RIYADH: An exceptional cluster of equine stars continues to take shape for the world’s richest-ever race meeting, the $39.6 million Saudi Cup on Feb. 14.

Last year’s winner and multi-continental champion Forever Young will headline the main event, the group one, $20 million Saudi Cup, while the lucrative undercard — growing in grade and prestige — has attracted its own luminaries.

Chief among those is Morplay Racing’s Jose D’Angelo-trained Shisospicy, freshly crowned Champion Female Sprinter at America’s Eclipse Awards, who headlines the group two, $2 million 1351 Turf Sprint.

The daughter of superstar sprinter/miler Mitole capped her 2025 campaign with a comprehensive victory in the grade one, $1 million Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Del Mar over 5 furlongs (1,000 meters), easily besting the boys.

Said effort followed an equally dominant victory in Kentucky Downs’ grade two, $2 million Music City Stakes over 1,300 meters. She now seeks her third, seven-figure prize pot, in as many consecutive starts.

“She’s doing great,” D’Angelo said.

“She’s maturing and getting more focused as she comes into this year. She’s growing and improving, which is great to see because I feel like we are going to see the best of her this year.

“She has shown us and accomplished so much already, so I’m excited for the future for her and for us as a team.

“The longer distance than the 5 furlongs (of the Breeders’ Cup) won’t be a problem,” D’Angelo added.

“A big question mark for her was when I entered her at Kentucky Downs and I argued with a lot of people before that because they thought she was only a 5-furlong horse.

“I was very confident in her, even though Kentucky Downs has up and down hills and is very testing, so that 6.5 furlongs feels more like 7 furlongs or a mile.

“She won that race sharp and even did it after her long trip to Ascot and back earlier in the summer. I feel like the long stretch in Saudi will be no problem for her. She can run this distance without any issue, especially on a flat course, which is even better for her.”

Confidence has long been high in the stone-grey newly-turned 4-year-old filly.

Prior to her Music City victory, she was taken to Royal Ascot for the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup, where a poor start dulled her usual early advantage and she ultimately weakened to 15th of 21 runners in her seventh career start.

With that being the lone recent blemish, she is a winner of six of nine lifetime and five of her past six efforts.

Following her Breeders’ Cup win, she went through Fasig-Tipton’s “The Night of the Stars” November Sale, where Morplay Racing flexed its confidence again, going to $5.2 million to buy out co-owner Qatar Racing.

“We don’t want to overdo it with her, so we decided to go straight to Saudi,” said Rich Mendez, principal of Morplay Racing, on Thoroughbred Daily News’ TDN Writers’ Room.

“There aren’t big races for turf sprinters here in America during that time and the race is worth $2 million and there’s some competition on that side that she hasn’t faced, so we thought it would be fun to give it a try.

“She has been working lights-out and we feel like she’ll have an opportunity out there to do the same thing she’s done here.”

D’Angelo, 10th last year in the 1351 Turf Sprint with Howard Wolowitz, was also third in the 2024 Group 3 Saudi Derby with subsequent Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner Bentornato.

He had also taken horses to the UAE for the Dubai World Cup meeting in 2021 and 2024, as well as nearly won his first Royal Ascot race when Gabaldon was second in the 2024 Windsor Castle Stakes.

“I have learned every year that I travel with horses, whether it’s to Saudi, Dubai or Royal Ascot, and we feel like as a team we are prepared even more for this experience because of that,” D’Angelo reflected.

“The Saudi Cup people have been very good with us, which makes this easier, as well, and they have been on top of everything, even the small details and great staff for the horses.”

Shisospicy will be the next international start for Team D’Angelo, departing Florida for Riyadh on Feb. 2, while Bentornato is currently being pointed toward the Group 1 Dubai Golden Shaheen in late March.

“We are hoping to give Shisospicy one more serious workout before she leaves. She’s a horse who doesn’t need so many workouts. After Ascot, for example, from late June to early September, she had only four major workouts.

“That said, she is ready and most importantly, she knows where the finish line is.”