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| Staff Writer |
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The Sports Boulevard Riyadh Dirt Sprint, which gains Group Two status for 2025, sees its prize money increase by US$500,000 to US$2 million. Last year's winner Remake stormed home for Japan, adding to the country's impressive dirt track record at the meeting.
The two-day extravaganza, set for February 21-22, features an enhanced programme with the newly promoted Riyadh Dirt Sprint and Longines Red Sea Turf Handicap both achieving Group Two status. The Red Sea Turf Handicap, claimed in 2024 by the Aidan O'Brien-trained Tower Of London, maintains its US$2.5 million purse.
The Saturday card showcases seven pattern races, headlined by the US$20 million Saudi Cup and the Gr.1 Diriyah Gate Development Authority Obaiyah Arabian Classic. Friday's highlights include the Gr.1 Ministry of Culture Al Mneefah Cup for Purebred Arabians and the International Jockeys' Challenge.
The Red Sea Turf Handicap has seen some notable winners since its inception, with Call The Wind claiming the inaugural running in 2020 for French trainer Freddy Head, while Stay Foolish triumphed in 2022 for Japan before going on to win the Dubai Gold Cup.
In a significant development, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Cup (January 25) becomes the first international Thoroughbred Group Three race outside the Saudi Cup meeting. Last season's winner Power In Numbers took the honours when it held Listed status.
The Prince Khalid Abdullah Cup, a key qualifier for the Gr.2 Howden Neom Turf Cup, has been elevated to Listed level and will be run on January 24.
The reshuffled calendar sees the King Abdulaziz Cup moved to January 25, positioning it as a crucial prep race for Saudi-trained horses targeting the Gr.3 Saudi Derby. The Gulf Cooperation Cup races, featuring four divisions for various categories, shift to December 7.
The extended 2024/25 Riyadh season runs from October 17 to March 15, offering an unprecedented 710 races across 62 racedays. Total prize money for the domestic season reaches a record SAR84,628,000 (approximately US$22.5 million), excluding the Saudi Cup meeting.
HRH Prince Bandar Bin Khalid Alfaisal, Chairman of the JCSA said: "We are delighted to announce further race upgrades both to the 2025 Saudi Cup meeting and across the domestic Riyadh programme this season, which will further strengthen racing both within The Kingdom and internationally.
"The two additional international Group Two contests now on the Saudi Cup card underlines our continued investment in international racing and our aim to welcome the greatest horses from around the world to our premier meeting.
"Saudi horses tasted success in both the Obaiyah and Al Mneefah Cups at last year's meeting and with the further strengthening of the domestic programme, through upgrades to races such as the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Cup, we look forward to once again taking on the best international competitors."