Forever Young, the favourite in international futures betting, leads the list of 13 horses listed by the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia as probable starters Feb. 22 in the Group 1, $20 million Saudi Cup in Riyadh.
Romantic Warrior and Laurel River are on course to clash with Forever Young, who was showing at 2-1 at most U.K. bookmakers monitored by the website Oddschecker.
Kenny McPeek-trained Rattle N Roll, first in a domestic Saudi Cup qualifier, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Cup (G3), will take his place in the lineup along with Todd Pletcher-trained Pegasus World Cup runner-up Locked, forming a formidable U.S. representation.
Three-time Hong Kong Cup (G1) winner Romantic Warrior, who will be partnered by long-time jockey James McDonald, will face a new challenge in his first run on dirt. The Danny Shum-trained gelding will take on last year’s Dubai World Cup (G1) winner Laurel River for trainer Bhupat Seemar and 2024 Saudi Derby (G3) victor Forever Young, trained by Yoshito Yahagi.
The strong Japan contingent is further bolstered by two for trainer Noboru Takagi, who fields last year’s Saudi Cup runner-up Ushba Tesoro and Wilson Tesoro. Shozo Sasaki-trained Ramjet also is set to enter the starting gate.
Walk Of Stars, who won the Al Maktoum Challenge (G1) at Meydan last time out, will be a second runner for Dubai-based Seemar. Facteur Cheval, who chased Walk Of Stars home in third in the Al Maktoum Challenge, will represent France for trainer Jérôme Reynier.
Argentina-bred El Kodigo, racing for trainer Abdulaziz Mashref, will lead the local challenge for the sixth renewal of the race.
The JCSA news release that was sent Friday still listed White Abarrio as a probable starter even though the Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) winner was ruled out of the race this week by lead owner Mark Cornett, according to Thoroughbred Daily News.
Sierra Leone, who had been the international futures favorite for the race, also was removed from consideration for the Saudi Cup because of a leg abscess, trainer Chad Brown told TDN. His name was not on Friday’s news release.
