The Saudi Cup's Friday "Race Night" (February 13, 2026) at King Abdulaziz Racecourse was headlined by the International Jockeys’ Challenge (IJC), a four-race competition featuring 14 of the world's top male and female riders.
French jockey Mickael Barzalona emerged as the overall champion of the 2026 challenge. Barzalona secured the title after a dominant performance, including two victories on the turf.
1st Place: Mickael Barzalona (France) – 50 points
2nd Place: Frida Valle-Skar (Norway/France)
3rd Place: Saffie Osborne (UK)
Barzalona clinched the title in the final round (Round 4) by guiding Year Of The Dragon to victory over 2100m. Earlier in the evening, he also won Round 3 aboard Praetorian. Barzalona continues a "golden period" in his career, having recently won the Japan Cup and the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
Frida Valle-Skar and Saffie Osborne both had consistent evenings, with Valle-Skar securing two runner-up finishes to take the silver spot in the overall standings.
The turf and dirt tracks at Riyadh were noted for being in excellent condition, with jockeys praising the fair nature of the "multi-layered" dirt surface which produces less "kick-back" than other international tracks.
