Less than a week after the announcement that winners of four Group 1 races from Dubai Racing Club will automatically qualify for four Breeders’ Cup races, another major international event has joined the prestigious series. The Saudi Cup (G1), the world’s richest horse race, will now serve as a “Win and You’re In” qualifier for the $7 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1), set to take place on November 1 at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in California. The $2 million Riyadh Dirt Sprint (G2), also part of the Saudi Cup card, will offer an automatic berth to the $2 million Cygames Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1).
With a purse of $20 million, the Saudi Cup has quickly become one of the sport’s most anticipated events since its inception six years ago at King Abdulaziz Racecourse. Held annually in February, it often features elite Thoroughbreds from around the world, serving as an early-season highlight that can now set the stage for a campaign culminating in the Breeders’ Cup. Past Saudi Cup winners Midnight Bisou, Mishriff, and Senor Buscador have all competed in Breeders’ Cup races, underscoring the natural connection between the two events.
Drew Fleming, President and CEO of Breeders’ Cup Limited, hailed the partnership as a testament to the growing international nature of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series, which is now in its 19th year. “This expansion underscores our commitment to fostering world-class competition and provides a fantastic opportunity for international horses competing at the highest level,” Fleming said. In addition to an automatic berth, Breeders’ Cup will cover the entry fees for the Saudi Cup winner and provide a travel allowance for all international starters who qualify through the series, provided they are nominated by the October 20 pre-entry deadline.
HRH Prince Bandar Bin Khaled AlFaisal, Chairman of the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia, expressed pride in the collaboration, emphasizing the natural synergy between the Saudi Cup and Breeders’ Cup World Championships. “The winner of the Group 1 The Saudi Cup and the Riyadh Dirt Sprint presented by Saudi National Bank will earn a spot in the Breeders’ Cup Classic and the Breeders’ Cup Sprint, adding an extra layer of intrigue and excitement to our race day,” he said.
This year’s Saudi Cup, scheduled for tomorrow (February 22nd), has drawn a star-studded international field of 14 starters and one also-eligible. Leading the charge is Japan’s Forever Young, the 8-5 favorite, who won last year’s Saudi Derby (G3) and finished third in both the Kentucky Derby (G1) and Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1). Also entered is Hong Kong’s Romantic Warrior, a 10-time Group 1 winner who will test dirt for the first time, alongside Europe’s Facteur Cheval, the reigning Dubai Turf (G1) champion, and American contender Rattle N Roll, a seasoned 10-time winner.
In the Riyadh Dirt Sprint, Straight No Chaser, the 2024 Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner and Champion Male Sprinter, will aim to secure a return ticket to the Breeders’ Cup as the 5-4 favorite in an 11-horse field. With automatic berths on the line for both marquee events, the Saudi Cup meeting promises to deliver high-stakes competition that could shape the road to Del Mar.
