Listed Tuwaiq Cup winner Scotland Yard (USA) is poised to make his first appearance when he leads a field of six in Saturday’s JSCA Cup at King Abdulaziz Racecourse, a domestic Group 3 contest worth SAR165,000.
The Nicolas Bachalard-trained six-year-old resumes under champion jockey Adel Alfouraidi, renewing a familiar partnership after a highly productive previous campaign. Scotland Yard won three of his four starts last season, signing off in emphatic fashion with a near six-length victory on Saudi Cup weekend.
The 1800m JSCA Cup presents a solid test on return. Prince Faisal Bin Khaled Bin Abdulaziz’s Red Stable will be represented by Wait To Excel (GB), who arrives following a recent runner-up finish and an eighth-place effort on Saudi Cup weekend. The White Stable of King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz rely on Electability (USA), while Man Of The Night (FR), trained by Thamer Aldaihani, lines up with Ricardo Ferreira taking the ride.
Saturday’s supporting highlight is the SAR150,000 Saeed Al Majed Cup over 2000m, where Alwaqqad (USA) continues his seasonal campaign. The 2024 Saudi Derby winner, trained by Lucas Gaitan, will be having his third run of the year with Alexis Moreno aboard. After finishing well back behind Scotland Yard in the Tuwaiq last February, the four-year-old showed improvement when third to Thundersquall and Wait To Excel (GB) in an open contest last month.
A competitive group of fifteen has been declared for the SAR130,000 Rashed Bin A. Al-Zenaidy Award for three-year-olds over 1200m. Attention is likely to focus on last season’s Sarawat Cup winner Karimi (KSA) and Kawafill (KSA), who is chasing a third consecutive success after wins at Taif and Riyadh.
Friday’s programme is headed by the SAR150,000 Ministry of Education Cup for juveniles over 1400m, drawing a field of 19 runners. Among them are Red Stable pair Ela Alamam (KSA) and Nayaad (KSA), with Ferreira again partnering Ela Alamam, who remains unbeaten after two starts. The White Stable are also represented by Ma’aha Allah (KSA), twice second from two outings, and Taif debut winner Nasrak Allah (KSA).
Three Turf races add depth to Friday’s card, beginning with a 1200m open event where Red Stable runner Zefzaf (USA) meets French import Cacofonix (IRE). Zefzaf enjoyed a strong campaign last season, winning three races and finishing second in the Turf Sprint Qualifier. Now trained by Sami Alharabi, he faces Cacofonix, a former French Listed winner who previously raced for the Wertheimer brothers.
The well-bred three-year-old has won three of his nine starts, was last seen finishing sixth in a Group 3 in August and changed hands for €460,000 in October.
Maylan (GB), who finished ahead of Zefzaf in the Turf Sprint Qualifier before placing ninth in the main event, heads a full field of ten in the 1351m open. The programme then moves up to 2100m for race five, featuring the White Stable’s Bolide Porto (IRE), who was third on his recent return and previously performed creditably in the Group 1 Howden Neom Turf Cup.
For more stories, results, and updates from the world of horse racing, stay tuned to Racebuzz.