Racing returns to King Khalid Racecourse this weekend and recent comeback winner Falah Zain (KSA) is set for a crack at the 150,000SAR prize fund in Saturday’s feature Alhada Cup Local Bred Horses Open.
Trained by in the in-form Thamer AlDaihani and ridden by Muhammad Aldaham for Kuwaiti owner Sheikh Abdullah Homoud Almalek Alsabah, the colt landed the trial for this on the first weekend of racing last month – and now faces 11 rivals in the final event restricted to three-year-olds over 1400m.
Saudi Cup weekend form will be on display as the Ahmed Alshaia-trained Karimi, the mount of Abdulaziz Alfouraidi, bids to advertise the form of his runaway win in the Sarawat Cup.
However, he was only eighth in the trial two weeks ago behind Falah Zain, and also has to reverse form with the runner up, Fallat Kheir (KSA) for jockey Abdullah Alfairouz, trainer Ahmed Mohamoud and the powerful white stable of King Abdullah Bin A\Aziz Sons.
The daughter of Prospect Park boasts strong form having been beaten less than three lengths in the Fillies Mile on Saudi Cup Friday.
Another name to note on Saturday is Lacy Des Vialettes (FR) who makes her return to action for trainer Mustafa Almosa in the opening Arabian Horses Fillies Open over 1600m.
Jockey Aseel Alsarhani’s mount was unbeaten in three starts at Taif last season, before winning in Riyadh and then losing her unbeaten tag behind the legendary Tilal AI Khalediah in the Group1 Obaiyah Arabian Classic. She could have a lot more to offer this campaign.
Many familiar names will take to the track in Friday’s feature, the 2000m AlShafa Cup Prep Open with a full field of 18 declared.
This could arguably be the most absorbing event of the weekend with the eight-year-old Almaan (USA) making his return to action for trainer Gaith Alghaith and jockey Abdullah Alawfi following a string of high-class efforts in Riyadh earlier this year, including fifth places to Rattle N Roll in The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and Scotland Yard in the Tuwaiq Cup.
Derevo (GB) was seventh in the Tuwaiq and reopposes for handler Hadi Gharawi, while AlDaihani is represented by the highly-tried Western City (USA) for jockey Mohammad Alhubail and the Muhammad Aldaham-ridden National Gallery (IRE).