Making Miracles qualifies for Saudi Cup after Custodian Cup win at King Abdul Aziz Racecourse

Six hopefuls gain automatic entry to the world’s most valuable race meeting

Alexis Moreno and Making Miracles have now won two domestic Group 1s together - Credit: Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia

Joining the likes of Mishriff and Sealiway in the $20 million Saudi Cup will be 2019 Chester Cup winner, Making Miracles, who stormed to victory under Alexis Moreno in the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Cup (domestic Group 1) at King Abdulaziz Racecourse on Thursday, the first of two days of qualifying races from the Riyadh venue.

Formerly with Mark Johnston and sold for 22,000gns at the 2019 Tattersalls Autumn Horses In Training Sale, the seven-year-old scored his fifth win from eight starts in Saudi Arabia and will now gain an automatic spot in the world’s most valuable horse race.

Four further qualifying events took place today at King Abdulaziz, with Portuguese rider Ricardo Sousa Ferreira landing three of them, The 1351 Turf Sprint Qualifier on Cold Front, Jahez Neom Turf Cup Qualifier aboard Flying Visit and The Riyadh Dirt Sprint Qualifier sponsored by Saudia, with Rock Sound. The day’s other contest guaranteeing a spot on The Saudi Cup raceday was the Al Rajhi Bank Saudi Derby Qualifier, won by Almuthanna, partnered by veteran rider Wiggy Ramos.

There was also a qualifying spot available for the $2m The Obaiya Arabian Classic (Arabian Group 2) on Thursday for the winner of the Lexus Al Dareyah Cup, which was claimed by Prince Amer.

The only remaining Automatic Entry races come at Gulfstream on Saturday, where the winner of the Pegasus World Cup Turf will gain entry to the Group 3 Neom Turf Cup and the Pegasus World Cup (Dirt) will get a spot in The Saudi Cup.

Aside from the qualifying races taking place, there was one other domestic Group 1 on Thursday’s card, which saw Silvestre de Sousa ride Almobeer to victory. The Brazilian had inherited the ride from Frankie Dettori, after the 51-year-old was forced to change his arrangements following a positive Covid test.

Source: The Saudi Cup Media

STC International Jockeys' Challenge
FRIDAY FEBRUARY 25, 2022

Saudi Cup Day
SATURDAY FEBRUARY 26, 20222
King Abdulaziz Racetrack, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA)

About The Saudi Cup

Organised by the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia and run at the King Abdulaziz Racetrack in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, The Saudi Cup is a two-day festival of international racing headlined by the USD$20m Saudi Cup – the world’s most valuable race. Established in 2020 with the third renewal set to be run on Saturday February 26, 2022, The Saudi Cup day card carries a total prize purse of $30.5m and features dirt and turf races for the highest calibre of racehorses in the world. A full card of racing on the preceding Friday includes an International Jockeys Challenge which sees seven female and seven male jockeys compete as individuals as well as the $500,000 Saudi International Handicap for horses trained in IFHA-registered Part II and III racing countries. The Saudi Cup is charged with raising awareness of horse racing in the country, encouraging participation among men and women. It also aims to promote Saudi Arabia at international level, acting as a marker for the Kingdom’s transformational journey, encouraging tourism and investment.

Source: The Saudi Cup/Media