We all know that horse racing is a universal sport, loved all around the world. But how do you make a relatively new race stand out in the crowd?
The simple answer is that you make the most valuable race on the planet and offer a staggering $20,000,000 prize purse.
And in the case of the Saudi Cup, it worked. Held in Riyadh at the King Abdulaziz Racecourse, the Saudi Cup 2025 is due to be held on February 22nd.
The winning connections will walk away with $10,000,000, and with that kind of money on the line, it's all to play for.
So who is in the running this year, and which racehorses have the best chance of winning?
Let's take a look at the likely field, according to The Saudi Cup website, and try to whittle down the potential runners to predict a winner.
Saudi Cup 2025 Runners
Plenty of bookmakers are offering odds on the Saudi Cup 2025 so check out the likes of ggbet if you fancy a flutter on this year's race.
The table below shows the horses that look most likely to run on the day, but last-minute changes do happen, so check the declared runners before you make any bets.
| Horse Name (Country) | Jockey | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Forever Young | Ryusei Sakai | 7/4 |
| Romantic Warrior | James Mcdonald | 9/4 |
| Rattle N Roll | Joel Rosario | 8/1 |
| Facteur Cheval | Mickael Barzalona | 10/1 |
| Ushba Tesoro (JPN) | Akira Sugawara | 14/1 |
| Walk Of Stars | Tadhg O'shea | 14/1 |
| Wilson Tesoro | Yuga Kawada | 20/1 |
| El Kodigo | Gustavo E Calvente | 25/1 |
| Ramjet | Kosei Miura | 25/1 |
| Al Musmak | Muhammad Aldaham | 33/1 |
| Defunded | Antonio Fresu | 33/1 |
| Intense For Me | Camilio Ospina | 33/1 |
| Wait To Excel | Adel Alfouraidi | 33/1 |
| Scotland Yard | 50/1 | |
| Wootton'sun | Ricardo Ferreira | 66/1 |
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How Saudi Cup Runners Are Chosen
When there's $20,000,000 to be one in a single race, it is understandable that getting an official entry is a lengthy and exclusive process.
In fact, for races like the Saudi Cup, it is invitation only as race organisers aim to pit the best thoroughbreds, in the world, against each other.
There are some guaranteed entries, and they are the winners of the Pegasus World Cup in the US and the Champions Cup in Japan, who automatically qualify.
So for this race that would have included White Abarrio (Pegasus winner) and Lemon Pop (Champions Cup winner) except that neither of them have taken up their places in 2025.
That leaves Forever Young and Romantic Warrior as the two leading fancies for this renewal.
So with the best horses set to do battle, just which of them has what it takes to go the distance in Riyadh?
Saudi Cup 2025 Predictions & Tips
Forever Young is the clear race favourite with the bookies, with odds as low as 7/4 with most of them.
He enters the Saudi Cup 2025 as one of the leading contenders after his impressive victory in the Saudi Derby in March last year.
The Yoshito Yahagi-trained four-year-old has since proven himself against older horses, including when winning the Tokyo Daishoten in December.
While he faces a formidable international field including Romantic Warrior and Walk of Stars, his knowledge of the track and proven dirt form make him a serious contender for the $20 million prize.
Next up in the odds is the Irish bred Romantic Warrior from trainer Danny Shum.
At seven years old, he is one of the older horses in the race but his career speaks volumes with 18 wins from 23 starts, earning connections over £18 million in the process.
With three seasonal back-to-back wins, including the Hong Kong Cup, Romantic Warrior could really give Forever Young a run for his money.
Third in the betting markets is Rattle N Roll from trainer Kenneth McPeek. His form and experience is not as good as Forever Young or Romantic Warrior but he is still a formidable runner.
He won a Group 3 Saudi Cup qualifier in January, his ninth win from 21 runs, but whether or not he has what it takes to trouble his rivals remains to be seen.
Prediction
Looking outside of the top three in the betting, I would have to plump for Walk of Stars for an each-way bet.
He has run almost exclusively in Dubai over the last two years, winning his last two races including the Group 1 Al Maktoum Challenge which boosted his credentials.
He always seems to be there or thereabouts and while he hasn't come up against the favourites, he has every chance if Tadgh O'Shea gives him a good run.
There's some value in his odds and on the day he could give a good account of himself.
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