Argentine star Intense For Me makes first seasonal appearance in Riyadh

RIYADH: Several cup races take place at King Abdulaziz Racecourse this week but many eyes will on one of Saudi Arabia’s highest-rated horses, the South American Group One star Intense For Me (Argentina), who reappears in race eight on Saturday.

The 2,000-meter Open contest has attracted a classy field of nine-runners. But the standout is the Argentine import who has his second start for trainer Abdulaziz Meshref having been snapped up by Muhaideb Abdullah Almuhaideb at the beginning of the year.

The Gran Premio Carlos Pellegrini winner was bought last year to compete in The Saudi Cup and the 114-rated son of Fortify (US) may again have the world’s richest race on his agenda after finishing down the field in the 2025 running on his sole start in the country.

The chief danger would be Saudi Cup ninth Wootton’sun (France) who goes for the trainer-jockey combination of Abdullah Al-Kahtani and Adel Alfouraidi.

The horse is one of two runners for Prince Faisal bin Khaled bin Abdulaziz, with the Red Stable also sending out the Nawaf Almudiani-ridden Derevo (Britain).

Red Stable also have two good chances in the 2,400-meter Eastern Governance Region Cup.

This is with Alfouraidi’s mount Jack Red Cloud (Ireland) — who contested the Red Sea Turf Handicap last February — and Motafared (US), who beat Jack Red Cloud in the Taif National Day Open and has since changed ownership.

Saturday’s second race, an Arabian Horses Open, has a strong entry with 19 declared but the 1,600-meter event is a fascinating rematch between two runners who dead-heated in the King Khaled Racecourse Championship last month.

Angad Al-Khalediah (Saudi Arabia), who carries the colors of Prince Khalid bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz & Sons and will have the