Juvenile contests take center stage at King Abdulaziz Racecourse

RIYADH: A pair of valuable 2-year-old contests headline Friday’s action at King Abdulaziz Racecourse, with the prestigious HRH Prince Saud bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Cup offering total prize money of SR600,000 ($160,000) across the colts’ and fillies’ divisions.

The White Stable of King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz & Sons looks set for a strong showing, fielding five runners across the two 1,600-meter races. In the colts’ division, the stable will be represented by Aatakum (Saudi Arabia), Yumter (Saudi Arabia), and Al-Aas (Saudi Arabia), the latter partnered by jockey Camilo Ospina.

Al-Aas, among the highest-rated contenders, impressed with a dominant six-length victory in Taif in August. And appears well-placed to challenge top-rated rival Muf Alwa’ayed (Saudi Arabia), trained by Abdulaziz Almosa, who finished third in the Taif Cup Local Bred Open.

In the fillies’ division, White Stable will again feature prominently through Ana Aljonubiyah (Saudi Arabia) and Mutakamilah (Saudi Arabia). Ana Aljonubiyah, runner-up in the Taif Cup Local Bred Fillies Open, will be ridden by Ospina, while Abdullah Alfairouz takes the reins on Mutakamilah.

The Red Stable of Prince Faisal bin Khaled bin Abdulaziz will rely on a single contender, Leen Almoghtarah (Saudi Arabia), to be partnered by Nawaf Almudiani. The filly will aim to improve on her ninth-place finish in the Taif Cup.

Friday’s card also features a 1,600-meter open race, attracting 10 runners.

The White Stable’s Mayhamah (Saudi Arabia) returns quickly after finishing second in last week’s Africa Cup and will again be ridden by Alfairouz. His main rival appears to be Fighter (Saudi Arabia), one of three Red Stable entrants, partnered by Adel Alfouraidi.

The weekend’s racing