Tuwajeri And Yaltahem Renew Rivalry In Taif Derby Clash
Trial Rivals Renew Feud At King Khalid
Tuwajeri and Yaltahem will renew their rivalry when a field of 13 goes to post for the US$93,300 (SAR350,000) Taif Derby over 1600m at King Khalid Racecourse on Saturday, 22 August 2026. The pair fought out the finish of the trial for the race on 1 August 2026, and their rematch headlines a card built around the King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz and Sheikh Abdullah Homoud Almalek Alsabah operations.
The US$93,300 (SAR350,000) Taif Derby is run over 1600m at King Khalid Racecourse on Saturday, 22 August 2026, pitting Tuwajeri, trained by Abdullah Alsidrani for owner Sheikh Abdullah Homoud Almalek Alsabah, against Yaltahem, the sole runner for the Red Stable of Prince Faisal bin Khaled bin Abdulaziz, in a rematch of their trial on 1 August 2026.
The pair were separated by just over a length when finishing first and second in the trial at King Khalid Racecourse on 1 August 2026, pulling nine lengths clear of the third-placed finisher.
Tuwajeri arrives with the deeper form of the pair among the two trial protagonists. Formerly trained in the United Kingdom by Richard Hannon, the son of Pheonix Of Spain ran second in the 2000 Guineas in 2025 before finishing sixth behind stablemate Al Haram in the Saudi Derby in February 2026.
Alsidrani Trio Leads Feature Field
Alsidrani will field a three-pronged challenge in the Taif Derby, with Tuwajeri joined by stablemates Raakeb and Midhaal. Raakeb, another former Hannon-trained runner, won a conditions race on his local debut three weeks ago, while Midhaal steps up for his third career start. The trio give the Alsidrani stable multiple paths to victory in Saturday's feature.
Yaltahem, representing the Red Stable of Prince Faisal bin Khaled bin Abdulaziz, has won on debut last November and finished 13th in the 2000 Guineas since, with Saturday's race his fifth racecourse outing under jockey Adel Alfouraidi. The gelding's only previous meeting with Tuwajeri came in their 1 August 2026 trial.
Alhisham, representing the White Stable of King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, provides the other leading contender in the Taif Derby field. The American-bred colt chased home Raakeb last time out, having also won on his Riyadh debut in November 2025, and lines up looking to reverse that form over the Taif Derby trip, with stablemate Raakeb again among his rivals on Saturday.
Red Stable Chases Depth Across Card
The undercard adds further depth to the Alsidrani and Red Stable interests at the Taif meeting on Saturday, 22 August 2026. A field of seven is set to contest the US$93,300(SAR350,000) Taif Arabian Derby over 2000m, headed by Al-Dareyah Cup winner Maestro Du Croate, who finished seventh in the Gr.1 Obaiyah Arabian Classic (PA) on Saudi Cup weekend and returns from that effort for his first run since.
Maestro Du Croate takes on the unexposed filly Bouchra, who will be having only her third domestic start after landing a maiden victory two weeks ago, along with Almujather, winner of the Taif Arabian Derby Prep. The trio give the Purebred Arabian feature a mix of proven form and progressive types stepping up in grade.
The Red Stable holds a strong hand elsewhere on the card, fielding four runners in the 18-strong SAR150,000 (US$40,000) Taif University Cup over 1400m. Among them is Jahdoon, who seeks a hat-trick of victories following wins in the Taif University Cup Prep and the Shubra Cup, the latter completed by eight lengths.
The White Stable oppose with three runners in the Taif University Cup, led by Taif University Cup Prep fifth Allah Maae and six-time winner Fallat Kheir. Friday's card, 21 August 2026, also carries significant Almalek Alsabah interest, with the owner fielding a trio in the US$40,000 (SAR150,000) Makkah Almokarramah Reg.Gov.Cup over 1600m.
Mullazem, Uncle and Ya Dar make up the Almalek Alsabah representation in the Makkah Almokarramah Reg.Gov.Cup, taking on Alwaqqad and Power Of Beauty among a field of 14. The Friday and Saturday programmes at King Khalid Racecourse together frame a significant weekend of feature racing for the Taif venue.