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 Slivestre 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.