There was an embrace in the Taif evening that said everything. Trainer Nasser Mutlaq kissed Tilal Al Khalediah’s nose as the champion Arabian returned to the winner’s circle at King Khalid Racecourse, while jockey Adel Alfouraidi stood tall in the irons, saluting the crowd. For the second straight year, the crowd-favourite had delivered — the Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Cup remained his.
The SAR1 million Listed event over 2000 metres has become Tilal Al Khalediah’s stage. The multiple Group 1 hero, already twice a winner of the Obaiyah Arabian Classic on Saudi Cup night in Riyadh, was back to his imperious best, notching a 16th career success after his Dubai World Cup night disappointment in March. This victory sets him up perfectly for another tilt at Riyadh’s glittering winter programme.
Wathab Almashaheer Sparkles in King Faisal Cup
Another unbeaten star emerged on the card as Wathab Almashaheer (KSA), trained by Abdullah Alsaedi, kept his flawless record intact with a commanding victory in the Group 3 King Faisal Cup over 1600m. The colt made it three wins from as many starts, the promise of much more to come.
Alaham Claims Okaz Cup
The day’s richest Thoroughbred contest, the SAR700,000 Okaz Cup Sponsored by Boutique Group, went to Alaham (IRE). With Aseel Alsarhani aboard, the pair powered clear over 2000m, marking themselves as a partnership to watch in the Saudi ranks.
White Stables Dominate
If Tilal Al Khalediah drew the headlines, the White Stables of King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz & Sons owned the undercard. They celebrated a treble, headlined by Nowafaa (KSA) in the SAR500,000 Taif Cup Fillies Open Sponsored by Saudi National Bank. Camilio Ospina guided the three-year-old to a brave victory, leading home stablemates Fallat Kheir (KSA) and Moatazah (USA) for a striking 1-2-3 finish.
White Stable’s Taqaarir (KSA) extended her unbeaten record to three in the Taif Cup Local Bred Fillies Open Sponsored by ZOOD Realty, while Mayhamah (KSA) rolled back the years in the apprentice jockeys’ Local Bred Handicap, storming home for a ninth career win.
Upsets and Rivalries
There were surprises too. Sayyah (USA), trained by Hesham Abdulwahed and ridden by Naif Alanazi, flipped the script on White Stable’s Taif Derby winner Jeddah Beach, capturing the Taif Cup Open Sponsored by NHC for colts and geldings. At Red Stables, Raei Althaminah (KSA) snatched a narrow verdict in the Taif Cup Local Bred Sponsored by Lucid, surviving a late rally from Hziz (KSA) by just a neck.
Elsewhere, Harbi (KSA) made a winning return from his Riyadh campaign, while Ibn Alatheer (KSA) gave Alexis Moreno reason to punch the air in the opener, proving his consistency yet again.
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