Taif prepares to host first Group 3 race on Saudi National Day Weekend

Newly upgraded King Faisal Cup one of eight cup races across two major meetings from Taif this week

Image: Nadem Al Molwk Al Khalediah won last year’s King Faisal Cup under Adel Alfouraidi

Credit: Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia / Ali Al-Abdullah

Thursday 19 September 2024 – Taif’s King Khaled Racecourse will host the highlight meeting of the season on Friday September 20, featuring the King Faisal Cup for Purebred Arabians which will be run as an international Group 3 for the first time.

The 1600m contest for three-year-old colts, fillies and geldings, which is worth SAR 1 million, has attracted a big field of entries including unbeaten filly, Lacy Des Vialettes and impressive last-time-out winner Rayat Albahr.

HRH Prince Bandar bin Khalid Al Faisal, Chairman of the JCSA, said:

“This upgrade reflects the importance of the King Faisal Cup on the map of Arabian racing globally, and is a wonderful achievement. It will showcase elite three-year-old horses, which are considered an important pillar horse racing, and feature a large cash prize of SAR1 million, to encourage owners to acquire the best possible horses and run them in this great cup."

Supporting the King Faisal Cup on the card is the Listed Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Cup for Purebred Arabians aged four and older, run over 2000m. It’s another race worth SAR 1 million and is a chance to see star Arabian Tilal Al Khalediah, most recent winner of the Dubai Kahayla Classic on Dubai World Day, in action.

A further five cup races will feature on Friday’s card, with the SAR 700,000 Okaz Cup sponsored by Boutique Group for horses aged three and over run over 2000m, and for the three-year-olds there is the Taif Cup sponsored by NHC (colts and geldings) and the Taif Cup sponsored by Saudi National Bank (fillies), both run over 1600m and worth SAR 500,000.

There are also two cup races for two-year-olds over 1400m, with the Taif Cup sponsored by Lucid (colts and geldings) and the Taif Cup sponsored by Howden (fillies), each worth SAR 400,000.

Marking the 94th Saudi National Day, Saturday’s nine-race card from King Khaled Racecourse will feature the SAR 500,000 National Day Cup sponsored by Diriyah Gate Development Authority, which is run over 2400m for horses aged four years and older.

Mr. Ziad Al-Muqrin, CEO of the JCSA, said:

“King Khaled Racecourse is set to witness a distinguished racing week in terms of championships and major financial prizes, with prize money reaching five million riyals, and races run over varying distances for different ages of horse, with the aim of including all racing categories of purebred Arabian horses.”

Tickets for both cup racedays are free, register here:

Friday 20 September: https://webook.com/en/events/taif-raice-night-20

Saturday 21 September: https://webook.com/en/events/national-day-cup-race-night

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