With a prize pool of $37.35 million, the Saudi Cup is the world's most lucrative horse racing meeting. Launched in 2020, the it is held at the King Abdulaziz Racetrack in Riyadh. This year, the event is scheduled for February 21st and 22nd.
The event is split into two categories. The International Jockeys Challenge will kick things off on Friday before the Saudi Cup takes center stage on Saturday. A total of 16 races will occur over the two days in Saudi Arabia.
Ahead of this year's edition, our guide will present the 2025 Saudi Cup picks to consider, along with some tips to bet on them successfully. Our experts have looked at the favourites and outsiders, with odds coming from leading bookmakers.
Saudi Cup Picks for Winners & Each-Way Bets
The table below shows what the G1 Saudi Cup online betting odds look like at this time. You can use the prices as key indicators to find which are the top-valued favourites and the underdogs that can upset the race.
Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Odds |
Forever Young | Yoshito Yahagi | R. Sakai | 7/4 |
Sierra Leone | Chad C Brown | F. Prat | 5/2 |
Romantic Warrior | C S Shum | J. McDonald | 2/1 |
Laurel River | Bhupat Seemar | T. O'Shea | 7/2 |
Rattle N Roll | Kenneth McPeek | J. Rosario | 9/1 |
Facteur Cheval | J. Reynier | M. Barzalona | 13/2 |
Ushba Tesoro | Noboru Takagi | A. Sugawara | 13/1 |
Walk of Stars | Bhupat Seemar | T. Marquand | 15/1 |
Soul of an Angel | Saffie A Joseph Jr | D. Van Dyke | 20/1 |
⏩ Forever Young: To Win @7/4 (2.75)
Forever Young is the favorite to win the esteemed race and with good reason. Among all the potential runners for the event, it has, alongside Romantic Warrior, the highest rating, with 7.89. In the Tokyo Daishoten G1 a few months ago, it showed that it is in top form, easily claiming the first place. In terms of outright Saudi Cup betting odds, it is the most viable candidate.
⏩ Ushba Tesoro: Each-Way @13/1 (14.00)
As it turns out, we will back the Japanese horses in this race. After careful consideration, we have deduced that the best horse among the underdogs is Ushba Tesoro. It has an excellent rating (7.62) and also managed to give Forever Young a scare in the Tokyo Daishoten before giving out at the end. We expect it to perform well in the Saudi Cup, but we prefer some coverage, hence the each/way bet.
Top Saudi Cup Betting Sites for 2025
All of the leading online bookies will cover the event. When ranking our favorite Saudi Cup betting sites, we consider odds, horse racing markets, promotions and more. These are our top sites for Saudi Cup betting in 2025.
How to Bet on the Highest Saudi Cup Odds
When analysing G1 Saudi Cup odds, there are many things that you must consider. First and foremost, you should consider recent performances. However, the current form is not the only thing to look out for. Trainers, jockeys, adaptability on this track surface, and weather conditions will also determine which horse wins on race day.
Place the Best Bet
When viewing our Saudi Cup picks, remember that you do not have to place a bet on them to win the race. Select the market that best suits your strategy. For example, the Facteur Cheval is priced at 13/2 (17.50) to win the Saudi Cup. As an outsider, you may be better off placing an each-way bet. In doing so, you will receive winnings if the horse finishes in a placed position.
Choose a Top Bookie
Leading bookies recognize the importance of the Saudi Cup to bettors. You will find competitive odds on various ante-post and pre-race markets when signing up. You may also find horse racing betting promotions and live streaming surrounding the Saudi Cup. So, select the bookie that best meets your needs in such areas.
Carry Out Research
Be sure to arm yourself with all the details before confirming any bets. You can find information about the recent form of jockeys and horses on the best Saudi betting sites. You should also do your homework on trainers and owners. Look at which runners may be best suited to Riyadh's 1,800m dirt surface, too. You can even look ahead to see what the weather may be like on race day.
Saudi Cup Race Programme
So that you can see exactly where our Saudi Cup picks will feature, we have created a programme for the event. The table below shows the date and time of all 16 races that will take place over the two days.
Opening Night to Saudi Cup Weekend - Friday 21st February
Race | Prize Money | Time |
Mosef First Fillies Mile | $250,000 | 04:00 pm |
Invest Saudi International Jockey’s Challenge R1 | $400,000 | 04:35 pm |
Invest Saudi International Jockey’s Challenge R2 | $400,000 | 05:10 pm |
Al Sarawat Cup | $250,000 | 05:45 pm |
Invest Saudi International Jockey’s Challenge R3 | $400,000 | 06:20 pm |
Invest Saudi International Jockey’s Challenge R4 | $400,000 | 06:55 pm |
Lucid Tuwaiq Cup | $500,000 | 07:30 pm |
G1 Ministry of Culture Al Mneefah Cup | $1.5 million | 08:05 pm |
Saudi Cup Race Night - Saturday 22nd February
Race | Prize Money | Time |
Ministry of Culture Jockey Club Local Handicap | $1.5 million | 03:00 pm |
G1 Diriyah Cate Development Authority Obaiyah Arabian Classic | $2 million | 03:40 pm |
NHC Saudi International Handicap | $1.5 million | 04:20 pm |
G3 Boutique Group Saudi Derby | $1.5 million | 05:00 pm |
G3 Sports Boulevard Riyadh Dirt Sprint | $1.5 million | 05:40 pm |
G2 Saudi National Bank 1351 Turf Sprint | $2 million | 06:25 pm |
G2 Howden Neom Turf Cup | $2 million | 07:10 pm |
G3 Longines Red Sea Turf Handicap | $2.5 million | 07:50 pm |
G1 Saudi Cup | $20 million | 08:40 pm |
Is Saudi Cup Online Betting Profitable?
With the Saudi Cup being a race worth $20 million, motivation for entrants is high. You can certainly make a profit from Saudi Cup online betting. The race involves some world-class runners you will likely have heard of. This means it is easy to find up-to-date and relevant information on them.
Bookies offer a host of markets surrounding the race. Horse racing fans can, therefore, find value on most betting sites. You can also boost your chances by taking advantage of certain horse racing promos. So, when backing one of our Saudi Cup picks, consider whether you can qualify for a bonus.
Complete List of Saudi Cup Betting Sites
The Saudi Cup is the most lucrative horse race in the world. 2025 will see the sixth edition of the event. Some leading runners and riders will go head-to-head at the King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh.
Forever Young is the clear favourite to win the Saudi Cup. The multiple Grade 1 winner comes in ahead of Sierra Leone, Romantic Warrior, and Laurel River in the latest Saudi Cup odds.
The best online bookies make it easy to bet on the Saudi Cup. You will find various markets, including pre-race and ante post options. Some Saudi Cup betting sites will also feature promotions specific to the race.
We have listed our favourite Saudi Cup betting sites on this page. We considered horse racing coverage, odds, promotions, and usability when ranking bookies. So, look at which site best meets your needs.
We have delivered our Saudi Cup picks on this page. You will also find tips and predictions from many other sources. These include horse racing broadcasters, jockeys, trainers and owners.
It is important to look at the odds for the Saudi Cup before placing any bets. Betting on the winner of the main race comes with the highest returns. However, you can place each-way bets to boost your chances of winning.
The overall prize money for the Saudi Cup comes in at over $37 million. It is the last race on day two that has the biggest prize fund. The winner will walk away with $10 million, with another $10 million being split between the top 10 finishers.