Group 1 Howden Neom Turf Cup Boosted To USD$3m

Listed Tuwaiq Cup prize-fund doubles to USD$1m

Saudi Arabia’s newest Group 1 race has received a huge prize money boost with The Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia announcing today that the 2026 Howden Neom Turf Cup will be staged for USD$3m – an increase of 50 per cent.

And in a further bolstering of The Saudi Cup card next February 14, the Listed Tuwaiq Cup has seen its prize-fund doubled from USD$500,000 to USD$1m.

The Howden Neom Turf Cup was only recently unveiled as the country’s first Group 1 race to be staged on turf, and the 2100m Invitational event, for NH 4YO+/SH 3YO+, has a rich roll of honour in just its six-year history.

The Japanese raider Shin Emperor (FR) landed this year’s renewal to beat Calif (GER) and Irish St Leger winner and Hong Kong Cup fourth Al Riffa (FR), while the Sir Alex Ferguson-owned Spirit Dancer (GB) struck the previous year.

In 2023 Shadwell’s subsequent Group 1 Royal Ascot Prince Of Wales’s Stakes and Group 1 Juddmonte International winner, Mostahdaf (IRE), ran away with the race to score by seven lengths.

The Listed Tuwaiq Cup over 1800m on dirt also received a massive uplift with the prize-fund doubling making it an even more lucrative target for both local and internationally based horses.

Entries for The Tuwaiq Cup, which is also open to NH 4YO+/SH 3YO+, close on Monday 2 February, 2026.

**ENDS**