There is no richer betting race in the world than the $20 million Saudi Cup (G1) on Saturday, February 25 at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh! The race covers 1,800 meters (about 1 ⅛ miles), so it is a perfect distance for both milers and classic-distance horses to test their versatility for the richest purse in history.
One of the newest features on the racing calendar, the race has been run three times and only got international Group 1 status in 2020. However, thanks to its rich purse, it has drawn elite fields every year. And, each of its winners has come from a different country: American Maximum Security crossed the wire first in 2020, British Mishriff in 2021, and Saudi Emblem Road in 2022.
Who will add their name to this list? Keep reading to find out, and to see where to bet the Saudi Cup online!
Saudi Cup Online Betting
Before you start handicapping the race, make sure you have an account at one of the best places to bet the Saudi Cup online. There are many options for online sportsbooks, but our expert reviews can help make that decision quick and easy. Our trusted information can help you pick a site with a great experience, trusted money management, and market-leading odds.
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Saudi Cup Field
This is the official field for the 2023 Saudi Cup in wagering number order, with trainers, jockeys, and post draws.
- Panthalassa (Yoshito Yahagi / Yutaka Yoshida) - Betting Number 7
- Taiba (Bob Baffert / Mike Smith) - Betting Number 10
- Crown Pride (Koichi Shintani / Damian Lane) - Betting Number 3
- Scotland Yard (Moutaib Almulawah / Victor Gutierrez) - Betting Number 9
- Sunset Flash (Naif Almandeel / Aseel Alarhani) - Betting Number 13
- Jun Light Bolt (Yasuo Tomomichi / Ryan Moore) - Betting Number 6
- Remorse (Bhupat Seemar / Tadhg O’Shea) - Betting Number 8
- Emblem Road (Moutaib Almulawah / Alexis Moreno) - Betting Number 4
- Vin de Garde (Hideaki Fujiwara / Mickael Barzalona) - Betting Number 11
- Country Grammer (Bob Baffert / Frankie Dettori) - Betting Number 2
- Lagertha Rhyme (Naif Almandeel / Ricardo Ferreira) - Betting Number 12
- Geoglyph (Tetsuya Kimura / Christophe Lemaire) - Betting Number 5
- Cafe Pharoah (Noriyuki Hori / Joao Moreira) - Betting Number 1
Keep in mind that the betting numbers and post positions in Saudi Arabia differ; this is unlike in North America, but common in the rest of the world.
With such a classy field, this is one of the best betting opportunities of the year. And, you can make the most of it by betting at an online sportsbook. Not only do they offer benefits that racetracks cannot, but they also offer fixed odds wagering on major races. This means you can lock in the best odds the moment you place your bet, instead of having to guess at final odds.
These are the Saudi Cup odds at the top of the market. Keep an eye on the prices and be ready to bet when you see a good overlay on your horse!
 |  |  | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taiba | +185 | +185 | +185 |
| Country Grammer | +350 | +350 | +350 |
| Jun Light Bolt | +800 | +800 | +800 |
| Crown Pride | +1200 | +1200 | +1200 |
| Scotland Yard | +1400 | +1400 | +1400 |
| Emblem Road | +1400 | +1400 | +1400 |
| Cafe Pharoah | +1400 | +1400 | +1400 |
Saudi Cup Handicapping
Now that you have your betting account, it’s time for the most fun part of all. Read on to learn who has the best chance to take home the biggest share of $20 million!
Saudi Cup Win Contenders
Country Grammer and Taiba, the American invaders from the Bob Baffert barn, will be the shortest prices in the wagering. Country Grammer has a serious chance to go one better than he did last year: his midpack style suits the surface, he handled it well when second last year, and he should be fitter than he was since he came off a long layoff in 2022.
Taiba has less experience against older horses, and has never shipped internationally before. He will also have a tougher time pacewise than his stablemate: King Abdulaziz is not as kind to speed horses as American tracks, and he won’t have an easy time with speedy Crown Pride to battle as well. Taiba could hang for a piece, but will be a massive underlay on top.
Also likely to be a significant underlay is Jun Light Bolt, the likely shortest price of the Japanese contingent. He does have class, as he beat Crown Pride in the Champions Cup (G1) recently. However, Japanese dirt horses in particular are entirely too hit-or-miss in large international races to take at a short price; the best bet is to stand against this one.
Saudi Cup Exotic Wagering
Last year it was Emblem Road who blew up the tote board and struck a blow for the Saudi locals. Emblem Road is not as appealing this year between the shorter price and having a bit less form coming in. However, there are two very interesting Saudi locals who belong in exotic wagers.
Most interesting is Lagertha Rhyme. She has to turn the tables on Sunset Flash, but the extra distance should help her immensely, as should the likely sharp pace in front of her. She should be rolling well late. Scotland Yard has also turned over a new leaf since coming to Saudi Arabia. The distance is perfect for him, and he should get a good trip tracking the pace.
Geoglyph is the most interesting of the Japanese contingent. He tries dirt for the first time in his career, but the biggest shock is that he hasn’t tried it sooner, since he is by Drefong with some dirt form underneath as well. His turf form shows that he has the stamina to handle this trip, and a surface switch might just be what he needs to tap into his back class at a strong price.
Free Saudi Cup Picks
These are your free expert picks for the 2023 Saudi Cup:
- $20 to win - #2 Country Grammer
- $10 each-way - #12 Lagertha Rhyme
- $1 exacta key - #2 Country Grammer with #9 Scotland Yard, #12 Lagertha Rhyme
- $0.50 trifecta key - #2 Country Grammer with #5 Geoglyph, #9 Scotland Yard, #12 Lagertha Rhyme
- $0.20 superfecta key - #2 Country Grammer with #5 Geoglyph, #9 Scotland Yard, #10 Taiba, #12 Lagertha Rhyme
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