep followed by an emphatic eight-length win in last week’s Shubra Cup.
The White Stable will field three runners, including Allah Maae, who finished fifth in the Taif University Cup Prep, and six-time winner Fallat Kheir.
Friday’s principal contest will be the SAR150,000 Makkah Almokarramah Reg.Gov.Cup, with 14 runners set to line up over 1600 metres.
The field includes three runners for Sheikh Abdullah Homoud Almalek Alsabah in Mullazem, Uncle and Ya Dar. Alwaqqad and Power Of Beauty, the top-rated pair, will add further depth to a race featuring several established performers.
With several runners arriving in good form and others returning from significant assignments, the weekend programme at King Khalid Racecourse offers a broad test across distances and divisions. The rematch between Tuwajeri and Yaltahem, however, will provide the clearest thread of continuity from their previous encounter.
Taif Derby 2026 therefore carries an added layer of interest, with the earlier margin between the leading pair leaving plenty of scope for another closely contested finish.
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