Tuwajeri Heads Taif Derby Field
Image: Tuwajeri wins at King Khalid Racecourse on August 1, 2026.
Credit: Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia / Abdullah Wanas Alshammari
------------------------------------------------------------------
TRIAL WINNER TO FACE 12 RIVALS ON SATURDAY
Thursday August 20, 2026 – After fighting out the finish to the trial earlier this month, Tuwajeri (IRE) and Yaltahem (GB) will again clash on Saturday when a field of 13 go to post in the SAR350,000 Taif Derby at King Khalid Racecourse.
The pair were just over a length apart when finishing first and second here on August 1, pulling nine-lengths clear of the third, with the winner one of three in this weekend’s 1600m feature for owner Sheikh Abdullah Homoud Almalek Alsabah and trainer Abdullah Alsidrani.
Tuwajeri, formerly trained in the United Kingdom by Richard Hannon, boasts strong form from last season having ran second in the 2000 Guineas and then sixth to stablemate Al Haram (IRE) in the Saudi Derby in February.
The son of Pheonix Of Spain will be joined in the Taif Derby by fellow Alsidrani runners Raakeb (IRE) – another former Hannon inmate who won a conditions race on his local debut three weeks ago – and the twice-raced Midhaal (IRE).
Yaltahem is the sole representative for the Red Stable of Prince Faisal bin Khaled bin Abdulaziz, with Adel Alfouraidi’s mount having his fifth racecourse outing after wining on debut last November and his 13th finish in the 2000 Guineas.
The other main player is the White Stable of King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz runner, Alhisham (USA) who chased home Raakeb last time out having also won on his Riyadh debut in November.
A field of seven runners will start for the SAR350,000 Taif Arabian Derby over 2000m with the field headed by Al-Dareyah Cup winner and Group 1 Obaiyah Arabian Classic seventh Maestro Du Croate (FR), who will be having his first run since that effort on The Saudi Cup weekend.
The well-established colt takes on the unexposed filly Bouchra (FR) who will be having just her third domestic start having landed a maiden two weeks ago, along with the Taif Arabian Derby Prep winner Almujather (FR).
The Red Stable also have a good chance elsewhere on Saturday with four runners in the 18-strong SAR150,000 Taif University Cup over 1400m including Jahdoon (KSA), who seeks a hat-trick of wins after successes in the Taif University Cup Prep and last week’s Shubra Cup which he collected by an impressive eight lengths.
The White Stable have three in opposition and they include Taif University Cup Prep fifth Allah Maae (KSA) and six-times winner Fallat Kheir (KSA).
Friday’s feature is the SAR150,000 Makkah Almokarramah Reg.Gov.Cup over 1600m and amongst the 14 runners are the Sheikh Abdullah Homoud Almalek Alsabah trio of Mullazem (IRE), Uncle (GB) and Ya Dar (FR) along with the top-rated pair of Alwaqqad (USA) and Power Of Beauty (IRE).
***ENDS***