TAIF: It was business as usual on the biggest day of the season at King Khalid Racecourse in Taif, as Tilal AI-Khalediah (KSA) made his return to action with back-to-back wins in the $270,000 Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Cup.
Arguably one of the world’s most recognized and celebrated purebred Arabians, the star of Nasser Mutlaq’s stable took the Listed event over 2000m for the second consecutive year under jockey Adel Al-Fouraidi.
The wins set up a lucrative Riyadh season where the multiple Group 1 winner has twice triumphed in the Obaiyah Arabian Classic on Saudi Cup night. He returned to the winner’s enclosure to record a 16th career success following his defeat on Dubai World Cup night in March.
Wathab Al-Mashaheer (KSA) landed the other $270,000 race and took his career record to three from three under Abdullah Al-Saedi in the Group 3 King Faisal Cup over 1600m for three-year-olds.
The most valuable thoroughbred event of the day was the $186,600 Okaz Cup, sponsored by Boutique Group, which was captured by Alaham (IRE) in the hands of Aseel Al-Sarhani, with the pair impressive winners over the 2000m.
However, the day was dominated by the White Stables of King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz & Sons who sent out three winners, highlighted by the victory of Nowafaa (KSA) in the $133,300 Taif Cup Fillies Open, sponsored by Saudi National Bank.
The three-year-old was following up her Taif Flower Festival Cup success under Camilio Ospina for trainer Bader Rizaiq and led home a sea of white, with King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz & Sons also responsible for the second and third-placed Fallat Kheir (KSA) and Moatazah (USA).
Naif Alanazi caused an upset in the equivalent Taif Cup Open for colts and geldings, sponsored by NHC, as he delivered the Hesham Abdulwahed-trained Sayyah (USA) to victory, taking top prize in the $133,300 event and reversing Taif Derby form with White Stable’s Jeddah Beach, who could only finish fourth.
Their Taqaarir (KSA) was well fancied for the Taif Cup Local Bred Fillies Open, sponsored by ZOOD Realty, after winning by over 10 lengths last time out, and Ospina’s mount made it three wins in as many starts.
Trainer Ahmed Mohamoud’s grey sauntered into the closing stages of the 1400m event and the 2-year-old held off the same owner’s Ana Aljonubiyah (KSA) to maintain an unbeaten record by three-quarters of a length.
The White Stable treble was initiated by a memorable success for Feras Al-Sunaytan who landed a ninth career win by storming clear in the hands-and-heel apprentice jockeys’ Local Bred Handicap 0-75, sponsored by Kinza, under the veteran Mayhamah (KSA).
While the White Stable had a one-two in the fillies’ juvenile race, Prince Faisal Bin Khaled Bin Abdulaziz’s Red Stables enjoyed the same outcome in the Taif Cup Local Bred for colts and geldings, sponsored by Lucid, with the second colors of Raei Al-Thaminah (KSA) coming out on top under Tharb Altimyat. The rider looked around for non-existent dangers rounding the home turn, but his mount was run down by Hziz (KSA) and just held out to win by a neck.
Harbi (KSA) provided the Red Stables with success earlier in the card, returning with a win on his first run since Riyadh in March with a near five-length strike under champion Adel Al-Fouraidi in the Horses Who Won 1-2, sponsored by Alfakhera.
Alexis Moreno has enjoyed a successful Taif campaign and punched the air as he guided Ibn Alatheer (KSA) to success in the opening Local Bred Handicap 0-60, sponsored by Saudia, for trainer Mustafa Al-Mosa.
