Thundersquall storms back into Taif contention
Former Group 1 Saudi Cup runner headlines the Alshafa Cup
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Thundersquall (Tariq Almansour) winning an Open race over 2,000m at King Abdulaziz racecourse in Riyadh on Nov 29, 2025. Top local jockey Adel Alfouraidi will partner the UK-bred in his bid for a seventh success, in the Alshafa Cup (2,000m) at King Khalid racecourse in Taif on Aug 29.
PHOTO: JCSA
TAIF – Top-class galloper Thundersquall has his first outing since running in the world’s richest race, the US$20 million (S$25.4 million) Group 1 Saudi Cup (1,800m) last February, when facing a full-field of 17 rivals in the 150,000 riyal (S$50,000) Alshafa Cup (2,000m) at King Khalid racecourse on Aug 29.
British jockey Danny Tudhope guided the Prince Saud bin Salman bin Abdulaziz-owned seven-year-old to 11th place behind Japan’s superstar Forever Young, but the son of Dubawi will be reunited with Saudi star jockey Adel Alfouraidi in this weekend’s 2,000m feature after they teamed up to land the Listed King Abdulaziz Racetrack Champion (2,000m) in January.
The outing will be Thundersquall’s first in Taif since a course-and-distance handicap success in September of 2024.
Faal Khair leads the opposition for the White Stable of King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz. The Tapiture four-year-old left several of his rivals behind when making a successful return to action in the Alshafa Cup Prep (2,000m) on Aug 7.
The US-bred bids for a hat-trick of wins, having also scored in Riyadh in the UK Cup (1,800m) on his final outing of last season.
The Red Stable of Prince Faisal bin Khaled bin Abdulaziz field the trio of Alaham, El Jabartee and Wootton’sun while owner Sheikh Abdullah Homoud Almalek Alsabah and trainer Abdullah Alsidrani reply with UK import and Alshafa Cup Prep ninth Meblesh.
Race eight on Aug 29 is the 150,000 riyal Fillies And Mare Cup for local-bred runners over 1,600m. It sees 15-time winner Aeadat bid to continue her marvellous run for the White Stable after she reappeared with success at Taif on Aug 1.
The Premium Tap six-year-old had been beaten when last seen in Riyadh in November, having won her previous 10 consecutive starts.
White Stable also fields another multiple winner in Nowafaa, with Sheikh Abdullah Homoud Almalek Alsabah’s colours carried by recent runner-up Misaaeel.
A field of 18 start in the 120,000 riyal Sprint Championship Prep Arabian Horses (1,200m). It includes old rivals Jade De Faust and Baseq And Bake, who were first and second in a conditions race four weeks ago.
July winner Saloum Al Khalediah heads another full field in the 120,000 riyal King Khalid Racecourse Championship Prep Arabian Horses (1,600m). JOCKEY CLUB OF SAUDI ARABIA