Horse Racing
Five horses to watch as the TAIF Racing Season begins
The TAIF Racing Season returns this weekend, with 22 race meetings scheduled across Friday and Saturday throughout the summer at King Khalid Racecourse.
Over the coming months, hundreds of horses will compete as many of Saudi Arabia's leading jockeys and trainers battle for success in one of the country's most prestigious racing seasons.
Ahead of the opening meeting, we've picked out five leading contenders who could make an early impression when the action gets underway live and for free on DAZN.
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Friday, July 24 – 15:35 BST – Defense Junior
The opening meeting offers several intriguing runners, but Defense Junior is one capable of making an immediate impact.
Partnered by experienced jockey E. Castro, Defense Junior enters the contest with an eye-catching combination of stable and rider. In a field featuring several lightly raced horses, the experience in the saddle could prove decisive and make this a runner worth watching from the outset.
Friday, July 24 – 17:55 BST – Ana Aljonubiyah
Ana Aljonubiyah arrives with enough recent form to suggest another bold showing could be on the cards.
Previous performances have demonstrated the ability to compete near the front of the field, and a return to Taif offers another opportunity to build on that encouraging record. A strong run would come as little surprise.
Friday, July 24 – 19:20 BST – Wafee Al Aez
Consistency has become the hallmark of Wafee Al Aez in recent outings.
A string of competitive performances highlights a runner regularly finishing among the leading horses, and another display of that standard would make the six-year-old difficult to overlook in Friday's finale.
Saturday, July 25 – 16:05 BST – Takoon
Saturday's card features plenty of competitive contests, and Takoon stands out as one capable of making a strong impression.
With a promising profile and a valuable claim from apprentice jockey Mu Alnassar, Takoon has the credentials to challenge if reproducing recent performances. It is a race that could provide one of the weekend's more intriguing storylines.
Saturday, July 25 – 19:20 BST – Saudi Nation
The final selection comes from Saturday's closing race, where Saudi Nation looks capable of finishing the weekend on a high.
With experienced jockey E. Castro taking the ride, Saudi Nation has the benefit of a proven partnership in the saddle. If everything falls into place, this could be one of the standout performances of the closing meeting.
