The 2023 Saudi Cup meeting has attracted just over 1,400 entries, of which 600 are from overseas, with horses from 22 countries seeking glory and a share of the $35.35 million prize fund at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh on Feb. 24 and 25.
Five Group 3 races feature at the two-day meeting, alongside the world's most valuable race, the $20 million Group 1 Saudi Cup (1800m), as well as the newly upgraded Group 1 Obaiya Arabian Classic and the Group 2 Al Mneefah Cup for Purebred Arabians (2100m).
Emblem Road (USA), the locally-owned and trained winner of the 2022 Saudi Cup sired by Quality Road, is set to defend his title.
Horses from Japan, USA and UAE dominate the entries across the two days while there is strong representation once again from the UK, Ireland, Argentina, France and Germany. A total of 47 Group 1 winners could be set to take part.
Among the US entries are two strong Saudi-owned contenders for the world's most valuable race: the 2022 Saudi Cup runner-up and 2022 Dubai World Cup winner, Country Grammer (USA), and Taiba (USA), a three-time Grade 1 winner.
The 2022 Kentucky Derby winner, Rich Strike (USA) could also make the trip to King Abdulaziz Racecourse for a Saudi Cup showdown.
The UAE has the second-highest rated entry for The Saudi Cup in the shape of Charlie Appleby's Rebel's Romance (IRE), an impressive winner of the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Turf when last seen.
Japan may have won four of the six international Thoroughbred races on Saudi Cup day last year, but the country's bid for a first Saudi Cup could be led by the Yoshito Yahagi-trained Panthalassa (JPN) and Tetsuya Kimura's Geoglyph (JPN), while Jun Light Bolt (JPN) holds an automatic entry after winning the Group 1 Champions Cup at Chukyo in December.
Group 1 winner Laws of Indeces (IRE) becomes the first Australian horse to enter The Saudi Cup, after being nominated by Sydney-based trainer Annabel Neasham.
There's also a strong entry from Europe and South America, with potential runners including Group 1 winners Saffron Beach (IRE), Order Of Australia (IRE), and the Maria Muñoz-trained Niño Guapo (ARG).
The post Saudi Cup: Three Americans Among Early Entries, Breeders’ Cup Turf Winner Rebel’s Romance May Try Dirt appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
