The Saudi Cup is a new presence on the world stage. It was first run in 2020, when United States-based Maximum Security took the crown. British runner Mishriff, already a top-class turf horse, beat the American favorites when capturing the 2021 edition. Mishriff returns to defend his title, though tough foes like T O Keynes, Mandaloun, Marche Lorraine, and Sealiway stand between him and a repeat.
Who will capture the biggest share of the biggest purse in horse racing? Keep reading to find out!
2022 Saudi Cup Field
This is the official field for the 2022 Saudi Cup in wagering number order, with trainers, jockeys, and post draws.
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Aero Trem (Antonio Perera/Vagner Leal) - post 2
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Art Collector (Bill Mott/Luis Saez) - post 9
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Country Grammer (Bob Baffert/Flavien Prat) - post 1
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Emblem Road (Mitab Almulawah/Wiggy Ramos)- post 5
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Magny Cours (Andre Fabre/Mickael Barzalona) - post 7
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Making Miracles (Mitab Almulawah/Alexis Moreno) - post 10
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Mandaloun (Brad Cox/Florent Geroux) - post 6
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Midnight Bourbon (Steve Asmussen/Joel Rosario) - post 3
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Mishriff (John and Thady Gosden/David Egan) - post 14
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Real World (Saeed Bin Suroor/Frankie Dettori) - post 4
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Sealiway (Francis Henri Graffard/Ryan Moore) - post 11
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Secret Ambition (Satish Seemar/Tadgh O’Shea) - post 12
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Marche Lorraine (Yohito Yashagi/Christophe Soumillon) - post 13
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T O Keynes (Daisuke Takayanagi/Kohei Matsuyama) - post 8
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Great Scot (no rider assigned/Abdulrahman Al Kahtani) - also eligible
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Alkhateeb (no rider assigned/M. Aldugish) - also eligible
As the race draws closer, there will be estimates for morning line odds in the American pools. However, you will not be guaranteed to get those odds. Your best chance for locking in the best odds in the Saudi Cup will be to track the odds at the top online sportsbooks, and be ready to place your bet when you like the odds on a horse who can win. That way, you lock in your odds at the moment you place your bet!
These are the odds on the Saudi Cup horses at the best online sportsbooks:
| Horse |  |  |
|---|---|---|
| Mishriff | +400 | +410 |
| Mandaloun | +650 | +675 |
| T O Keynes | +900 | +950 |
| Art Collector | +1000 | +1000 |
| Midnight Bourbon | +1100 | +1100 |
Betting the Saudi Cup Online
Only a lucky few get to travel to Riyadh to witness the Saudi Cup in person. However, all of us can enjoy a profitable experience from home or anywhere you have access to the internet. It’s simple: bet the race online! Make an account at a trusted online sportsbook, and then you will be part of the action.
There are many options for online sportsbooks, and the choice can seem daunting. Let our experts help you! Our online betting site reviews are trusted by players everywhere. They help you find the best user interfaces, swift deposit and cash-out features, and top odds. Our experts can also help you find the most lucrative bonuses for your betting style!
Get ready to win big on the Saudi Cup by making your account and placing your bets at these top sportsbooks:
Saudi Cup Handicapping
Now that you have your betting account set up, it is time to handicap the Saudi Cup. Read on for expert insight about how to pick a winner in Riyadh!
Saudi Cup Favorites
Mandaloun will be one of the favorites in the betting markets, and he is the horse to beat. He has the tactical speed to be involved from start to finish. He comes off of a good win in the Louisiana (G3), where he overhauled fellow Saudi Cup runner Midnight Bourbon. And, being owned by Saudi interest Juddmonte, his campaign was probably designed to have him peak here.
Longshot bettors, however, have good reason to bet Art Collector. He is a perfect five-for-five at a mile and an eighth, meaning the 1,800 meter distance should be perfect. His tactical speed from the 9 gate should give him a good outside stalking trip. He is also ridden by a jockey who has won at King Abdulaziz before: Luis Saez, who won the very first Saudi Cup.
Mishriff could be an underlay in the betting markets, but he would also be no surprise. He won this race last year, so he is proven over course and distance. Though he has not raced since October, he won off of the exact same layoff last year. He also has the tactical versatility to make a trip no matter how the race unfolds.
Pegasus Exotic Betting Horses
Midnight Bourbon may take some interest in the win pool, but is a far better candidate for lower rungs of exotics. He should set the early pace, though he always seems to get run down by a horse or two, including last out when Mandaloun reeled him in. He has hit the board in three of four starts at nine furlongs but never won, and that result looks likely again.
Two real longshots have a good chance of running into the Saudi Cup exotics, making great payouts in the trifectas and superfectas possible.
Last year Great Scot was a Saudi local who blew up the exotics, and this year Emblem Road looks like the type to do that again. He has won three straight, including two at King Abdulaziz. Though he has never tried a mile and an eighth, his excellent middle-to-Classic-distance dirt pedigree means he should love the distance.
T O Keynes, one of two Japanese runners to try the Saudi Cup this year, is currently the best dirt horse in his country. A mile and an eighth specialist, he should find this 1,800 meter trip perfect. Japanese runners have been doing better than ever lately on the international stage, and if he brings his top form T O Keynes could continue that pattern.
Saudi Cup Best Bets
Here are your best bets for the 2022 Saudi Cup!
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$20 to win - #7 Mandaloun
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$10 each way - #2 Art Collector
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$1 exacta key - #7 Mandaloun with #2 Art Collector, #8 Midnight Bourbon, #9 Mishriff
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$0.50 trifecta key - #7 Mandaloun with #2 Art Collector, #4 Emblem Road, #8 Midnight Bourbon, #9 Mishriff
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$0.20 superfecta key - #7 Mandaloun with #2 Art Collector, #4 Emblem Road, #8 Midnight Bourbon, #9 Mishriff, #13 T O Keynes
