Saudi Cup 2025: Favourites, Odds, Stats
by Devesh Jaganath | by Devesh Jaganath
Forever Young Installed As The Horse To Beat
This year’s edition of the Saudi Cup offers the winner a remarkable $9.5 million grand prize and leading the betting boards as a short-priced favourite is the Yoshito Yahagi-trained Forever Young. The Japanese raider is still unbeaten on home soil and claimed top honours at the 2024 UAE Derby before securing third place in both the Kentucky Derby and the Breeder’s Cup Classic later the same year.
Romantic Warrior, a proven top-level winner across Hong Kong, Japan, Australia and Dubai, will be ridden by his regular jockey James McDonald for his dirt debut. The Hong Kong Horse of the Year arrived in Saudi Arabia from Dubai on Monday, following an impressive victory and track-record-breaking performance in the Jebel Hatta at Meydan Racecourse last month. Peter Lau opted against testing the $18 million-plus earner on dirt in Dubai last month, choosing instead to take a chance at the 1 1/8-mile Group 1 event this weekend.
Rattle N Roll is the leading American contender for this weekend’s Saudi Cup. Trained by Kenneth Peck, the colt is coming off a strong victory at the track last month, winning by a commanding four-lengths in Group Three company. Ushba Tesoro will return for another shot at the Saudi Cup after his narrow defeat to Senor Buscador last year, while Walk of Stars, who dominated Facteur Cheval in the Al Maktoum Challenge, is another one to keep an eye on for minor placings.
South American jockey Gustavo Calvente has pointed to the drop to 1 ⅛ miles as the only possible concern for Argentinian star El Kodigo. Widely considered the best dirt horse in his homeland, El Kodigo is a multiple Group 1 winner over longer distances and was recently purchased from Stud Juan Antonio to race in the Kingdom for local owner Muhaideb Abdullah Almuhaideb. In addition, Almuhaideb has also purchased El Kodigo’s rival Intense for Me and will field three runners in the world’s richest race, including UK Cup winner Defunded.
Despite his disappointment at the Al Maktoum Challenge, French trainer Jerome Reynier still believes that the unique 1,800-meter, one-turn layout at the King Abdulaziz Racecourse will play to the strengths of Facteur Cheval as he faces the best in Riyadh this weekend. Reynier, alongside owners Team Valour Racing and Gary Barber, has crafted an ambitious first campaign for the six-year-old thoroughbred, who secured his first breakthrough Group 1 victory in the Dubai Turf event last March.
Notably, White Abarrio, the 2023 Breeders’ Cup Classic and 2025 Pegasus World Cup winner, will not make the trip to Riyadh this weekend. Instead, the six-year-old son of legend Race Day will focus on his US-based campaign, with plans to feature at the Grade 3 Ghostzapper at Gulfstream Park on March 29 while eyeing a return to the Grade 1 Met Mile on June 7.
Saudi Cup 2025 Latest Odds:
All odds taken from Bet365
- Forever Young - 1.50
- Romantic Warrior - 2.50
- Rattle N Roll - 8.00
- Facteur Cheval - 10.00
- Walk of Stars - 12.00
- Ushba Tesoro - 14.00
- Saudi Crown - 16.00
- El Kodigo - 20.00
- Ramjet - 25.00
- Al Musmak - 33.00
- Intense for Me - 33.00
- Defunded - 33.00
- Wait to Excel - 40.00
- Wilson Tesoro - 40.00
- Scotland Yard - 50.00
- Wootton Sun - 66.00
