Defending champion Forever Young (JPN) has emerged as the headline act among a formidable list of nominees for the Saudi Cup 2026, reaffirming the race’s position as one of the most internationally compelling fixtures on the calendar. The Group 1 contest, worth $20 million, will be staged at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh on Saturday, February 14, with a deep pool of elite contenders drawn from across the racing world.
The two-day meeting, opening on Friday, February 13, has attracted 57 individual Group or Grade 1 winners among Thoroughbreds, alongside 14 Purebred Arabian Group 1 winners. Entries span 22 countries and will compete for a combined prize fund approaching $40 million, underlining the truly global reach of the Saudi Cup 2026.
Forever Young, officially joint-top rated among dirt performers in the Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings, has already built a formidable reputation in the Kingdom. The Yoshito Yahagi-trained star was victorious in the 2024 Saudi Derby and followed up with a courageous success in last year’s main event. Fresh from a commanding Breeders’ Cup Classic victory, he is again expected to be at the centre of the narrative over the 1800 metres.
The challenge from the United States looks particularly strong. Former Classic hero White Abarrio (USA) and Preakness Stakes winner Journalism (USA) are among those entered, joined by rising talents Nysos (USA), successful in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile, and Magnitude (USA), an impressive winner of the Grade 2 Clark Stakes on his latest appearance.
Japan’s depth is further reflected in entries such as Champions Cup-winning mare W Heart Bond (JPN), along with Diktaean (JPN) and Mikki Fight (JPN), who filled the first two places in the Tokyo Daishoten — a race that previously served as a springboard for Forever Young’s Saudi triumph.
Local hopes are also well represented. Sayyah (USA), an emphatic recent winner of the Listed Crown Prince Cup, and Star Of Wonder (USA), successful in the King Faisal Bin Abdulaziz Cup in late December, are among the Saudi Arabian-trained runners aiming to secure a place in the marquee contest.
Beyond the headline event, the supporting programme adds further depth. This year’s Neom Turf Cup has been elevated to Group 1 status, becoming the first top-level turf race staged in Saudi Arabia, with its purse increased to $3 million. Charlie Appleby’s globetrotting Rebel’s Romance (IRE), a nine-time Group 1 winner worldwide, is entered for the 2100-metre feature, alongside Bahrain International Trophy winner Royal Champion (IRE) and Aidan O’Brien’s multiple Group 1-placed The Lion In Winter (IRE).
The Group 2 Red Sea Turf Handicap has once again drawn an international staying cast, including Japan’s Durezza (JPN) and Irish star Al Riffa (FR), while the 1351 Turf Sprint and Riyadh Dirt Sprint promise high-class speed from Europe, the Americas, and the Middle East.
Purebred Arabian racing remains a cornerstone of the meeting, with two Group 1 contests across the weekend. RB Kingmaker (USA), last year’s Al Mneefah Cup winner, is set to return, while the Obaiyah Arabian Classic could again feature the decorated Tilal Al Khalediah (KSA) following his dominant success in 2025.
Reflecting on the strength of the entries, HRH Prince Bandar Bin Khaled AlFaisal, Chairman of the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia, noted that the meeting has already delivered “countless memorable races and performances” despite being staged for only the seventh time. He highlighted the growing international recognition of the event, particularly the promotion of the Neom Turf Cup to Group 1 status, and described the Saudi Cup meeting as a celebration not only of world-class racing but also of the Kingdom’s culture and hospitality.
With a blend of established champions and emerging stars, the Saudi Cup 2026 is shaping up as another landmark edition, reinforcing its standing as a key moment in the global racing season.
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