Without end Younger will attempt to change into the primary horse to win the world’s richest horse race twice when he leaves the beginning gate within the 2026 Saudi Cup on Saturday at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh. Final yr, Without end Younger outdueled Romantic Warrior in a stirring stretch drive to seize the $20 million race. Without end Younger would finish the yr by successful the $7 million Breeders’ Cup Traditional at Del Mar, North America’s richest horse race.
The 5-year-old Japan bred has amassed greater than $19.3 million in earnings in his profession. With a victory on Saturday, he would transfer into second place in all-time profession earnings, behind solely Romantic Warrior ($31.8 million).
For Saturday, Without end Younger has been put in because the 8-11 morning-line favourite within the 2026 Saudi Cup odds at TwinSpires. Nysos (7-2), Bishops Bay (11-1), Nevada Seashore (11-1) and Luxor Cafe (16-1) spherical out the highest 5 selections among the many 14 Saudi Cup horses. Publish time for the race is 12:40 p.m. ET.
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SportsLine racing insider Michelle Yu, who accurately picked Without end Younger to win final yr’s Saudi Cup, is in Riyadh once more this yr to cowl the race. She has recognized her prime picks for this yr’s operating.
Right here is Yu’s horse-by-horse evaluation for the 2026 Saudi Cup, listed by program quantity:
1 Banishing (33-1)
The Charles City Traditional winner has been winless since August, and his greatest race since has been a dash. He has twice tried Grade 1 firm and has been bested by double-digit lengths each instances. This former claimer’s declare to fame is a useless warmth with Nysos within the Churchill Downs Stakes final Could, however I’d be stunned to see him flip in that form of effort on Saturday.
2 Bishops Bay (11-1)
The Cigar Mile winner has been bought by native connections to take a swing at this one-turn race, and that could be a configuration we all know this horse loves. He has a pleasant cruising pace, and previous type says he ought to deal with the added floor. Saturday shall be a category check for him, however I would not be stunned to see him take dwelling a giant test.
3 Without end Younger (8-11)
The returning champ simply would not run dud races. He’s coming in with out the good thing about a prep, which might usually be my one concern. However he clearly loves this course, and there shall be tempo to run at. Whereas he may desire a bit extra floor, this monitor performs to a horse who can go longer. He gave us the race of the yr final yr when beating Romantic Warrior, and I feel he does it once more.
4 Haqeet (100-1)
This son of Arrogate is on a sample for a superb race after a loss final day out. He has been operating farther, however that appears to be useful within the Saudi Cup. He has but to face graded firm, and this may very well be a shock to him.
5 Luxor Cafe (16-1)
This Japanese invader was nicely backed within the Kentucky Derby when he was a nicely crushed twelfth to Sovereignty. His lone win after the Derby was a Group 3 so his type is nowhere close to pretty much as good as the shape he dropped at Louisville. The choice to carry him to Saudi off the very disappointing effort within the Champions Cup in his final begin is a daring transfer. Possibly that could be a sign that he’s on the upswing and has made good development from age 3 to 4.
6 Mhally (40-1)
The native winner of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques prep, this gelding has been in effective type and brings in stable efforts at this monitor. He beforehand completed third within the Saudi Derby, which was removed from embarrassing. He regarded courageous holding off the filly within the prep which was his first effort at 9 furlongs. He might give the locals some hope, however I discover him laborious to place him on prime given the headliners on this race.
7 Nevada Seashore (11-1)
The Native Diver winner regarded like he made the journey abroad nicely and was taking to the sandy floor within the mornings. Each of coach Bob Baffert’s runners received slightly breeze right here, which is a constructive in my eyes. He was narrowly bested by Nysos within the Laffit Pincay in his final begin when he received an A-plus trip. Without end Younger had eleven-plus lengths on him within the Breeders’ Cup Traditional, however this distance ought to go well with him a lot better. Baffert is 0-fer within the Saudi Cup, and the extra doubtless winner of his two runners is Nysos. Nevada Seashore is a grinder although, and you may’t low cost Baffert anytime there may be huge cash on the road. I do really feel like horses that need extra floor fare higher on this strip, and that might play out with Nevada Seashore. Primarily based on his look this week, he appears to be thriving on this monitor.
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8 Nysos (7-2)
This dazzling son of Nyquist has the suitable mentality for a $20 million rating. He has been suffering from layoff strains however has by no means did not return with the identical prior type. His lone defeat was to the wonderful Mindframe when coming off a 15-month layoff and racing within the slop, neither of which I’ll maintain towards him. He threw down towards Citizen Bull to come back away a Breeders’ Cup champion in 2025 and returned to the races this yr a winner. I like that Baffert received the racing recency into him for a peak effort on this spot. Can Nysos maintain off Without end Younger? I do not know, however I do suppose he is probably the most proficient horse Baffert has dropped at Saudi. On the flip facet, Nysos isn’t masking the floor in addition to his stablemate Nevada Seashore. I would not be stunned if he struggles a bit with the one-turn configuration.
9 Rattle N Roll (33-1)
Coach Kenny McPeek is again with Rattle N Roll after a comparatively disappointing run in final yr’s version during which he was fairly fancied off a giant win within the native prep. This yr he prepped at Oaklawn Park in a much less prestigious race and involves Saudi contemporary off the airplane. I did not love him final yr, and I am going to proceed that sentiment this yr.
10 Star Of Surprise (66-1)
An allowance kind stateside, this son of Uncle Mo has discovered the corporate to his liking regionally with back-to-back wins in his two Saudi Arabia appearances. I am undecided if he’ll have the ability to traverse the 1,800 meters of this race — he has appeared higher at seven furlongs — however configuration may very well be key. I do not suppose he has the closing kick of Without end Younger or the tactical pace of Nysos.
11 Dawn Zipangu (20-1)
Kyoko Maekawa is the primary feminine coach licensed in two international locations and steps onto racing’s largest stage with a horse who gave her her first win as a coach. Nevertheless, Dawn Zipangu has been winless since that preliminary rating. Maekawa is assured in her cost although as she thinks turf horses have faired very nicely on this monitor. Nonetheless, he is not on the identical stage as the highest contenders.
12 Thundersquall (66-1)
He earned a pleasant win in his final begin right here regionally, however he’ll be going through a special caliber of horse and already has been bested within the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques. I do not see how he can enhance that consequence.
13 Tumbarumba (20-1)
A good fourth behind Nysos within the Breeders’ Cup Mile was his final stateside look. He has had a pair of begins at Meydan in Dubai, neither of which was a victory. Whereas he has been within the Center East, he has not been coaching regionally. He typical runs near the tempo, and that’s his greatest likelihood to get a bounce on the perfect horses on the planet. I might see him nibbling a chunk.
14 Ameerat Alzamaan (33-1)
This filly takes on the boys, however that is no Midnight Bisou. A dominating Group 2 winner on the finish of final yr versus fillies, she took on the boys within the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques prep and completed a stable second in a area of 19. Her conditioner stated that she has proven enchancment since. Nonetheless, I am unable to think about her popping out on prime towards horses like Without end Younger and Nysos.
Picks
3-7-8-13
Wagers
$10 Win 3 ($10)
Whole: $10*
*Primarily based on a $100 price range
