Saudi Cup Day's Neom Turf Cup Upgraded to Group 1

Saudi Arabia has been granted a number of Riyadh season race upgrades, including the country's first top tier race on turf, with the $2 million Neom Turf Cup (G1T) being granted group 1 status ahead of its 2026 running on Saudi Cup (G1) day Feb. 14. The addition of the Neom Turf Cup to The Saudi Cup's line up of group 1 races, now takes the tally of top-flight contests on the day to three, with a glittering undercard including three group 2s, one group 3 and a newly minted listed contest after an upgrade to the Tuwaiq Cup. In addition, the King Saud Cup, held this year on Dec. 27, has also been raised from domestic group 1 status to an international listed race. The Neom Turf Cup has been quick to rise through the classifications, with the 2,100-meter (about 1 5/16-mile) race achieving group 3 status ahead of its 2022 renewal before being promoted to group 2 ahead of the 2024 running. A runaway seven-length success for Shadwell's subsequent Royal Ascot Prince Of Wales's Stakes (G1) and Juddmonte International (G1) winner, Mostahdaf (IRE), in 2023, and a strike for the Sir Alex Ferguson-owned Spirit Dancer (GB) the following year, would have helped boost the race's status. The dominant display from the Japanese Shin Emperor (FR) over Calif (GER) and Irish St Leger (G1) winner and Melbourne Cup (G1) runner, Al Riffa (FR), this year sealed the three-year average the Asian Pattern Committee needed to provide Saudi Arabia with the upgrade, which this year will take place Feb. 14, as the nation hosts the 41st Asian Racing Conference. The Neom Turf Cup now sits alongside the $20 million Saudi Cup (G1) as a group 1 event, with the world's richest race having received that recognition before just its third running in 2022. The Obaiya Arabian Classic, for Arabian horses, completes the trio of top tier contests held on Saudi Cup day. His Royal Highness Prince Bandar bin Khalid Al Faisal, chairman of the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia, said: "This is very good news for the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia as we prepare to host the seventh renewal of The Saudi Cup weekend in February next year. "Turf racing did not exist in The Kingdom prior to 2020, so to have achieved a first group 1 on the surface in this time frame is something we are justifiably proud of and could not have achieved without the vision of our wise leadership, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz and His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister (may God protect them).