Ancestral Land Set to Return in the King Khaled University Cup

It will be a strong Saturday card at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Saudi Arabia, where the son of Sioux Nation will be looking to build on his momentum and take another significant step forward

Ancestral Land has emerged as a major speed presence on the dirt in Riyadh / JCSA

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (Special to Turf Diario).— Ancestral Land (Sioux Nation), one of the standout sprinting stories of last season in Saudi Arabia, returns to action on Saturday when heading a full field of 20 runners in the King Khaled University Cup, worth SAR150,000 and contested over 1400 metres on the dirt at King Abdulaziz Racecourse.

The Red Stable representative of Prince Faisal Bin Khaled Bin Abdulaziz will be ridden by Nawaf Almudiani and looms as the one to beat following a banner 2025 campaign. Formerly trained by Clive Cox in Britain, the gelding made a seamless transition to the Middle East, reeling off four victories during his first Saudi season. His most notable success came in January with a commanding win in the Dirt Sprint Qualifier, before acquitting himself admirably when sixth in the Riyadh Dirt Sprint (G2) on Saudi Cup night, behind Breeders’ Cup winner Straight No Chaser (Speightster).

Now six, Ancestral Land also makes his first appearance carrying the colours of Sultan Bin Jalal, having previously raced from the barn of U.S.-based trainer Jimmy Jerkens—an added layer of intrigue to his return.

Among the principal threats are Love De Vega (Lope de Vega), with Luis Morales aboard, another runner who showed marked improvement last season—third in the 1351 Sprint Qualifier—and who returns following a victory in March; and Power Of Beauty (Slade Power), partnered by Adel Alfouraidi, eighth in the most recent Riyadh Dirt Sprint.

Saturday’s card also features two notable contests for three-year-olds. In the Ministry of Sports Cup for fillies over 1800 metres (SAR150,000), Camilio Ospina will partner Zanaat (Alnajim Althakeb), an emphatic November winner and a leading hope for King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz’s White Stable. Meanwhile, the Saudi Broadcasting Authorities Cup for colts and geldings over 1600 metres has drawn 17 runners, headed by the highest-rated Tuwajeri (Phoenix of Spain), to be ridden by Muhammad Aldaham for trainer Thamer Aldaihani.

The programme is rounded out by an open handicap over 1800 metres worth SAR120,000, where Painters Palette (Lope de Vega), again with Alfouraidi and carrying the Red Stable colours, seeks a repeat following his recent five-and-a-quarter-length success.

A high-octane Saturday in Riyadh, featuring proven performers, rising talent and Ancestral Land poised to set the early-season tempo once more.