Post 1 - Al Musmak (IRE)
Trainer: Thamer Aldaihani
Jockey: Muhammad Aldaham
Last three starts: First, Allowance Race, King Abdulaziz Racecourse; Sixth, Bonhams Thoroughbred Stakes (Gr. 3), Goodwood; First, Sir Henry Cecil Stakes, Newmarket.
Need to know: Sports a 4-2-0 record through nine career starts. Al Musmak has performed well at the Stakes tier but struggled at the Group stage (finishes of second, seventh, seventh, sixth).
Post 2 - Defunded
Trainer: Abdulaziz Mashref
Jockey: Antonio Fresu
Last three starts: First, Allowance Race, King Abdulaziz Racecourse; Fifth, Allowance Race, King Abdulaziz Racecourse; Seventh, Dubai World Cup (Gr. 1), Meydan Racecourse
Need to know: A star on the North American circuit (seven wins, including four graded stakes, for $2.3 million in earnings), Defunded is still getting used to racing away from home (one win in four starts across King Abdulaziz and Meydan Racecourses).
Post 3 - El Kodigo (ARG)
Trainer: Abdulaziz Mashref
Jockey: Gustavo Calvente
Last three starts: First, Gran Premio Jose P. Ramirez (Gr. 1), Maronas; Second, Carlos Pellegrini – Internacional (Gr. 1), San Isidro; First, Copa de Oro – Alfredo Lalor (Gr. 1), San Isidro
Need to know: Described by jockey Gustavo Calvente as the “best horse” he’s ever ridden, El Kodigo drops to 1 1/8 miles for the Saudi Cup coming off his Ramirez win at 1 1/2 miles.
Post 4 - Facteur Cheval (IRE)
Trainer: Jerome Reynier
Jockey: Mickael Barzalona
Last three starts: Third, Al Maktoum Challenge (Gr. 1), Meydan Racecourse; Second, Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (Gr. 1), Ascot; Third, Qatar Sussex Stakes (Gr. 1), Goodwood
Need to know: A turf titan with over $4.3 million in earnings to his name, Facteur Cheval switches to dirt for the Saudi Cup. He showed well on the dirt in his tune-up outing (Al Maktoum).
Post 5 - Forever Young (JPN)
Trainer: Yoshito Yahagi
Jockey: Ryusei Sakai
Last three starts: First, Tokyo Daishoten (Gr. 1), Oi; Third, Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1), Del Mar; First, Japan Dirt Classic, Oi
Need to know: Victorious in seven of nine lifetime starts, Forever Young has shown a knack for hanging with the best and brightest Thoroughbreds around the globe (never finished below third).
Post 6 - Intense for Me (ARG)
Trainer: Abdulaziz Mashref
Jockey: Camillo Ospina
Last three starts: First, Carlos Pellegrini – Internacional (Gr. 1), San Isidro; Third, Copa de Oro – Alfredo Lalor (Gr. 1), San Isidro; Third, General San Martin (Gr. 1), Hipodromo Argentino De Palermo
Need to know: The Saudi Cup will mark Intense for Me’s first start outside his native Argentina. He edged fellow Argentinian star El Kodigo in the Pellegrini last time out on Dec. 14
Post 7 - Ramjet (JPN)
Trainer: Shozo Sasaki
Jockey: Kosei Miura
Last three starts: Third, Tokyo Daishoten (Gr. 1), Oi; Fourth, Japan Dirt Classic, Oi; First, Tokyo Derby, Oi
Need to know: Standing at 5-0-2 through nine lifetime starts, Ramjet’s career-best effort came last June in a 6-length Tokyo Derby score.
Post 8 - Rattle N Roll
Trainer: Kenneth McPeek
Jockey: Joel Rosario
Last three starts: First, Custodian Of The Two Holy Mosques Cip (Gr. 3), King Abdulaziz Racecourse; First, Clark Stakes (G2), Churchill Downs; Third, Lukas Classic (G3), Churchill Downs
Need to know: The only US competitor in the field, Rattle N Roll was a force on home soil (nine wins, six graded). He carried that momentum into January’s Two Holy Mosques (Saudi Cup Qualifier), drawing clear by 4 ¾ lengths.
Post 9 - Romantic Warrior (IRE)
Trainer: Danny Shum
Jockey: James McDonald
Last three starts: First, Jebel Hatta (Gr. 1), Meydan Racecourse; First, Hong Kong Cup (Gr. 1), Sha Tin; First, Bochk Jockey Club Cup (Gr. 2), Sha Tin
Need to know: Purchased for under $400,000 as a yearling, Romantic Warrior has banked nearly $23 million across 23 starts and 18 wins. He rides into the Saudi Cup amidst an eight-race win streak (seven Group 1, one Group 2).
Post 10 - Ushba Tesoro (JPN)
Trainer: Noboru Takagi
Jockey: Akira Sugawara
Last three starts: Fourth, Tokyo Daishoten (Gr. 1), Oi; Tenth, Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1), Del Mar; Second, Nippon TV Hai, Funabashi
Need to know: A veteran racer with 37 starts to his name, Ushba Tesoro has compiled over $16.5 million in total earnings. His last victory came on Dec. 29, 2023 in the Tokyo Daishoten (five starts since).
Post 11 - Wait to Excel (GB)
Trainer: Thamer Aldaihani
Jockey: Adel Alfouraidi
Last three starts: Second, Custodian Of The Two Holy Mosques Cup, King Abdulaziz Racecourse; Fourth, King Saud Cup, King Abdulaziz Racecourse; First, Allowance Race, King Abdulaziz Racecourse
Need to know: Wait to Excel has yet to break through in a top-class contest but has performed well for a horse with a $44,677 price tag at auction ($249,024 banked across 16 starts).
Post 12 - Walk of Stars (GB)
Trainer: Bhupat Seemar
Jockey: Tadhg O’Shea
Last three starts: First, Al Maktoum Challenge (Gr. 1), Meydan Racecourse; First, The Entisar, Meydan Racecourse; Second, Dubai Creek Mile, Meydan Racecourse
Need to know: Heads into the Saudi Cup in fine form after claiming consecutive dashes, namely the Al Maktoum on Jan. 24. He will be making his first start at King Abdulaziz Racecourse.
Post 13 - Wilson Tesoro (JPN)
Trainer: Noburo Takagi
Jockey: Yuga Kawada
Last three starts: Second, Tokyo Daishoten (Gr. 1), Oi; Second, Champions Cup (Gr. 1), Chukyo; First, JBC Classic, Saga
Need to know: A steady diet of four second place finishes in his last five starts (1-4-0 record) has Wilson Tesoro on the right path, but he’ll need to dig much deeper come Saturday.
Post 14 - Wootton’sun (FR)
Trainer: Abdullah Al Kahtani
Jockey: Ricardo Ferreira
Last three starts: Third, Custodian Of The Holy Mosques Cup (Gr. 3), King Abdulaziz Racecourse; First, Crown Prince Cup, King Abdulaziz Racecourse; Second, Allowance race, King Abdulaziz Racecourse
Need to know: Enters after being also-eligible. Wootton’sun is 2-1-1 in six starts since joining the Saudi circuit in January 2024. Overall, he is 5-5-5 through 26 appearances.
Post 15 - Scotland Yard
Trainer: Nicholas Bachalard
Jockey: Luis Morales
Last three starts: Fourteenth, Custodian Of The Two Holy Mosques Cup (Gr. 3), King Abdulaziz Racecourse; First, Allowance race, Ki
