TAIF: Racing returns to Saudi Arabia this week with race days on Friday and Saturday as the Taif Summer Racing Season gets underway at King Khalid Racecourse.
Top quality horses have been declared, including Muqtahem and Honky Tonk Man, and the competitors include a number last seen flying the Saudi flag on Saudi Cup weekend.
The JCSA Almaseef Cup takes center stage on Friday and 24 hours later the Taif Flower Festival Cup Prep meeting is held.
Over the coming weeks there will be 160 opportunities for Thoroughbreds and 40 for Purebred Arabians and a schedule packed full of compelling action from 29 Championship Cups.
Highlights of the season include September’s Group 3 King Faisal bin Abdulaziz Cup and the Listed Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Cup, both carrying a purse of SR1 million and open to Purebred Arabians.
The top Thoroughbred ranks, from 2-year-olds to older horses, will be campaigned toward the Taif Cups series as well as the Okaz Cup for older horses, carrying a purse of SR700,000, and the SR500,000 National Day Cup.
The very best juvenile contenders will work their way toward the JCSA’s 3-year-old program in Riyadh, which culminates this season on Saudi Cup weekend.
Saturday sees the 1,200-meter open featuring Group 2 Riyadh Dirt Sprint runner-up Muqtahem, trained by top Saudi handler Thamer Aldaihani, take on Honky Tonk Man, now under the care of Hadi Gharawi. Honky Tonk Man was the winner of a leg of the International Jockeys’ Challenge on the Friday of the Saudi Cup weekend.
Aeadat (KSA), another prolific winner and a daughter of Premium Tap, makes her return for trainer Ahmed Mohamoud in the Um Alqura Cup Prep as she bids to score for the eighth consecutive time. She goes up against Istita’aeh (KSA) and Aldaihani’s Pretty Flag from Ireland, winner of the Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Cup.
