Racing Preview

Welcome to King Khalid Racecourse for the 30th meeting of the Ta’if racing season. Today’s nine-race card culminates in a JCSA Award and the prestigious Ash Shafa Cup. Our first race of the day is a maiden over 1200m. Of the 18 runners, British-bred Time Najd looks to have strong winning claims having placed on his debut over this distance last year. This is his first start of the season, but he has gone well fresh in the past and could win this for Abdulaziz Almuteb. Race two is a handicap for locally-bred horses rated up to 80 over 1200m. Worth SAR120,000, this is a valuable race and looks to have a competitive field. Wigberto Ramos’ ride, Mehlaw’wah, reappears for the season here, having placed second over this distance twice last year, and can be expected to go well. An innermost draw will help her chances. Our third race is for horses who have won up to two races and is over 1400m. In the hands of Luis Morales, top-rated Aldaflah looks to be a likely candidate, having won and placed second from her two career starts over 1200m so far. A step up in trip is unlikely to cause her any problems, and she could be the one to beat from stall two. Race four is handicap for horses rated up to 90 over 1600m. Worth SAR145,000, another quality field line-up to try for the top prize. Ghaith Alghaith’s Aljamaanee won over this distance from the innermost stall on his seasonal debut and has not disgraced himself in three runs since. This time drawn in stall three, he may have enough in his favour to win again under Adel Alfouraidi. Next is an open race for Arabian colts over 1600m. Vizhir has been in excellent form this season, winning on his debut over 1400m and subsequently finishing first and second over 1600m, even from an outside draw. This time drawn in four, there will be little to stand in his way of another win, but he must watch out for debutant Foo De Pine, ridden by Alexis Moreno. Our sixth race is an open for Arabian fillies over 1600m. With three places from five runs this season Alanood Fbr looks likely to be competitive again, especially equipped with sheepskin cheekpieces this time. Topping the ratings, however, is Rakoud Al Ansari, who has won two consecutive races this season over 1400m. Stepping up in trip here should not disadvantage her, and these two could be the ones to duel at the finish. Race seven is a maiden for locally-bred fillies over 2000m. Ghaith Alghaith has another likely-looking winner in the shape of Jadayel Kheir, a daughter of Bandini. Stepping up to this distance for the first time, this filly was useful last season over 1600m and could find the longer distance to be what she needs to break her maiden. Similar on ratings, however, is Nassraat, who was underwhelming as a two-year-old but who also steps up to 2000m for the first time and could prove much more successful in a longer race under Eddie Castro. The penultimate race of the day is the JCSA Award over 1200m, worth SAR130,000. Adel Alfouraidi’s ride, Yaktaseh, tops the ratings, but might be hampered by a wide draw in 10 and could be vulnerable to younger rivals. Alexis Moreno could ride Hal Tara to victory, an 87-rated five-year-old who is very consistent over this trip and has the advantage of stall three to help him get to the front. The final race of Meeting 30 is the Ash Shafa Cup, a 2400m contest worth SAR150,000. 18 runners will compete here, the most likely of which appears to be six-year-old son of Rock Of Gibraltar, Pin Your Hopes, previously a dual winner in Ireland when trained by Andy Oliver. The gelding has gone on to win three races in KSA, most recently over this trip from a wide draw of 17. An innermost draw this time could make another win all the more likely.