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The International Jockey Challenge will take place later this month on the Friday of The Saudi Cup weekend, and it will see three-time Melbourne Cup-winner Damien Oliver competing against some of the world's leading riders, such as Ryan Moore, Ryusei Sakai, and Maryline Eon.
After ending his illustrious career with a victory in a race named in his honour in Perth on 16th December, Oliver has been enticed back into competitive action and will go up against 13 of the planet's best in the four-race competition on 23rd February. The Hall of Famer will be looking to add to the 3,168 winners he rode during his 34-year career and emulate fellow countryman Glen Boss, who had also hung up his saddle before heading back to the weighing room for the competition in 2022.
Oliver will face competition from jockeys out of the UK, France, USA, South Africa, New Zealand, and Japan - in what promises to be a high-class international showdown. HRH Prince Bandar Bin Khaled Alfaisal, Chairman of the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia, extended a warm welcome to all jockeys competing in the International Jockeys Challenge.
Moore, the three-time UK champion, who was once again voted the Longines World Best Jockey at a ceremony in Hong Kong at the end of 2023, will join Oliver in the starting gates. Moore competes in the IJC for the first time, having won races at the highest level in the UK, France, America, Japan, Hong Kong, UAE, Ireland, Germany, Canada, and Australia.
HRH Prince Bandar Bin Khalid Al-Faisal, chairman of the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia extended a warm welcome to all jockeys competing in the International Jockeys Challenge.
"The jockeys challenge on the Friday of Saudi Cup weekend is always one of the event highlights for me," he said. "We are justifiably proud of the variety of racing showcased across the two days. To be in a position to offer a global stage to 14 of the world's best jockeys, seven men and seven women, is highly gratifying.
"We wish the best of luck to all the jockeys competing and hope that their feats on the racecourse serve to inspire new generations of riders both in Saudi Arabia and beyond."
The female jockeys include France's Eon, New Zealand's returning Lisa Allpress, Sydney-based Alysha Collet, USA's Katie Davies, South Africa's Rachel Venniker, Brazil's Victoria Mota, and Britain's Saffie Osborne. Maxime Guyon, the current French champion jockey, and Japan's Ryusei Sakai, who steered Bathrat Leon to victory in last year's 1351 Turf Sprint, will also participate in King Abdulaziz Racecourse's fifth IJC.
The event is gratifying, offering a global stage to 14 of the world's best jockeys, seven men and seven women. The Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia wishes the best of luck to all the jockeys competing and hopes that their feats on the racecourse inspire new generations of riders in Saudi Arabia and beyond.