Colts and fillies battle for big prize money in Saudi Arabia

TAIF A combined 1 million riyals (S$343,000) is on offer over two races for two-year-olds at King Khalid Racecourse in Taif this weekend on Aug 29 and 30 as the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia (JCSA) Contribution for local-breds sold at auction in 2024 take centre stage.

The sixth and seventh 1,400-metre races on Aug 29 both carry purses of 500,000 riyals, the latter for colts and geldings and featuring a field of 13 runners, with the idea of giving horses sold at the November JCSA Yearling sale the chance to earn valuable prize money.

Among the 13 is the twice-raced Moa'arekhom, arguably the horse to beat based on his two strong-staying efforts this season. With visor fitted, he looks like a major player for trainer Fahad Saad, jockey Abdullah Alsaedi and the powerful Red Stable of Prince Faisal Bin Khaled Bin Abdulaziz.

Abanaat made a promising debut over course and distance when runner-up behind exciting juvenile Raei Althaminah on Aug 9. With blinkers fitted for this assignment, he will have a strong say.

Newcomer Alsultan Seven going to post under champion jockey Adel Alfouraidi for trainer Abdullah Alnahhabi is a solid pointer, while the blinkered Boeeab can also be followed on his two creditable efforts against similar opposition to this.

An even bigger field of 16 has been declared for the filles' event with Alfouraidi again in action aboard the Ahmed Alshaia-trained Basmat Almuhamadih.

Despite being posted five wide on the turn, she ran with promise when sixth over this trip in maiden company on her debut on Aug 16. She could improve after that experience.

Rianat Almuhamadih is an unraced Stratford Hill filly out of a three-time winning mare for Chad Brown in the US and will be an interesting debutant.

Bropjanda is not without place claims. She ran home well from an unpromising position to finish sixth of 14 in a course-and-distance conditions event on Aug 15.

Leading Saudi-based Panamanian jockey Alexis Moreno teams up with trainer Gaith Alghaith and the once-raced Taghneik, who, however, showed very little when tailed off on debut over this course and distance.

Arabian runners take charge in the final two events on Aug 29 and plenty of high-class form is on offer in the concluding 120,000 riyal Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Cup Prep Arabian Horses Open (2,000m).

Bint Ghaliat Al Khalediah is an extremely talented mare with seven victories from 22 starts and is top-rated for Alfouraidi and trainer Mousa Almasaodi.

She was far from disgraced against the best last season. She looks the horse to beat after a solid first-up victory over stablemate Maysour Al Khalediah on Aug 16.

Almasaodi also saddles Maysour Al Khalediah,who will be ridden by Tariq Almansour in that last event of the 10-race programme. He was well beaten by Alhareth in a 2,000m Open at Riyadh in November but his second to Bint Ghaliat Al Khalediah on his return to the track here two weeks ago was encouraging.

Also in the line-up for the in-form Thamer Aldaihani and owner Sheikh Abdullah Homoud Almalek Alsabah is the French-bred Sir Amer, who was third to the Al Khalediah pair last time, but was also a respectable seventh in the Group 1 Obaiyah Arabian Classic (2,000m) on Saudi Cup night.

Raad Al Sengar ran fifth in that reference race won by Bint Ghaliat Al Khalediah but is not the most resolute in a battle.

Valuable prize money is on offer across both days of action with the 150,000 riyals Fillies And Mare Cup Local Bred Horses Open taking place on Aug 30 and featuring Alfouraidi's mount Bint Farhh.

Trained by Sami Alharabi for the Red Stable, the seven-year-old mare is clear on ratings and was the winner of the Mishrif Bin Motlaq Bin Shanaan Cup (1,600m) in Riyadh in January.

Alharabi and the Red Stable also have big claims on the concluding Alshfa Cup over 2,000m on Aug 30 with the English-bred Boltaway, who was last seen winning in Riyadh for Jimmy Jerkins, clashing with the Alfouraidi-ridden Tuwaiq Cup third-place finisher, the Irish-bred Mr Trinket. JOCKEY CLUB OF SAUDI ARABIA