The Saudi Cup International Jockeys’ Challenge 2026 is set to showcase one of the strongest and most diverse riding line-ups ever assembled, with the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia confirming a stellar group of international stars for the four-race contest at King Abdulaziz Racecourse on February 13.
Leading the names unveiled is Japan Cup hero Mickael Barzalona, whose remarkable 2025 campaign elevated him to the forefront of world racing, alongside newly-crowned Irish Champion Jockey Dylan Browne McMonagle and defending champion Mohammed Aldaham, who made history last year as the first Saudi rider to win the challenge.
Fourteen jockeys — seven women and seven men — will compete across the series, representing racing’s major jurisdictions. The women’s contingent includes British standouts Hollie Doyle and Saffie Osborne, France’s Marie Velon, Australian rider Angela Jones, and Forest Boyce, who is based in the United States. Their inclusion underlines the truly global scope of the Saudi Cup International Jockeys’ Challenge 2026.
Among the men, local representation is strong. Panamanian-born Luis Morales, a long-time Saudi Arabia-based rider with more than 600 domestic victories, joins Aldaham in carrying regional hopes. Aldaham’s 2025 triumph marked a significant milestone and he returns with the chance to defend his crown on home soil.
Barzalona arrives in Riyadh following one of the most productive seasons of his career. His 2025 highlights included victories in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, King George VI Stakes, Champion Stakes in England, and the Japan Cup aboard Calandgan (IRE), as well as top-level success in the French 1000 Guineas and the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.
Joining him for a first appearance in the challenge is 22-year-old Dylan Browne McMonagle, a multiple Group 1-winning rider who was officially crowned Irish Champion Jockey last November, confirming his rapid rise through the ranks.
Another newcomer is Flavien Prat, now firmly established as a dominant force in American racing. The Frenchman famously won the 2019 Kentucky Derby aboard Country House and boasts multiple Breeders’ Cup victories, including the 2022 Classic on the unbeaten Flightline (USA).
Japan’s Keita Tosaki adds further depth to the men’s team. One of his country’s most accomplished riders, Tosaki has surpassed 4,000 career wins and partnered champions such as Real Impact (JPN) and Danon Decile (JPN). He is joined by Britain’s Billy Loughnane, whose meteoric rise continues to draw attention.
Still only 19, Loughnane was Champion Apprentice at 17 and has already secured Group 1 success. On December 31, 2025, he set a modern-era benchmark by recording 223 wins in a single calendar year, underlining his growing stature on the international stage.
Among the returning participants, Hollie Doyle will make her third appearance after memorable performances in 2021 and 2025. Her previous success included a standout victory in the Neom Turf Cup aboard True Self (IRE), trained by Willie Mullins. Doyle heads to Riyadh following a productive late-2025 stint in Hong Kong.
Saffie Osborne also returns to the Saudi Cup International Jockeys’ Challenge 2026, having first competed in 2024. Since then, she has broken new ground internationally, partnering Heart of Honor (GB) in both the Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes in the United States, before the pair impressed with notable wins at Meydan in Dubai.
With proven champions, rising stars, and historic trailblazers all represented, the stage is set for a compelling contest that reflects the Saudi Cup weekend’s growing global stature.
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