The filly captured the Fillies Mile, the colt took home the Sarawat Cup, and the Arabian star secured the Al Mneefah Cup (G1). Tedoum was unstoppable in the Riyadh Fillies Mile / JCSA RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (Special for Turf Diario).–  Bearing the unmistakable seal of international racing and set against the unparalleled backdrop of King Aziz Racecourse , the opening day of the Saudi Cup  (G1) weekend delivered high-voltage thrills, confirming Riyadh’s dirt track as one of the

The son of Frankel captured the Saudi International Handicap, where Brazilian jockey Francisco Leandro finished a close sixth aboard Hans Andersen after leading into the stretch. Mickael Barzalona and Gran Descans stood out in the day’s featured event for Thoroughbreds / JCSA RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (Special for Turf Diario).–   Mickael Barzalona  completed a dream day at King Abdulaziz Racecourse  by winning the Saudi International Handicap Presented by Lucid  ($500,000 purse,

The Frenchman secured victory in the final two legs of the championship, edging out Norway’s Frida Valle-Skar and Britain’s Saffie Osborne. For Barzalona, a formidable moment in his career / JCSA RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (Special for Turf Diario).–   Mickael Barzalona  extended his professional golden streak by clinching the 2026 International Jockeys’ Challenge Presented by J Event  at King Abdulaziz Racecourse  this Friday, during the opening day of the Saudi Cup  (G1) meeting.

Aidan’s sons will saddle several runners in pursuit of glory at the Saudi Cup meeting. Donnacha O’Brien harbors high hopes / ARCHIVE RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (Special for Turf Diario).–  The O’Brien  surname is once again taking center stage on the international scene, this time with a Saudi flair. In the build-up to the latest edition of the Saudi Cup , the young Irish trainer Donnacha O’Brien  is preparing for a special day at the imposing King Abdulaziz Racecourse , where this

The Argentine trainer, based in Denmark for 15 years, will saddle the Frankel gelding Hans Andersen in Friday’s Saudi International Handicap during the Saudi Cup meeting—a story of grit and perseverance. William Segovia en Riyadh, a la espera de una gran experiencia By Diego H. Mitagstein (Special Correspondent for Turf Diario in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia) RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (From a special correspondent).–  On the eve of the world’s most powerful day on the racing calendar in t

At the end of the Dubai World Cup Carnival in Meydan, the Brazilian will travel to the Asian country to compete for 3 months Francisco Leandro confirmed to Global Media Turf that in April he will go to race in Japan / GLOBAL MEDIA TURF By Diego H. Mitagstein (Special Correspondent for Turf Diario in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia) RIYADH , Saudi Arabia (From a special correspondent).- From Riyadh , on the eve of the first day of the Saudi Cup meeting, Francisco Leandro once again face

Trainer Shinsuke Hashiguchi makes his second international bid with the bay, who finished fifth in the Golden Eagle Panja Tower moved with ease over the King Abdulaziz dirt / JCSA RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (Special for Turf Diario).— Japan is once again aiming high in the 1351 Turf Sprint  (G2), the $2 million event presented by Qiddiya City , and one of its standard-bearers will be Panja Tower , who will attempt to sustain the Japanese streak on the demanding stretch of King Abdu

The grey G1 winner at Del Mar will contest the Riyadh Dirt Sprint (G2) this Saturday, and trainer Librado Barocio is full of hope Lovesick Blues winning the Bing Crosby Stakes in the United States / BENOIT PHOTO RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (Special for Turf Diario).— With a bruised ego following a trip filled with setbacks in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint  (G1), the seasoned American speedster Lovesick Blues  will seek redemption this Saturday in the Riyadh Dirt Sprint  (G2), contested o

Friday marks the first of two days for the Saudi Cup festival; the Brazilian jockey will ride Hans Andersen in the Saudi International Handicap Francisco Leandro will be aboard Hans Andersen in the day's main event for Thoroughbreds / DRC By Diego H. Mitagstein (Special Correspondent for Turf Diario in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia) RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (From a special correspondent).— The 2026 Saudi Cup  festival kicks off this Friday with a program featuring the latest edition of th

The Doug O'Neill trainee will start in this Saturday's Saudi Derby (G3); the trainer will also send out Zio Jo in the 1351 Turf Sprint The flashy chestnut caught everyone's eye during the morning sessions in Riyadh / JCSA RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (Special for Turf Diario).— When it comes to chasing major purses, Doug O’Neill  knows exactly how to play his hand. The American trainer, a Kentucky Derby  (G1) winner with Nyquist  (Uncle Mo) and a legendary figure through the feats of

The man who conditioned the legendary Zenyatta and won the Kentucky Derby with Giacomo passed away this Thursday at the age of 80 John Shirreffs, Hector Berrios, and all smiles following one of Baeza’s victories / BENOIT PHOTO CALIFORNIA, United States (Special for Turf Diario).— The global racing community woke up this Thursday to news that cuts deep. At the age of 80, John Shirreffs  passed away at his home in Arcadia, California. He was the trainer who guided the unforgett

As is customary, to avoid overlapping with the Riyadh show in Saudi Arabia, Dubai has organized a transitional program Meydan awaits another exciting day of racing / DRC DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (Special for Turf Diario).— The Dubai Racing Carnival  returns this Friday with an intense and highly competitive card at Meydan , featuring eight races where there is virtually no room for concessions. Large fields, specialists in top form, and an attractive combination of turf an

The son of Gun Runner is the standout figure in Saturday’s feature race on the road to the Kentucky Derby (G1) Carrying the Coolmore colors, Paladin will seek to keep trending upward NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana (Special for Turf Diario).— If the scene feels familiar, it’s because it is. A high-priced colt by Gun Runner , trained by Chad Brown , arrives at Fair Grounds  to contest the Risen Star Stakes  (G2) with hopes of igniting a campaign toward the Kentucky Derby  (G1). Two yea

The Japanese champion and defending titleholder secured a favorable starting position this Saturday for the world’s richest race Forever Young: The horse capturing nearly every gaze in Riyadh / JCSA By Diego H. Mitagstein (Special Correspondent for Turf Diario in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia) RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (From a special correspondent).— The ballot  has spoken and the die is cast. At the imposing King Abdulaziz Racecourse , the post-position draw for the Saudi Cup  (G1-1800m,

The French trainer arrives with two high-caliber runners for the 1351 Turf Sprint (G2) and the Neom Turf Cup (G1) Lazzat, one of the standout horses of the Saudi Cup meeting / ASCOT RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (Special for Turf Diario).— With proven international experience and established as one of the leading trainers of the new European generation, Frenchman Jerome Reynier  arrives at the lavish Saudi Cup  meeting—boasting $39.6 million in total purses—with a high-voltage duo led

The trainer will send out the mare against the colts in the Neom Turf Cup (G1) after purchasing her for 1,900,000 guineas George Boughey holds high hopes for Survie in Saturday’s other G1 in Riyadh / JCSA RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (Special for Turf Diario).— With the goal of quickly recouping a multi-million dollar investment, British trainer George Boughey  arrives at the Neom Turf Cup  (G1) with his brand-new acquisition Survie . This Saturday, she will seek to make her mark ove

The Saudi Cup revealed its final list of contenders this Tuesday; the American trainer is already in Riyadh, and the Japanese challenger seeks an upset with Brazilian Joao Moreira in the irons Should he perform well in the Saudi Cup, Nevada Beach will be pointed toward the Dubai World Cup / JCSA RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (From a special correspondent).— With the majestic King Abdulaziz Racecourse  as the epicenter of world racing, the countdown for the Saudi Cup  (G1-1800m, dirt,

The 41st edition of the event held its opening day this Tuesday at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Riyadh One of the panels that shaped the inaugural day of the Asian Racing Conference / JCSA RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (Special for Turf Diario).— Within the framework of the 41st Asian Racing Conference  (ARC), held in Riyadh and organized by the Asian Racing Federation  together with the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia , the leaders of the main Vision 2030 projects delivered a powerful messa

A daughter of Ghaiyyath, she boasts six wins from eight starts and takes on the colts in the Saudi Cup (G1); Ryan Moore to ride Ameerat Alzamaan during one of her victories at King Abdulaziz / JCSA RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (Special for Turf Diario).— In a Saudi Cup  (G1) edition dominated by world-class international stars, local trainer Sami Alharabi  is betting big on home-field advantage. His ace is the remarkable Ameerat Alzamaan , representing the Red Stable  of Prince Faisa

King Abdulaziz begins to heat up while the construction of Qiddiya, Saudi Arabia's new racecourse, was announced at the Asian Racing Conference Qiddiya, the project that promises to revolutionize world racing By Diego H. Mitagstein (Special Correspondent for Turf Diario in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia) RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (From a special correspondent).— There is a different energy in the air of this city. It’s not just the desert heat beginning to yield to the sunset breeze, nor th