Alhada Cup Weekend at King Khalid Racecourse
Image: Aez Alkhatir wins at King Abdulaziz Racecourse on January 29, 2026.
Credit: Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia / Ali Abdullah Alzunaydi
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SARAWAT CUP SECOND AEZ ALKHATIR MAKES HIS RETURN
Wednesday August 5, 2026 – Fourteen runners head to post for the SAR150,000 Alhada Cup at King Khalid Racecourse in Taif on Saturday with Aez Alkhatir (KSA) seeking to go one place better than when runner-up in the Sarawat Cup on Saudi Cup weekend.
Not seen since that run on February 13, the Homoud Alshamari-trained and Fahad Alfouraidi-ridden three-year-old will be stepping back up to 1400m having won his previous start over that trip in Riyadh at the end of January.
The top-rated runner in the field goes up against six horses who clashed here two weeks ago in the Al Hada Cup Prep Open with winner Toufan Najd (KSA) again taking on the five who followed him home on that occasion with Ana Aljonubiyah (KSA), Azmaat (KSA), Samat Almuhamadih (KSA), Alfrindad (KSA) and Wayak (KSA) again doing battle.
Another notable runner is the Red Stable of Prince Faisal bin Khaled bin Abdulaziz’s Nayaad (KSA) who is the winner of two of his four starts and was last seen battling to success in a conditions race earlier in the year.
Race nine on Saturday is an SAR120,000 Arabian Horses Open over 1400m and sees Nirehazz (FR) and Angad Al Khalediah (KSA) drop in grade after their final outing of last season when 10th and 12th respectively to the recently retired First Classs (USA) in the Group 1 Obaiyah Arabian Classic.
Another former high-class performer is eight-year-old Dananeer Al Khalediah (KSA), not seen on a track in Saudi Arabia in three years but winner of 14 domestic starts and seventh in the 2023 Obaiyah. She returns to action in race two – an Arabian Mares Open also over 1400m.
Friday’s feature is the SAR120,000 AlShafa Cup Prep over 2000m and Red Stable has a strong hand with Al Abjar (IRE), Moore's Law (USA) and Motafared (USA), while the White Stable of King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz rely on last year’s Taif Derby third and UK Cup winner Faal Khair (USA).
One unexposed runner in the field for trainer Abdullah Alsidrani and owner Sheikh Abdullah Homoud Almalek Alsabah is the Muhammad Aldaham-ridden Meblesh (IRE), who was formerly trained in the United Kingdon by Richard Hughes and had four starts in Riyadh last season culminating with a third in Round Four of the International Jockeys’ Challenge under Flavien Prat.
American import Havildar (USA) boasts a similar profile after just six domestic outings including a second to the highly-rated Thundersquall (GB) in the Listed King Abdulaziz Racetrack Champion.
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