Saudi Derby
| Class | Grade 3 |
|---|---|
| Location | Riyadh, Saudi Arabia |
| Inaugurated | 2020 |
| Race type | Thoroughbred – Flat racing |
| Website | https://jcsa.sa/en/saudi-cup/ |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 1,600 meters |
| Surface | Dirt |
| Track | King Abdulaziz Racetrack |
| Qualification | Three-year-old Thoroughbred |
| Weight | NH: 55kg, SH: 59.5kg If there are no SH-bred: 57kg Filly allowance: 2kg |
| Purse | $1,500,000 |
Saudi Derby (Arabic: الديربي السعودي) is an international horse race held at King Abdulaziz Racetrack in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.[1]
Race details
[edit]The race was founded by the Saudi Arabia Jockey Club in 2020. It is currently run at 1,600 meters on dirt, only open to three-year-old thoroughbreds, with a prize money of 1.5 million USD.[2][3]
Currently run as an undercard race on the Saudi Cup Night.[1]
History
[edit]- 2020 – Race was founded under the name "Samba Saudi Derby Cup".[4]
- 2021 – Race name was changed to "Saudi Derby".[5][failed verification]
- 2022 – IFHA promotes the race to international grade 3.[6]
- 2023 – A locally owned horse wins for the first time (Commissioner King).
In 2026 the event became a qualification event for the Euro/Mideast Road to the Kentucky Derby.[7]
Records
[edit]Speed Record:
- 1:36.17 – Forever Young (2024)[8]
Most Wins by a Trainer:
- 2 – Hideyuki Mori (2020, 2021)
Winners
[edit]| Year | Winner | Foaled | Trained | Owned | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020[9] | Full Flat |  United States |
 Japan |
Japan |
Yutaka Take | Hideyuki Mori | Teruo Ono | 1:37.91 |
| 2021[10] | Pink Kamehameha | Japan |
Japan |
Japan |
Keita Tosaki | Hideyuki Mori | Hisako Kimura | 1:38.57 |
| 2022[11] | Pinehurst | United States |
United States |
United States |
Flavien Prat | Bob Baffert | SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing & Madaket Stables | 1:38.12 |
| 2023[12] | Commissioner King | United States |
 Saudi Arabia |
Saudi Arabia |
Luis Morales | Sabah Alshammri | Faisal Mohammed Alqahtani | 1:38.82 |
| 2024[8] | Forever Young | Japan |
Japan |
Japan |
Ryusei Sakai | Yoshito Yahagi | Susumu Fujita | 1:36.17 |
| 2025[13] | Golden Vekoma | United States |
 United Arab Emirates |
United Arab Emirates |
Connor Beasley | Ahmad Bin Harmash | Mohammed Al Suboosi | 1:38.185 |
| 2026 | Al Haram |  Ireland |
Saudi Arabia |
Saudi Arabia |
Ricardo Ferreira | Abdullah Alsidrani | Sheikh Abdullah Almalek Alsabah | 1:38.45 |
- Record Time: 1:36.17 – Forever Young
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- 1 2 "2024 Saudi Cup: Complete Guide to the 2024 Saudi Cup Day". netkeiba.com. Retrieved 2024-03-10.
- ↑ "Entries from 22 countries for $35.35m Saudi Cup". www.tradearabia.com. 2023-01-12. Retrieved 2024-03-10.
The Saudi Derby, worth $1.5 million and run over 1600m, has been won by Japan and the US in its three runnings but this year Uruguay has a strong entry, with Es-Unico (BRZ) and Loreley (BRZ) near the top of the international ratings, which are headed by the Saeed Bin Suroor-trained Mawj (IRE).
- ↑ Carasso, Alan (24 February 2024). "Japan's Forever Young Edges Book'em Danno In Another Saudi Derby Cliffhanger". TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.
- ↑ "Speightstown's Full Flat Takes The Saudi Derby". Thoroughbred Daily News. 2020-02-29. Retrieved 2024-03-10.
- ↑ "Dates and bigger prize money purse announced for Saudi Cup 2021". Arab News. Retrieved 2024-03-10.
- ↑ "2022 International Cataloguing Standards Book" (PDF). Retrieved 2023-04-06.
- ↑ "Three Races Added to European/Middle East Derby Series The European/Middle East Road to the Kentucky Derby now comprises 10 races". Bloodhorse.com. Churchill Downs Inc. 14 October 2025. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
- 1 2 "サウジダービー（G3） 2024/2/24(土)". JRA-VAN Ver.World (in Japanese). Retrieved 2024-03-11.
- ↑ "サンバサウジダービーカップ 2020/2/29(土)". JRA-VAN Ver.World (in Japanese). Retrieved 2024-03-11.
- ↑ "サウジダービー 2021/2/20(土)". JRA-VAN Ver.World (in Japanese). Retrieved 2024-03-11.
- ↑ "サウジダービー（G3） 2022/2/26(土)". JRA-VAN Ver.World (in Japanese). Retrieved 2024-03-11.
- ↑ "サウジダービー（G3） 2023/2/25(土)". JRA-VAN Ver.World (in Japanese). Retrieved 2024-03-11.
- ↑ "Saudi Cup (Saturday) Race Meeting 92". 2025-02-22. Archived from the original on 22 February 2025. Retrieved 2025-02-23.