The likely fields for the rich G1 Saudi Cup card are taking shape, with American champion and Japanese Horse of the Year Forever Young (Real Steel) set to defend his crown.
Other Japanese entrants are Luxor Café (American Pharoah) and Sunrise Zipangu (Kizuna). Hall of Famer Bob Baffert sends GI Breeders' Cup Mile winner Nysos (Nyquist) and GI Goodwood Stakes winner Nevada Beach (Omaha Beach). GII Clark Stakes winner Magnitude (Not This Time) represents Steve Asmussen, while Rattle N Roll (Connect) flies the flag for Kenny McPeek. Other American hopes are Banishing (Ghostzapper) and the Brad Cox-trained GII Cigar Mile victor Bishops Bay (Uncle Mo), who now races for King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Sons.
In the night's other Group 1, the newly elevated $3-million Neom Turf Cup, sees runners from seven nations compete, led by Japanese trainer Yoshito Yahagi's Shin Emperor (Siyouni), who won the 2025 edition. Group winner Royal Champion (Shamardal) will compete, as will Survie (Churchill), who is now trained by George Boughey and owned by Doreen Tabor. Group 1 winner Facteur Cheval (Ribchester) returns to the turf for Jerome Reynier.
The $2.5-million G2 Red Sea Turf Handicap is dominated by Joseph O'Brien runners in Group 2 scorer Tennessee Stud (Wootton Bassett), G1 Melbourne Cup second Goodie Two Shoes (Fastnet Rock) and Sons And Lovers (Study Of Man). Willie Mullins, who won the 2021 Neom Turf Cup, has entered Absurde (Fastnet Rock). The 2024 runner-up, Epic Poet (Lope De Vega), is back for Davie O'Meara, and Japan sends the duo of Struve (King Kamehameha) and Vermicelles (Gold Ship).
G2 1351 Turf Sprint winner Annaf (Muhaarar) is back for another crack at the $2-million race. he faces Royal Ascot winner Lazzat (Territories), Donnacha O'Brien's Comanche Brave (Wootton Bassett) and Americans Time To Dazzle (Not This Time), Reef Runner (The Big Beast) and Zio Jo (Nyquist).
In the $2-million G2 Riyadh Dirt Sprint, Bob Baffert's GI Breeders' Cup Sprint second Imagination (Into Mischief) anchors a trio of U.S. hopes. Japan fields five, among them G3 Saudi Derby runner-up Shin Forever (Complexity) and Hong Kong's Self Improvement (Deep Field).
The $1.5-million Saudi Derby features a trio of American-trained entries in My World (Essential Quality), Acknowledgemeplz (Bucchero) and Obliteration (Violence) all gunning for the 30 GI Kentucky Derby points on offer for Brad Cox, Kenny McPeek and Steve Asmussen, respectively. A cluster of internationals oppose, with Saudi 2000 Guineas hero Al Haram (Iffraaj) entered.
For more information on the Saudi Cup night entries, please visit the Saudi Cup website.
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