Oisin Murphy and Silvestre De Sousa Ride in Riyadh

Image: Oisin Murphy at King Abdulaziz Racecourse on February 11, 2025. Credit: Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia / Ali AlZenaidi.

Action-packed weekend at King Abdulaziz Racecourse

Wednesday December 24 – Week 11 of the Riyadh racing season is quality laden with Group 3 action for the Purebred Arabians, two Listed races for the Thoroughbreds, Domestic Group 1s and current and former British Champion Jockeys Oisin Murphy and Silvestre De Sousa joining in at King Abdulaziz Racecourse.

Murphy has strong chances on both Friday and Saturday riding for the White Stable of King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz and partners aboard the former UK inmate of Harry Charlton – Gran Descans (GB). The pair contest tthe Listed SAR800,000 King Saud Cup on Saturday, following the son of Frankel’s (GB) debut fourth here earlier in the month under Christophe Soumillon.

Eighteen have been declared for the 2000m event in which the White Stable also fields recent Listed Crown Prince Cup second Haqeet (USA) under Camilo Ospina, and the Red Stable of Prince Faisal Bin Khaled Bin Abdulaziz sends out the Adel Alfouraidi-ridden My Frankel (GB) along with Motafared (USA).

Top-rated in the field is Tariq Almansour’s mount, Thundersquall (GB) in the colours of Prince Saud Bin Salman Bin Abdulaziz with the six-year-old bidding to continue his rise through the ranks after claiming the notable scalp of Wait To Excel (GB) over the course and distance last month.

The other Listed race is the SAR800,000 King Faisal Cup over 1600m in which Waqtuk (USA) and Alexis Moreno will bid to confirm recent form with Uncle (GB), European Union Cup first and second Ya Dar (FR) and Power Of Beauty (IRE) again do battle and Ospina is on the White Stable’s Star Of Wonder (USA).

Formerly train by Brad Cox in America, the son of Uncle Mo landed the Public Security Cup last month beating the forementioned Final Destination (GB), Waqtuk, Power Of Beauty and Ya Dar and he is a fascinating arrival in Riyadh.

The Group 3 Imam Turki bin Abdullah Sword for the Purebred Arabians over 1600m carries a purse of SAR900,000 and sees UAE President Cup winner Najeeb Alzaman (FR) aim to replicate his beating of Nadem Al Molwk Al Khalediah (KSA) and win for the 11th time in his 16-race career.

Also carrying a prize-fund of SAR900,000 is the 1200m Imam Mohammed Bin Saud Cup which features the Red Stable quartet of Fighter (KSA), Rustom Basha (KSA), Saodad (KSA) and Ferreira’s mount Jahdoon (KSA) who bids for a fifth win on the bounce.

The first of the Domestic Group 1 races is the SAR800,000 King Fahad Cup for two-year-olds in which Murphy partners recent Princess Setah Bint Fahad Aldamer Cup winner Mutakamilah (KSA) in a full field of 20, while 13 run in the Domestic G1 King Khaled Cup.

This 1800m event for three-year-olds sees Badr Alsamawi (KSA) move up in grade after striking in the Domestic Group 3 Ministry of Justice Cup, while similar comments apply to the prolific-winning mare Motathabetah (KSA) who scored by seven lengths last time out at the same level in the Ministry of Defense Cup.

There is further Domestic Group 1 action on Friday with the SAR800,000 King Abdullah Cup over 1600m in which the White Stable run four including Murphy’s mount Maeyeey (KSA) who aims to make it three wins in three starts, and the Ospina-ridden Al Aas (KSA) after his two recent victories including last up in the HRH Prince Saud Bin Salman Bin Abdulaziz Cup.

De Sousa partners the Red Stable’s Nayaad (KSA) who followed a maiden success with a fourth in last week’s Ministry of Education Cup, while he has other big chances in the supporting SAR700,000 Domestic Group 2s with Ameerat Alzamaan (GB) in the Prince Sultan Ben Abdulaziz Cup and Bernard Shaw (USA) in the Prince Naif Bin Abdulaziz Cup.

**ENDS**