Arab News Japan

The Saudi Cup 2025 is scheduled for Feb. 21 at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh, with Japan’s Manami Nagashima participating in the race.

Saudi Derby winner Forever Young, the horse Susumu Fujita and trained by internationally renowned horseman Yoshito Yahagi, is also returning to the cup.

Saudi Derby winner Forever Young back at King Abdulaziz racecourse enjoying the morning sun ahead of Saturday’s Saudi Cup.#TheSaudiCup pic.twitter.com/uqDGPVXDVm

— The Saudi Cup (@TheSaudiCup) February 17, 2025

Racehorse Remake, a thoroughbred horse born in Japan in 2019, also participated in the Riyadh Dirt Sprint on Tuesday.

“Ok… whoa!” 🤩😍🇯🇵
Defending Riyadh Dirt Sprint presented by Saudi National Bank champ REMAKE enthusiastic in his blowout this morning. #サウジカップ #リメイク #TheSaudiCup pic.twitter.com/wCvzwc04w0

— The Saudi Cup (@TheSaudiCup) February 18, 2025

Other participants include New Zealand’s James McDonald, the recently crowned Longines World’s Best Jockey.

McDonald will compete a day before aiming for victory in the Saudi Cup 2025 on Feb. 22, where he will ride Romantic Warrior in the world’s richest horse race, boasting a prize of US$20 million.

It will mark McDonald’s first competition in Saudi Arabia, adding to an impressive resume that includes 106 Group 1 victories across Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Britain and Japan.

This year’s International Jockeys Challenge features an exciting lineup of the world’s top talent, showcasing seven male and seven female jockeys.

Participants include America’s John Velazquez and Sofia Vives, Belgium’s Christophe Soumillon, Britain’s Hollie Doyle, Ireland’s Oisín Murphy and Tadhg O’Shea, Australia’s Rachel King, France’s Maryline Eon, Switzerland’s Sibylle Vogt, New Zealand’s McDonald and Kelly Myers, and Japan’s Nagashima.

*With SPA