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Sir Alex Ferguson eyes another Saudi Arabia windfall in £1.6million race

Daily mirror January 11, 2025 01:39 AM

Sir Alex Ferguson is seeking more Saudi Arabia riches with his money-spinning racehorse.

Since going into training with Richard Fahey, Spirit Dancer - who was also bred by the legendary former manager - has won eight times. His last three wins have all been achieved abroad, two in Bahrain and one in Saudi Arabia.

The victories in the 2023 and 2024 Bahrain International Trophy and 2024 Neom Turf Cup have taken the gelding’s total earnings to over £2.1 million.

Spirit Dancer is now set to return to Riyadh in February to try to win a second edition of the Turf Cup, a Group 2 race worth £1.6 million on the night of the £16million Saudi Cup, the richest race in the , on February 22.

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There are 28 Group 1 winners among the entries for the 2025 Saudi Cup, which include last year’s Dubai World Cup winner Laurel River, Breeders’ Cup Classic victor Sierra Leone and three-time Hong Kong Cup winner Romantic Warrior.

Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan plus last year’s Saudi Cup champion Señor Buscador are also engaged.

In total the meeting has attracted 1,123 entries, comprising 81 individual Group 1 winners from a total of 21 countries.

Annaf, the Mick Appleby-trained horse who captured the Group 2 1351 Turf Sprint is entered to defend his crown. The Saudi Cup programme on Friday will again feature the International Jockeys Championship contested by seven male and seven female jockeys from around the world.

Prince Bandar Bin Khaled Alfaisal, chairman of the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia said: “On behalf of everyone at the JCSA, I would like to extend my thanks to owners and trainers from around the world for their nominations for the 2025 Saudi Cup meeting.

"We are proud to be top of mind for the trainers of the world’s best from more than 20 countries, including so many that have won at the highest level.

“ thrives on international competition, and we believe that The Saudi Cup is the perfect event to showcase the best of global racing.

"The Saudi Cup itself is the pinnacle of our racing season and in a few short years has become a truly global race. This year’s renewal looks perhaps the strongest yet.”