High-profile racing figures gear up for Taif Season's pre-finale event
The Taif racing season is nearing its climax, with several highly anticipated races scheduled this weekend. The Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Cup and the King Faisal Cup, both carrying a purse of $266,000, will serve as the final races of the season.
In the Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Cup, the star name is Tilal AI-Khalediah. This multiple Grade 1 winner, trained by Nasser Mutlaq and ridden by Adel Alfouraidi, has previously won the Obaiyah Arabian Classic and the Group 1 renewal of that race. Turki Al-Khalediah II and Bint Ghaliat Al-Khalediah, both trained by Mousa Almasaodi, will be the chief opponents for Tilal AI-Khalediah in this Listed race over 2,000 meters.
Another strong contender for the Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Cup is Gista, a top-rated filly from Mousa Almasaodi’s stable. Gista is unbeaten in two runs and is expected to put up a strong challenge.
The King Faisal Cup, a Group 3 race over 1,600 meters, will see Wshmih Alsraya, under Abdullah Alsaedi, reopposing. Wshmih Alsraya will face off against the mount of Fahad Alfouraidi in this exciting race. Gista is also a strong contender for this race, adding an extra layer of excitement to the event.
The Okaz Cup Sponsored by Boutique Group will feature an unbeaten pair of horses in Monsieur De Faust and RB Next OF Kin. Many of the horses in the Okaz Cup have already competed this season, making it a race to watch.
The Taif Cup Fillies Open Sponsored by Saudi National Bank boasts a high-quality field, including King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz & Sons' Fallat Kheir and Gharamy from the third and fourth places in the Fillies Mile. The standout horse in this race is Deem, ridden by Aseel Alsarhani, who won the trial by a near 14-length margin.
Mhally (Great Britain) and Mhalhal (US), trained by Thamer Aldaihani, set a standard in the Taif Cup Open Sponsored by NHC, but were beaten by Jeddah Beach (US) in the Taif Derby. The search results do not specify which rider will ride Tilal AI-Khalediah in the Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Cup on Saturday.
The Saturday feature, the National Day Cup, has a cast of 12 topped by Jack Red Cloud (Ireland) for Prince Faisal's Red Stable, who also send out Mashmookh (Saudi Arabia) and Mon Choix (Great Britain). The White Stable’s Zend (US) made a striking impression in his only start in maiden company over 1,400 meters. Aatakum (Saudi Arabia), ridden by Camilo Ospina, won for the White Stable last month in the Taif Cup Local Bred Open Sponsored by Lucid.
Another horse to watch is Almurtajiz, ridden by Alexis Moreno, who won the Alashfa Cup after a previous eighth-place finish. Taqaarir (Saudi Arabia), ridden by Camilo Ospina, is unbeaten in two starts and won recently by over 10 lengths in the Taif Cup Local Bred Fillies Open Sponsored by ZOOD Realty.
Finally, it's worth noting that Tilal AI-Khalediah is making his first start since his second place finish in Dubai's Kahayla Classic last April. Mr Trinket, trained by Abdullah Abdulaziz, has top-class form, having finished fourth in The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques' race and third in the Tuwaiq Cup.
With such a diverse and talented lineup of horses, the Taif racing season is set to end on a high note. Don't miss out on the excitement as these top horses battle it out for victory.
