First Classs Reigns In Obaiyah Classic
Veteran Gelding Outclasses Vizhir In Riyadh Showdown
A stunning display of front-running tenacity from the most decorated Purebred Arabian in training saw First Classs storm to victory in the Gr.1 Obaiyah Arabian Classic at King Abdulaziz Racecourse on the opening day of the Saudi Cup 2026 card.
The 9YO gelding, owned by Deborah Mihaloff and trained in Dubai by Doug Watson, collected US$1,200,000 of the US$2 million purse as he powered clear over 2000 metres on the dirt, defeating Vizhir by three and a half lengths with Nadem Al Molwk Al Khalediah a further length and three-quarters back in third.
Watson and Beasley Strike Gold Again
Jockey Connor Beasley settled the American-bred grey gelding in a prominent position early before allowing him to stride to the front approaching the home turn. Once in command, First Classs was never seriously threatened, pulling away in the final 400 metres with the kind of authority that has defined his remarkable career at the highest level of Arabian racing.
The partnership between Watson and Beasley has flourished over recent seasons, with the pair combining to land the Gr.1 Dubai Kahayla Classic at Meydan in April 2025. After that triumph, Watson spoke of his deep affection for the horse, telling the Sporting Post: "He's tough as they come. The key has been keeping him fresh. He's just been perfect all year." Beasley, for his part, described their Dubai World Cup night success as the highlight of his career, noting at the time that the gelding was "very determined and gritty all the way to the line," as reported by the Khaleej Times.
First Classs entered the Obaiyah Arabian Classic as the most internationally accomplished horse in the field, boasting a record of multiple Group One victories worth in excess of US$1 million each across a remarkable 12-month span in 2022. His CV includes the Gr.1 Jewel Crown in Abu Dhabi, the Al Mneefah Cup at the 2022 Saudi Cup meeting, and several prestige prizes across Qatar and the UAE. With career earnings now comfortably exceeding US$1.6 million from nine victories in 36 starts, he has cemented his status as a truly global campaigner, having raced in the United States, Qatar, UAE, and Saudi Arabia throughout his career.
A Riyadh Return To Remember
Vizhir, trained by Musabbeh Almheiri and carrying the colours of Ajmil Stable, ran a fine race in pursuit but could never bridge the gap to the winner, crossing the line three and a half lengths adrift under Fahad Alfouraidi. The 6YO French-bred had shown solid form heading into the contest but found the leader simply too strong on the day.
Nadem Al Molwk Al Khalediah, the locally trained contender saddled by Nasser Mutlaq, had been regarded as one of Saudi Arabia's brightest prospects heading into the meeting. The Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia had identified the 6YO as a rising star in pre-race previews, and while he acquitted himself well under Adel Alfouraidi to take third, the winning margin underlined the class gap between the visitor and the home team on this occasion.
For Watson, whose stable at Red Stables in Dubai has long been synonymous with championship-calibre horses, the triumph represents another glittering chapter in a career spanning more than three decades in the UAE.
At nine years of age, questions had been raised about whether First Classs retained his brilliance following a fifth-place finish in the Jewel Crown more recently. This emphatic victory in Riyadh provided the most comprehensive answer possible, confirming that Purebred Arabian racing's most accomplished campaigner remains a force to be reckoned with on the global stage.
1st. First Classs (T: Doug Watson / J: Connor Beasley)
2nd. Vizhir (T: Musabbeh Almheiri / J: Fahad Alfouraidi)
3rd. Nadem Al Molwk Al Khalediah (T: Nasser Mutlaq / J: Adel Alfouraidi)