A leap year doesn’t come around every day, and neither does a $20 million horse race. But on Saturday 29 February, these two will combine to bring the world a racing spectacle like never seen before.
Mike de Kock’s Bella Fever was entered
It’s the Saudi Cup, and Tabnews report that Phumelela is in the process of negotiating with the rights holders to broadcast this benchmark event on Tellytrack.
Sandwiched perfectly between the Pegasus World Cup and the Dubai World Cup, the Saudi Cup meeting will be held over two days, with the main race day on Saturday 29 February.
South Africa may be represented via trainer Mike de Kock’s Bella Fever, who recently won the $100,000 Meydan Classic Trial at Meydan.
Announcing the first staging of the event, HRH Prince Bandar bin Khalid Al Faisal, the chairman of the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia, said: “The introduction of the Saudi Cup as an international race, is without doubt the most significant event in the history of horse racing in Saudi Arabia, and demonstrates our resolve to develop this great sport in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and also our ambition to become a leading player on horse racing’s world stage.”
While the race meeting carries total stakes of $29.2 million (R438 million) the main race carries the bulk of the pot, with the winning horse earning a cool $10 million (R150 million) and horses down to 10th place sharing another $10 million300- between them.
It will be run over 1800m on dirt.
Day one of the meeting, on Friday 28 February, will also see some of the best jockeys in the world compete in the Kingdom Day STC International Jockeys Challenge.
