RIYADH: RB Kingmaker showcased his class and determination as he claimed victory in the $1.5 million Al-Mneefah Cup, presented by the Ministry of Culture, at the King Abdulaziz Racecourse on Friday, the opening day of Saudi Cup weekend.
The six-year-old gray purebred Arabian, trained by Helal Alalawi and ridden by jockey Cristian Demuro, surged widest of all in the home stretch, fending off a late challenge from Nabucco Al Maury to win the 2,100 meter contest on turf by a length, in a time of 2 minutes 20.298 seconds. Home hope Asfan Al Khalediah was another half-length back in third.
Breaking from post 12 in a 13-runner field, RB Kingmaker was kept wide throughout the race but finished with a powerful late surge to secure his second career Group 1 victory. His previous top-level win came in February 2024 at the President Cup in Abu Dhabi.
Friday’s win was a triumphant return to form for the horse after a series of tough defeats in recent months, including a runner-up finish to Al Ghadeer in the Qatar Arabian World Cup on Arc Day at ParisLongchamp in October, and a failed defense of his title this month in the The President Cup.
For trainer Alalawi, who heads the National Stables in the UAE, the victory marked a breakthrough after several near-misses in elite company.
“There are no words to tell you how I’m feeling,” said an emotional Alalawi as he reflected on the significance of the win. “To be honest, this has been a dream that has now come true.
“It’s been a hard situation for our stable this season. As you’ve seen, we keep finishing second in the World Cup and third in the Emir’s Sword, and we lost the President Cup in Abu Dhabi. It’s not easy for a local stable like us.
“Today is one of the biggest achievements we have in our career. Cristian executed the race exactly how we asked him to and was perfect. He knows the horse and, as you saw, we saw the real Kingmaker today.”
Demuro, who has ridden RB Kingmaker throughout his career, delivered a perfectly judged ride, anticipating the moves of his rivals before striking late.
“He finished second to Al Ghadeer in the Qatar Arabian World Cup on Arc Day,” Demuro said. “He is not an easy horse but today he had the perfect race.
“I anticipated the moment they would quicken, as I know the Al Khalediah horses. So I always had my eye on them. If you don’t attack, they always get away. I surprised them a little and my horse responded well.
“He is a horse I have always ridden and I know him well. It is fabulous to win this race. It is a Group 1 race and this also opens the doors for Dubai and elsewhere.”
Runner-up Nabucco Al Maury also made a strong late charge but fell just short. Jockey Christophe Soumillon praised his mount’s performance.
“I saw that Cristian was going really easily when we entered the straight and so I rode him to finish second. My horse finished the race really well … and he was very courageous. We are very happy with him,” he said.
RB Kingmaker’s victory cements his place among the top purebred Arabians in the world and opens the door to further elite-level opportunities, with Dubai now a potential next stop for the talented grey.
The two-day Saudi Cup meet concludes on Saturday.
