Saudi Cup 2020: Post times, fields and how to watch

A number of top American horses are in Saudi Arabia this week for Saturday’s Saudi Cup card worth more than $29 million in purse money. But they’re not just handing money out at King Abdulaziz Racecourse.

Top international fields have assembled, including for the featured $20 million Saudi Cup itself. Here’s an updated look at the program with post positions to be determined Wednesday.

The Saudi Cup will air on Fox Sports 1 in the United States, and it’s possible the undercard shows up on Fox Sports 2. If not, all eight races are expected to stream live on flosports.tv, which offers monthly packages in the neighborhood of $12.50. Major advanced deposit wagering services will offer betting.

Race 1: $1 million Naghi Motors Cup (8 a.m. ET)

Known previously as the Neom Turf Cup, this was to be the spot for Mo Forza, the Peter Miller-trained Grade 1 winner. Instead, connections will wait for Dubai with that colt, leaving the Aidan O’Brien trainee Mount Everest as a standout along with Japan’s Deirdre.

Race 2: $1 million 1351 Cup (8:35 a.m. ET)

Two Americans, Doug O’Neill’s Legends of War and Miller’s Ghoul, will take part in this 6 1/2-furlong turf sprint. Legends of War offers back class as a Kentucky Downs stakes winner last fall, while Ghoul is a recent addition to Miller’s barn and improving. Suedois, who shipped in to take the 2017 Shadwell Turf Mile (G1) at Keeneland, recently returned to his winning ways in Dubai.

Race 3: $2.5 million Longines Turf Cup (9:10 a.m. ET)

While absent an American runner, this race, originally billed as the Red Sea Cup, looks loaded with 2018 Melbourne Cup (G1) winner Cross Counter going for Godolphin and Dee Ex Bee a classy European campaigner who likely needed his last one on Jan. 30 in Dubai. Prince of Arran is another who has run consistently with the world’s best on turf.

Race 4: $1.9 million Obaiya Arabian Classic (9:45 a.m. ET)

One for the Arabians. Moving on…

Race 5: $500,000 Local Handicap (10:30 a.m. ET)

And this, for local runners…

Race 6: $800,000 Saudi Derby (11:10 a.m. ET)

In a potential tuneup for the March 28 UAE Derby (G2), Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf runner-up Billy Batts switches to dirt here, while Steve Asmussen-trained Rowdy Yates enters off a victory in Sunland Park’s Riley Allison Derby. It’s tough to gauge the overall class of this event, but the filly Down On Day Bayou is an intriguing presence off her dominating victory last week in Meydan’s UAE Oaks (G3).

Race 7: $1.5 million Saudia Sprint (11:50 a.m. ET)

While this field’s missing one of its top Americans, Shancelot, the multiple Grade 1 winner Imperial Hint has made the trip. Asmussen also sent over Engage, a relative newcomer to his barn who won Keeneland’s Phoenix (G2) last fall, but the Daily Racing Form reported Monday that horse is out due to a setback. Now based in Dubai, Gladiator King has gone back to back to open his season, and New York Central is a Grade 3 winner sold to Saudi Arabian interests. Another to mention in this stacked event is Miller’s other shipper, the last out Palos Verdes (G2) hero Captain Scotty.

Race 8: $20 million Saudi Cup (12:40 p.m. ET)

The main event includes five Americans led by champions Maximum Security and Midnight Bisou, as well as Grade 1 winner McKinzie. Will there be an international spoiler? Benbatl looked just short of brilliant when winning his dirt debut last time at Meydan, while Gronkowski may finally be cranked back up after a surprise second in last year’s Dubai World Cup (G1). North America adds pace, and Japan’s Chrysoberyl shows up with a 6-for-6 record.

With Mucho Gusto and Magic Wand also Grade/Group 1 winners, something will have to give in the world’s richest horse race.