The Festival Kicks Off in Riyadh with the IJC, as Lucas Gaitán Dreams Big with Alwaqqad

A strong field takes center stage in the upcoming Jockey Championship; Argentine trainer featured in the Tuwaiq Cup

The Jockey Championship returns with 14 riders competing for glory / JCSA

By Diego H. Mitagstein (Special correspondent of Turf Diario in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia)

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia.- The festivities begin today at King Abdulaziz Racetrack, with a day full of excitement, headlined by the International Jockey Challenge (IJC). But the spotlight will also shine on Alwaqqad (Good Magic), trained by Lucas Gaitán, as the chesnut makes his appearance in the Tuwaiq Cup (1800 m, dirt), bringing attention to Argentine and South American.

The jockey championship will feature some of the most renowned names in the industry, competing in a traditional format with four races over different distances and surfaces. The opening event will be a mile on dirt, followed by a 1400m race on the same track, then a 1200m turf race, and concluding with a 2100m race on grass.

The male riders’ roster includes New Zealand's James MacDonald—ranked the best jockey in the world in 2024 by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA)—Belgium's Christophe Soumillon, Puerto Rico's John Velásquez, Ireland's Oisin Murphy and Tadhg O'Shea, and Portugal's Ricardo Ferreira, along with local jockey Muhammad Aldaham.

On the women's side, Maryline Eon of France, the 2024 IJC champion, will return to defend her title, alongside Britain’s Hollie Doyle and Rachel King, Japan's Manami Nagashina, New Zealand’s Kelly Myers, the U.S.'s Sofía Vives, and Germany’s Sibylle Vogt.

The title will be awarded to the jockey who accumulates the most points after the four stages, with a total prize pool of $100,000, including $30,000 for the winner. Additionally, each race will have a purse of $400,000.

For Lucas Gaitán, the presence of Alwaqqad holds great significance for the future. The horse was Gaitán's primary contender for the Saudi Derby (G3) in 2024, but after winning the qualifier, he suffered an injury that prevented him from racing. Following a successful surgery, Alwaqqad returned a few days ago, finishing third while not fully fit, and now the goal is to compete for the top prize. Tadhg O'Shea will be in the saddle.