Any feature race meeting held in the Middle East will always include Group races for Pure-Bred Arabian horses.
France is the strongest non-Arabic racing territory where Arab bred horses are a staple of the racing calendar. The south-west of France is a strong region for the training of these horses with tracks including Toulouse, La Teste, Pau, and Mont-de-Marsan conducting multiple races (including Group events) throughout the year. Paris-Longchamp hosts the Arabian World Cup (G1 PA) at the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe meeting in October.
It is no surprise French trained horses should therefore to the fore in the two feature Pure-Bred Arabian races at the Saudi Cup two-day fixture.
The Al Mneefah Cup (G1 PA) (2100m) is a new addition to the Saudi Cup meeting and will be run on Friday. Trainer François Rohaut has Djafar who finished third in the Arabian World Cup (G1) at Longchamp in October:
'He finished third despite heavy ground. He is a very good horse. His last outing was in Abu Dhabi, where he did not like the tight layout of the track. Riyadh is a bigger racetrack and this should suit him better. I think he's on top, now mature at six and Christophe Soumillon knows him. We have some things in our favour.'
The two French mares Sultana and Teema have drawn the outside gates. Sultana, trained by Elisabeth Bernard, has barrier ten while Teema, prepared by Xavier's Thomas-Demeaulte, will start from eleven. The riders will be Jean-Bernard Eyquem for Sultana and Teema, Ioritz Mendizabal. Other French jockeys with a ride in the race are Ronan Thomas – Salwa; Olivier Peslier – Elkeel Athbah; Maxime Guyon – Image Du Croate and Cristian Demuro- Dergham Athbah.
Saturday's Obaiya Arabian Classic (G1 PA) will again France playing a strong hand. Samlla is already the winner of three G1 PA, while Rysk Tout was victorious in the His Majesty King Mohammed VI (G3 PA) on the dirt at Casablanca. Both horses made their comeback runs on the AWW at Pau on January 11 in the Prix Wathba Stallions Cup – Haras de Gélos where Samlla won very easily. Rysk Tout finished third beaten five and a quarter lengths.
Francis Rohaut, trainer of Samlla said:
'He is magnificent, very impressive physically and in great shape. His victory at Pau was excellent. For me, he is a champion and can adapt to all tactics, and his jockey, Maxime Guyon, knows him well. He has a good chance on Saturday'.
Trainer of Rysk Tout, Charles Gourdain, commented:
'She has travelled (to Riyadh) well, has not lost too much weight, eats well and looks happy. She showed her form by winning in Casablanca and did well in Pau recently. We know that it will be difficult'.
Jockey Ioritz Mendizabal will be associated in the race with a horse he knows well – Deryan. He won the Dubai Kahayla Classic (G1 PA) in 2021 when trained by Didier Guillemin and is now prepared by Majeh Al Jahoori with all his racing for the past twelve months having been at Meydan but failing to win.
