Tilal AI Khalediah Steals the Show in Taif

Image: Tilal AI Khalediah goes back-to-back in the Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Cup.

Credit: Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia

Back-to-back Taif wins for the multiple Group 1 winner

Friday 19 September 2025 – It was business as usual on the biggest day of the season at King Khalid Racecourse in Taif as Tilal AI Khalediah (KSA) made his return to action with back-to-back-wins in the SAR1m Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Cup.

Arguably one of the world’s most recognised and celebrated Purebred Arabians, Nasser Mutlaq’s stablestar took the Listed event over 2000m for the second consecutive year under Adel Alfouraidi.

The wins set up a lucrative Riyadh season where the multiple Group 1 winner has twice triumphed in the Obaiyah Arabian Classic on Saudi Cup night, and he was returning to the winner’s enclosure to record a 16th career success following his defeat on Dubai World Cup night in March.

Wathab Almashaheer (KSA) landed the other SAR1m race and took his career record to three from three under Abdullah Alsaedi in the Group 3 King Faisal Cup over 1600m for three-year-olds.

The most valuable Thoroughbred event of the day was the SAR 700,000 Okaz Cup Sponsored by Boutique Group which was captured by Alaham (IRE) in the hands of Aseel Alsarhani, with the pair impressive winners over the 2000m.

However, the day was dominated by the White Stables of King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz & Sons who sent out three winners highlighted by the victory of Nowafaa (KSA) in the SAR 500,000 Taif Cup Fillies Open Sponsored by Saudi National Bank.

The three-year-old was following up her Taif Flower Festival Cup success under Camilio Ospina for trainer Bader Rizaiq, and led home a sea of white with King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz & Sons also responsible for the second and third Fallat Kheir (KSA) and Moatazah (USA).

Naif Alanazi caused an upset in the equivalent Taif Cup Open Sponsored by NHC for colts and geldings as he delivered the Hesham Abdulwahed-trained Sayyah (USA) to victory, taking top prize in the SAR 500,00 event and reversing Taif Derby form with White Stable’s Jeddah Beach who could only finish fourth.

Their Taqaarir (KSA) was well fancied for the Taif Cup Local Bred Fillies Open Sponsored by ZOOD Realty after winning by over 10 lengths last time out, and Ospina’s mount made it three wins in as many starts.

Trainer Ahmed Mohamoud’s grey sauntered into the closing stages of the 1400m event and the two-year-old held off the same owner’s Ana Aljonubiyah (KSA) to maintain an unbeaten record by three-quarters of a length.

The White Stable treble was initiated by a memorable success for Feras Alsunaytan who landed a ninth career win when storming clear in the hands-and-heel apprentice jockeys’ Local Bred Handicap 0-75 Sponsored by Kinza under the veteran Mayhamah (KSA).

While the White Stable had a one-two in the fillies’ juvenile race, Prince Faisal Bin Khaled Bin Abdulaziz’s Red Stables enjoyed the same outcome in the Taif Cup Local Bred Sponsored by Lucid for colts and geldings, with the second colours of Raei Althaminah (KSA) coming out on top under Tharb Altimyat.

The rider was looking around for non-existent dangers rounding the home turn but his mount was run down by Hziz (KSA) and just lasted out to win by a neck.

Harbi (KSA) provided the Red Stables with success earlier in the card when returning with a win on his first run since Riyadh in March with a near five-length strike under champion Adel Alfouraidi in the Horses Who Won 1-2 Sponsored by Alfakhera.

Alexis Moreno has enjoyed a successful Taif campaign and gave a punch of the air as he guided Ibn Alatheer (KSA) to success in the opening Local Bred Handicap 0-60 Sponsored by Saudia for trainer Mustafa Almosa.

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