Wait To Excel makes his comeback in the King Abdulaziz on a packed weekend of racing

Coming off an eighth-place effort in the Saudi Cup, the English horse returns to action Saturday over 2000 meters

Defunded in one of his California victories / BENOIT PHOTO

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (Special to Turf Diario).- After finishing eighth in the Saudi Cup (G1), Wait To Excel(Postponed) will return to action this Saturday at King Abdulaziz Racecourse, on a busy card that will also feature two auction races carrying SAR 500,000 each.

Racing for Red Stable, owned by Prince Faisal Bin Khaled Bin Abdulaziz, the British runner is set to reappear in the fifth race on the program, contested over 2000 meters, with Ricardo Ferreira in the saddle. Among his key rivals is Power In Numbers (Girvin), to be ridden by Camilo Ospina, who represents the White Stable of King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz & Sons.

Wait To Excel wrapped up an excellent 2024 campaign when finishing second to Rattle N Roll (Connect) in the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Cup, a performance that earned him a spot in the Saudi Cup. He later confirmed his class with a local Group 1 victory in the King Abdulaziz Racetrack Champion Stakes.

His main opponent, Power In Numbers, holds a similar rating for this SAR 120,000 contest and will be looking to bounce back from a disappointing effort in that same Custodian race in January, although he does have the advantage of having shone during this meeting last year.

Another focal point on Saturday will be the two-year-olds’ race, also worth SAR 120,000, for which only six juveniles have been confirmed. The White Stable will be represented by Ned Al Ned (Liam’s Map) and Walad (Caracaro), while the British-trained Yaltahem (Space Blues) will carry the Red Stable colors with Ferreira up.

The action gets underway on Friday with two races restricted to horses purchased at the 2024 sales. Both will be run over 1600 meters, one for fillies and mares, and the other for colts, geldings and entire horses, featuring full fields of 20 runners each and offering a massive SAR 500,000 purse apiece—an enormous incentive for the local commercial market.

Friday’s program will also include the European Union Cup (SAR 150,000), with 16 runners confirmed. Leading the field is Power Of Beauty (Slade Power), winner of the King Khaled University Cup, who comes off a fourth-place finish on his seasonal return. Among his main challengers are two-time Saudi Cup participant Defunded (Dialed In) and the progressive Almaan (Speightstown) and Alaham (Belardo), both representing the Red Stable. The latter arrives off back-to-back victories and bids for a third straight.

The Friday card will conclude with the Najran Region Governorate Cup, for fillies and mares over 1600 meters. The classy Aeadat (Premium Tap) will look to extend her winning streak to 11 consecutive victories, following her success at the close of the Taif season. Her main threat appears to be Misaaeel (Patriot Act), trained by Thamer Aldaihani, recent heroine of both the Asia Cup and the Riyadh Region Governorate Cup.