The runners of the Saudi Cup 2023 will battle it out for a huge prize this Saturday.
The Saudi Cup will take place at 12:35 PM ET. This is to see if last year’s shock winner Emblem Lord can follow up.
did you know? All past Saudi Cup winners he was four years old.
Taiba wins 2023 Saudi Cup betting
Trainer Bob Baffert has yet to win the lucrative Saudi Cup, but in his defense he has only run three.
But he’s most likely to get it right this year with his classy Taiba. came out on top with a victory in the RUNHAPPY Malibu Stakes (G1) on Boxing Day (see below).
Prior to that, he was third in the Breeders’ Cup Classic behind Wonder Horse’s Flightline.
He is unlikely to meet a Flightline-quality horse on Saturday, and as a result, the best US racing sportsbooks are unlikely to install him as a clear favorite for the 2023 Saudi Cup.
Shock 2022 Saudi Cup Winner Emblem Road Is Back
Emblem Road overturned the odds 12 months ago to win the 2022 Saudi Cup, and Mitab Al Murawa returned to defend his title on Saturday.
Since winning the $10 jackpot, Emblem Road has only run twice. Last July at the Grand Prix de Vichy he finished fifth, but he came back with his last win in Riyadh (13 January 2023). He loves the dirt surface because last year’s success cannot rule out the possibility of a repeat win.
Frankie Dettori to ride country glamor at 2023 Saudi Cup
Former Dubai World Cup winner, country glamor will be the vehicle for Frankie Dettori, who has had plenty of success in Santa Anita in recent weeks.
Country Glamor also finished runner-up in the 2022 Saudi Cup, so the experience is a big plus and another from the mighty Bob Baffert Byrne.
The 6-year-old has more than $11 million in prize money and is headed to race on Saturday after winning the Grade 2 San Antonio Stakes on Boxing Day.
2021 Saudi Cup winner Mishrif aims to reclaim crown
Trained by John Gosden, Mishrif has won the 2021 Saudi Cup and, despite winning only two races, has invested a whopping $16 million in his connections.
The now six-year-old is back to reclaim the Saudi Cup crown. He was last seen in the Breeders’ Cup His Turf at Keeneland on 5 November where he was fourth.
2023 Saudi Cup Runners
Taiba Trainer: Bob Baffert Trustlan: 1st 2022 Malibu G1 Country Glamor Trainer: Bob Baffert Trustran: 1st 2022 San Antonio Stakes G2 June Lightbolt Trainer: Tomominchi Yasuo Rastran: 1st 2022 Champions Cup G1 Panthalassa Trainer : Yoshito Yahagi Last run: 10th G122 Crown Hong Kong Koichi Shintani Last run: 2022 Champions Cup G1 Emblem Road 2nd Trainer: Mittal Almurawa Last run: 1st Kaa Arrow Scotland Yard Trainer: Mitaru Almurawa Last run: 1 2022 Champions Cup G1 Emblem Road Trainer: Noriyuki Hori Last Run: 1st Carr Arrow Scotland Yard Vin de Gard Trainer: Hideaki Fujiwara Last Run: 2022 15th Yasuda Memorial G1 Geoglyph Trainer: Tetsuya Kimura Last Run: 6 2022 Hong Kong Cup G1 Sunset Flash Trainer: Salman AlmindeelLast Run: 1st 2023 Gulf Cup Lagertha Rhyme Trainer: Salman AlmindeelLast Run: 2 SeemarLast Run: 3 2023 Al Maktoum Challenge G2
What time is the 2023 Saudi Cup?
Saturday’s Saudi Cup is scheduled to take place in Saudi Arabia at 8:35 PM ET. The race will be held at the Riyadh Racecourse and on a dirt track he will run a distance of 1m1f.
Latest odds for 2023 Saudi Cup
Taiba @ 15/8 Country Grammer @ 10/3 Jun Light Bolt @ 13/2 Panthalassa @ 15/2 Crown Pride @ 10/1 Emblem Road @ 11/1 Scotland Yard @ 12/1 Cafe Pharoah @ 14/1 Vin De Garde @ 16/1 Geoglyph @ 16/1 Sunset Flash @ 25/1 Lagertha Rhyme @ 33/1 Remore @ 33/1
Note: Odds are subject to change
2023 Saudi Cup Meeting Races and Times (Eastern Time)
Race 1: 7:45am – Jockey Club Local Handicap 1800m, Handicap Race 2: 8:25am – Obaiya Arabian Classic 2000m, Group 1 Race 4: 9:45am – Turf Sprint by STC1351m, Group 3 Race 5: 10.25am – Longines Red Sea Turf Handicap 3000m, Group 3 7: 11.45am – Sports Boulevard 1200m, Riyadh Dirt Sprint Race presented by Group 3 8: 12.35pm – Saudi Cup 1800 m, Group 1