King Khalid Racecourse in Taif will prepare for a competitive weekend of racing, with the Taif Sprint Championships set to provide the main attraction across Friday’s valuable sprint programme. Sheikh Abdullah Homoud Almalek Alsabah will have several notable representatives, including Farough (GB), who will aim for a fourth consecutive victory at the track.
Friday’s programme will feature three races carrying SAR250,000, with the Sprint Championship for colts and geldings set to take place over 1200m. Farough will be among the leading names in the contest and will arrive with a strong recent record under Muhammad Aldaham for trainer Abdullah Alsidrani.
The son of Ardad will have produced a consistent sequence since arriving from Roger Varian’s UK stable almost 12 months ago. He will have already recorded three victories in Riyadh before adding the Sprint Championship Prep at Taif to his record. Another success will put him on course for four straight wins at Taif.
Farough will face nine rivals in the 1200m contest. Reyman (USA), Jasour (USA) from the Red Stable of Prince Faisal bin Khaled bin Abdulaziz, and Jaras (IRE) will all return after competing in the August 28 trial. They will have finished second, fourth and fifth respectively in that preparation race and will now attempt to reverse the form.
Sheikh Abdullah Homoud Almalek Alsabah will also have Raakeb (IRE) in the field. The former UK runner will be trained by Alsidrani and will arrive after winning on his local debut. He will then have finished down the field in last month’s Taif Derby and will need to bounce back in the sprint contest.
Taif Sprint Championships Fillies Division Will Bring 17 Runners
The Taif Sprint Championships programme will also include a 17-runner Fillies Open, with Kawthar (GB) set to represent Sheikh Abdullah Homoud Almalek Alsabah. The filly will enter the race after finishing fourth in the Taif Cup Prep and will face a competitive field.
Alnaifh (USA), trained by Salman Alfarraj, will be one of the key runners on ratings. The lightly raced runner will bring scope for further improvement, while Raaod (USA) will arrive after finishing second in the Taif Cup Prep.
The third SAR250,000 contest on Friday will be the Sprint Championship for Arabian Horses. A field of 15 will line up, with regular performers Jade De Faust (FR) and Baseq And Bake (USA) among the familiar names.
Foo De Pine (ITA), ridden by Alexis Moreno, will head the Arabian field on ratings. The six-time winner will return following a disappointing performance in January, but his earlier form will make him a significant contender.
Foo De Pine will have previously defeated Jade De Faust and Baseq And Bake when winning the Group 3 Sprint Championship Cup by four lengths earlier that month. His return will therefore add another interesting element to Friday’s championship programme.
Saturday will bring two SAR450,000 JCSA Contribution races over 1400m for two-year-olds sold at the JCSA Yearling Sale last year. The colts and geldings division will attract 13 runners, including Haiyahom (KSA), who will carry the colours of Sheikh Abdullah Homoud Almalek Alsabah.
Haiyahom will arrive after an impressive debut victory in July, when he will have finished 20 lengths clear of his rivals. His unbeaten record from one start will make him one of the more interesting young runners on Saturday.
Trankeelo (KSA) will be the only other previous winner in the 13-runner field. He will return after making it second time lucky in last month’s Taif Cup Prep for Local Breds.
The JCSA Contribution Fillies race will feature a full field of 18. Almalkiah (KSA) will represent Sheikh Abdullah Homoud Almalek Alsabah after winning on her second start.
The owner will also have Muqtahem (IRE) in Saturday’s opening race, a SAR120,000 Open. Muqtahem will return after finishing third in the Group 2 Riyadh Dirt Sprint.
The runner will have previously chased home Imagination (USA) during The Saudi Cup weekend before returning to winning form in a similar event on July 25. That recent success will provide further interest as Muqtahem prepares for another appearance.
With valuable races scheduled across both days, the weekend will bring together established sprint performers, recent winners and promising two-year-olds. Farough’s bid for another success, the competitive fillies division and the return of Foo De Pine will provide several storylines to follow as the action unfolds at King Khalid Racecourse.
The Taif Sprint Championships will provide the main focus at King Khalid Racecourse, with Farough, Raakeb, Kawthar, Raaod and Foo De Pine among the notable runners set to feature alongside a strong group of promising two-year-olds.
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