Horse racing fans around the world will know that only a select few races truly stand out for their prestige, the excitement generated, and the enormous amount of prize money on offer.
Among these is the Saudi Cup, a relatively new but hugely significant addition to the global racing calendar, which takes place at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh.
With the biggest prize fund in the sport, there’s no real surprise to see that the race has quickly risen in stature, and is now regarded as one of the most important flat races in the world.
As the 2025 edition of the Saudi Cup draws closer, Irish horse racing enthusiasts are eager to know which horses will be taking part, and which horses have the best chance of claiming the highly coveted title.
In this article, we’ll go through the contenders and favourites for the big event set to be held on Saturday 22nd February.
Previous winners: 2024 recap
Before delving into the runners for 2025, it’s worth reflecting on the 2024 edition of the Saudi Cup, which was a thrilling contest that once again showcased the world-class quality of the event.
The 2024 race saw Panthalassa, a Japanese-bred horse trained by the renowned Yoshito Yahagi, emerge victorious. Panthalassa produced a bold and gutsy performance, holding off fierce competition in the final stages of the race to come out on top. However, having now retired, we’ll have a new winner this time around.
The 2024 Saudi Cup also saw the return of several top-tier horses who had previously competed in previous editions, including the highly anticipated Country Grammer. Although the American-trained horse failed to repeat his success from the previous year, his appearance once again emphasised the global nature of this race and the high level of competition that the Saudi Cup attracts.
The success of horses such as Panthalassa has further cemented the Saudi Cup’s reputation as a truly international race, attracting the best from across the globe. In fact, horses from 21 different countries are set to compete across the two-day event this coming weekend.
Among those will be Irish contenders who have made their presence felt in this event, and there’s one standout horse looking to make a name for himself in the Middle East.
Who is racing?
The Saudi Cup was first run in 2020, and although still relatively new, its staggering prize pool of $20m has seen some of the best racehorses across the world compete to win.
As the 2025 race approaches, let’s take a closer look at the entries. In total, a strong entry of 28 Group 1 winners have been put forward to take part in the Saudi Cup, though many have been dropping out in the days before the race.
Laurel River was set to be one of the US’s main hopes, having won last year’s Dubai World Cup, but he has been ruled out this year due to an injury in training.
The US fans will also be disappointed to learn that Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Sierra Leone, as well as the 2024 Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan, have also withdrawn. Instead, Rattle N Roll will be the sole representative for the US.
Representing Japan will be Warp Speed, who finished second last time out in the Melbourne Cup, while the UK-trained Al Nayyir, who finished fourth in the Saudi Cup last year, will be hoping to at least get on the podium this time around.
Irish-trained horses have always been a major presence in global horse racing, and the Saudi Cup will be no exception. Irish trainers and jockeys have a storied history of success at the highest levels, and several potential runners from Ireland could feature in this year’s edition.
Representing Ireland this year will be three-time Hong Kong Cup winner Romantic Warrior.
James McDonald will be in the saddle on Saturday, and he has already expressed his confidence that Romantic Warrior could be the first horse past the post. The jockey said that if he can transfer his form onto the dirt, then he will be “one hell of a horse to beat”.
He added: “If there is one horse in the world who I think can transfer their form to dirt it is Romantic Warrior. He has an incredible heart and incredible will to win – and a great racing style, too. He is a very enthusiastic horse but he has got an extremely good temperament.”
McDonald has won nine Group 1 races with Romantic Warrior, who has been based in Dubai since December in preparation for the Saudi Cup.
It’s also worth mentioning that the two-day Saudi Cup meeting has multiple races away from the main event that can’t be ignored.
Irish horse Annaf is strongly fancied to win the Group 2 1351 Turf Sprint, while Al Qudra (IRE) is entered into the Group 3 Saudi Derby, but will face stiff competition from a strong Japanese contingency.
The Saudi Cup 2025 – favourites
Looking ahead to the 2025 edition of the Saudi Cup, a number of key horses are already being considered strong contenders.
Leading the betting is Japan’s Forever Young. Yoshito Yahagi, one of the most successful trainers at the Saudi Cup meeting with four winners to his name, is hoping that his four-year-old can be added to the list.
Last year, Forever Young suffered two narrow defeats in the Kentucky Derby and Breeders’ Cup Classic, but Yahagi will return to Riyadh confident that this will be his time to shine.
However, the trainer has recognised that his biggest danger will be Ireland’s Romantic Warrior.
Regardless of what the outcome is for Romantic Warrior, his camp has confirmed that this will be his sole attempt on a dirt track before swiftly returning to the turf. The lucrative prize pot has tempted them in, and who can blame them?
If Forever Young is collared close to home once again, and Romantic Warrior fails to take to the new surface, then attention will turn to Rattle N Roll.
His trainer, Kenneth McPeek, described the wait for Rattle N Roll to run at the Saudi Cup as “sitting on him like a keg of dynamite”.
Having won at the track in January, Rattle N Roll powered clear from the rear to see off 19 rivals to land the Two Holy Mosques’ Cup, and his trainer is incredibly excited about his horse’s chances, especially as he is proven on the surface.
This trio are the standout horses in the field according to the bookmakers. Whether Romantic Warrior can prevail on the dirt is the $20m question that everyone wants to know.
Biggest prize pots in racing
The Saudi Cup’s prize fund of $20m is unrivalled in the world of horse racing, and it is the main reason why the event has become such a crucial stop for international competitors.
However, the world of horse racing is home to several other races that have enormous prize pots attracting the sport’s top horses and riders.
The Everest is another one of the sport’s richest races. Run annually in Australia, The Everest offers a total prize pool of $15m AUD ($10m USD). It has quickly gained a reputation for being one of the most highly anticipated events in the global racing calendar, with top sprinters from around the world competing.
Although The Everest is known for its sprint distance of just 1,200m, it still attracts the highest quality of horses, including those trained by some of the biggest names in Australian racing.
Another significant event is the Dubai World Cup, which for many years held the title of the richest race in the world. While it has since been surpassed by the Saudi Cup, the Dubai World Cup still offers a huge prize pool of $12m, making it one of the premier events. The race takes place annually at the Meydan Racecourse and draws horses from the UAE, Europe, the US and Japan.
In addition to these events, the Golden Eagle Down Under is another race with a significant prize pool. This event, which is held at Rosehill Gardens in Sydney, offers $10m AUD in total prize money, making it one of the richest races for three-year-olds in the world.
Like the other races mentioned, the Golden Eagle attracts top-quality horses and jockeys from around the globe, making it a highly competitive and exciting spectacle.
These races, along with the Saudi Cup, highlight the ongoing trend in horse racing towards ever-bigger prize pots, with major events becoming increasingly lucrative.
As a result, we are seeing international competition reach new heights, with horses travelling long distances across the globe to compete for substantial amounts of cash. The Saudi Cup has definitely contributed to this phenomenon due to having the biggest prize pot in the sport, and it’s only expected to grow in importance and prestige over the coming years.
With such a wealth of prize money on offer, the Saudi Cup has rapidly become one of the most important races in the global racing calendar. For Irish horse racing fans, the two-day event offers a unique opportunity to see some of the best horses from their homeland compete on the world stage.
With Romantic Warrior set to compete in the Saudi Cup, along with other Irish runners across the weekend, the 2025 edition promises to be an exciting and highly competitive contest.
If you are looking to get involved in the action and place your bets on who will win the Saudi Cup in 2025, there are plenty of opportunities to do so.
Visit Tonybet for up-to-date odds, expert tips, and to place your bets on any race at the meeting this weekend.
