PRINCE BANDAR is buzzing ahead of the latest dust-up in the desert.
In just three weeks’ time, some of the world’s best horses will descend on Saudi Arabia for the £26 million Saudi Cup meeting.
The Prince has been instrumental in bringing top-class flat racing to the country over the past three years.
The two-day fixture has grown in stature since it’s launch in 2020 and last year the Saudi Cup – the world’s richest race with a prize-fund of nearly £15 million – was granted Group 1 status.
That was a huge boost to the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia, of which Prince Bandar is the chairman.
And this year the meeting has attracted dozens of proven top-level horses from around the world – including John Gosden’s defending Saudi Cup champ Mishriff.
The five-year-old has been kept in training to try and win back-to-back Saudi Cups, and if he does so he will become the highest earning racehorse of all time.
The stallion, who runs in the colours of Prince Bandar’s uncle, owner-breeder Prince Faisal, will face stiff competition from top US horses Mandaloun and Midnight Bourbon.
But he is the favourite with the bookies to retain his crown on February 26, and victory would prove very popular among the Saudi royal family.
Prince Bandar said: “My uncle really deserved it. The number of years he’s been in horse racing, it must have been one of his sweetest moments.
“I was really happy, especially as none of us expected it. We were looking at Charlatan and Knicks Go and thinking it was going to be a US domination.
“But Mishriff proved he has what it takes and it is exciting that he is back again this year.
“I get really excited for all the connections in The Saudi Cup. We want this to be an international event and it has become exactly that.
“We have a record number of horses lining up for the meeting and over 70 Group 1 winners.
“It’s mind-blowing the interest there is in The Saudi Cup seeing as it’s still in its infancy really – it’s only the third version.
“I think it’s wonderful for horse racing.”
The fixture is about more than just the Saudi Cup, run over 1m1f on dirt, with an expanded undercard worth millions of pounds.
There are plenty of familiar names among the entries for the Neom Turf Cup, including William Muir’s popular runner Pyledriver.
He was a narrow second in the Hong Kong Vase in December and will try to go one place better in the £1.1 million race over 1m4f.
He will likely face Gosden’s Lord North, while the likes of Princess Zoe and Nayef Road are on course for the £1.8 million Longines Red Sea Turf Handicap over 1m7f.
King Abdulaziz Racecourse will also host the International Jockeys Challenge on February 25, where seven female and seven male riders compete against each other.
Among the jocks already confirmed are Hayley Turner and Jim Crowley, as well as last year’s winner Shane Foley.
Prince Bandar said: “The quality level of the meeting has gone up exponentially. People are eyeing the big race of course, but they are equally excited about the others.
“Mishriff ran second in the Saudi Derby the year before he won the Saudi Cup and then became one of the most dominant horses in the world. It shows you why people want to come here.
“The US guys are very competitive, they come to win and I love that. Everybody is coming to win, they are serious.
“I was really excited with the entries for the Saudi Cup, but to be frank I’m even more excited about the entries in all the undercard races.
“I’m really looking forward to both days. I think we have a weekend that is up there in the top five racing events in the world.
“And it has really touched me over the past couple of years is how many fans of these big international jockeys there are in Saudi Arabia.
“The ability to see these men and women in the flesh, it’s almost like seeing Ronaldo or Messi.
“They are inspirational figures, great role models and it’s important to have them here – the jockey’s challenge adds another dimension to the meeting.”
Prince Bandar has been a racing fan since he was a kid, with his dad having owned horses in the UK and Saudi Arabia.
The sport is in his blood, so he takes a great deal of pride in the near-overnight success of the Saudi Cup.
He continued: “When the idea was first discussed about a big international race, we put it to the government and they were very supportive.
“I’m not sure I knew how complex it would be and the first thing we had to do was build a team of people who had done this kind of thing before and knew what they were doing…unlike me!
“I know I’m biased but I think we have the most fantastic team and it’s really the fruits of their labour that we are all now seeing.
“It’s hugely satisfying, and I can’t be more grateful to the team and all the people we’ve brought in to help deliver The Saudi Cup.”
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