Almost a week later and the Racing X crew are still on a Riyadh Cloud 9 following the Saudi Cup week. In true Racing X fashion, there was barely a moment to spare as the team explored the old town of At-Turaif & the Souk Al Zal in between trackwork mornings and exclusive raceday coverage.
It was a week of anticipation as we prepared for the richest race in the world, waiting to see if history would be made in front of our very eyes with Romantic Warrior set to extend his record-breaking prize money, earning over the $50m mark. From all of the press conferences to trackwork mornings, Racing X was on the ground and chatting with all of the key players, catching up with Longines World’s Best Jockey James McDonald at the beautiful Arabian Nights themed barrier draw and Riyadh Dirt Sprint hopeful Dan Blacker at Breakfast with the Stars.
The rumours were true when everyone said that Saudi is one of the most fashion-forward countries you will go to. From decadent raceday dresses to the elevated street style, Saudi women know how to put on a show, even if it is pairing their niqab with an ostrich Birkin and Chypre sandal. But, sticking with our racing roots, I must say that the fashion on display at King Abdulaziz Racetrack was nothing like I have ever seen before, the epitomeof cultural fashion. Race day red carpet arrivals quickly turned into a Met Gala spectacular, with patrons dressed in Chador (recently rebranded as Kallyah), the ever-chic ASL and Alaa and Halah, as well as Hala Algharbawi, all arriving looking like they have just leapt out of the pages of Vogue Arabia. The men also put on a show with many of the Saud’s adorning Daglah’s, with added colour and adornments for a modern interpretation of the traditional staple paired with their traditional agal’s and ghutra’s.
On a day that is jam-packed with action, I was still constantly taken aback by everything that the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia put on to host the Saudi Cup meeting at King Abdulaziz Racetrack. Local performers set the scene in the Obaiya Fanzone, where multitudes of air-conditioned stores showcasing local fashion designers and food vendors, alongside interactive outdoor activations such as weaving, leatherworks, and artistry, kept everyone entertained beyond the races. The Ministry of Culture put Saudi fashion at the forefront with their breathtaking Saudi 100 display featuring haute couture pieces from 100 local designers, as well as the Horse and Rider display and the Kings and Equestrian exhibition, celebrating the legacy of the Kingdom’s Kings and their connection to horsemanship.
That said, horsemanship was on the world stage across both race days, with local and
international jockeys alike achieving incredible results in the IJC and elite races. Local hoop Mohamed Aldaham took out the International Jockeys Challenge with a clear lead ahead of our globe-trotting golden girl, Rachel King (who went on to become the first female jockey to win a Group 1 in Japan later that weekend!). But as the races went on, and the audience poured in to King Abdulaziz Racetrack, anticipation filled the air as the horses went into the yard for the last race of the carnival—the $20m Saudi Cup, where the best horse of our time, Romantic Warrior, was to hit the dirt for the first time, taking on tried dirt champions Forever Young, Ushba Tesoro, Walk of Stars, and Rattle N Roll. A midrace move saw James McDonald swoop Romantic Warrior five wide, with the Warrior kicking clear of his opponents. It almost looked like the winning decision until a perfect ride from Japanese jockey Ryusei Sakai saw Forever Young shift to the outside and clip Romantic Warrior in a finish for the ages, bringing trainer Yoshito Yahagi his second Saudi Cup. Forever Young maintains his reputation as the top-rated dirt horse in the world, while Romantic Warrior silenced any doubters of his ability to handle the dirt surface and still remains the #1 rated racehorse in the world.
As always, the racing wheels keep on turning, and the theatre we witnessed on the track sets us up perfectly as we await the Dubai World Cup, with Forever Young and Ushba Tesoro set to face off against Laurel River in the Dubai World Cup. Romantic Warrior will return to his preferred turf surface in the Group 1 Dubai Turf, of which he obtained a direct entry from his last win in Meydan in the Gr. 1 Jebel Hatta. Facteur Cheval, who was unplaced in the Saudi Cup, looks to return to Meydan to defend his Gr. 1 Dubai Turf title, a tough task he faces with the Warrior, but it will still make for an eye-catching contest. As for the sprint races, we’re hopeful to see Gr.2 Riyadh Dirt Sprint winner Straight No Chaser take on the Gr.1 Dubai Golden Shaheen as he gears up towards the Breeders Cup Classic later in the season, as well as two Hong Kong champions in California Spangle and Howdeepisyourlove make the trek to compete in the Gr.1 Al Quoz Sprint.
