Saudi Cup 2022: Horse Racing Tips, Bet Types, Start Time & Odds

The Saudi Cup is known as the richest horse race on the planet and this year it could crown one of racing’s gods its champion, when Mishriff arrives in Riyadh seeking immortality.

This race has only been running since 2020 but its eye-watering $20m purse means the world’s best thoroughbreds are always in contention to battle it out in the desert.

And the Saudi Cup 2022 is no different. A record 700+ applications have been sent by trainers seeking to get their horses on the two-day Saudi Cup festival bill at the end of February.

Of these, it is thought there are around 70 hopefuls for Saturday’s big race. The likes of T O Keynes, Mishriff, Midnight Bourbon and Mandaloun have been at the forefront of American horse racing these past 12 months – and now it’s time to see them do battle once again.

Here’s everything you need to know about the Saudi Cup – one of the biggest horse races of 2022.

When Is The Saudi Cup 2022?

The Saudi Cup takes place on Saturday, February 26th at the King Abdulaziz Racetrack in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The Saudi state has invested millions of dollars into horse racing over the past few years in order to rival the likes of Dubai when it comes to staging big-money events. And while Saudi’s horse racing industry is still growing, it’s fair to say the Saudi Cup has already gotten everyone talking.

Last year’s winner Mishriff could be back for more this February. And the two-minute sprint is likely to capture the imagination of the racing world.

What Time Is The Saudi Cup 2022?

The Saudi Cup 2022 is scheduled for 12:40 PM ET on Saturday, February 26th. The race covers one-and-an-eighth mile and is run on the dirt track at King Abdulaziz Racetrack.

All being well, the race should last no longer than two minutes. The previous two runnings of this race have been won in times of 1:50:59 and 1:49:59.

Saudi Cup 2022 TV Channel

FOX Sports 1 televised and streamed the Saudi Cup in its first two years and the broadcaster is down to show the race again in 2022. However, the Saudi Cup TV channel this year might be moved to FOX Sports 2.

Saudi Cup 2022 Live Stream

FOX is expected to once again have the Saudi Cup live stream rights, although this is yet to be confirmed.

Saudi Cup 2022 Attendance

An estimated 5,000 people will attend the King Abdulaziz Racetrack in the main grandstand on Saturday, February 26th for the Saudi Cup itself. However, the entire racecourse is able to hold around 11,000 spectators.

Among those in attendance will be members of the Saudi royal family and dignitaries from across the region, as well as some of the biggest figures in global horse racing.

How To Bet On Saudi Cup 2022

Saudi Cup betting is likely to hot up the closer we get to the big race – and there has never been a better time to join an online sportsbook and place a wager. That’s because sportsbooks across the US are scrambling to attract new customers, which means there are scores of bonuses and sign-up offers for new players to trigger.

Once you’ve found a sports betting site you like, be sure to trigger any sign-up bonuses they offer. This might involve betting on the Saudi Cup, or perhaps wagering on different sports first.

However you do it, if you want to bet on horse racing then all you need to do is to head over to the racing section of your sportsbook. There you’ll see the list and racecards of all upcoming races that day, the next day and future (ante-post) races too.

Either search ‘Saudi Cup’ or look for it in the futures section, and then you’ll find the list of horses expected to race. Now, we stress that this is the expected lineup, because we won’t know for sure until the week of the race. This is the ante-post market, where bookmakers offer odds on horses likely but not guaranteed to run.

To bet on a horse, simply click on their name or odds, and enter your stake in dollars in the bet slip. You’ll be able to see your risk and potential profit, so you can make a clear decision whether or not to place the bet.

Once you’ve made your wager, you might be able to cash out at any time, depending on the sportsbook. It’s worth remembering that the odds in the ante-post market are usually better than those on race day, because horses have yet to be confirmed.

Best Saudi Cup 2022 Bet Types

Most people betting on the Saudi Cup 2022 odds this month will be focusing on the win market. This is only natural as the winner is the main focus of horse racing.

However, there are other markets that may offer a more lucrative and profitable return than a straight-up win, and may even be less risk.

Both the show and place markets offer the perfect opportunity to spread your risk over multiple outcomes. The show bet is a wager where you back a horse to finish first or second, the place bet is on first second of third.

Remember, the Saudi Cup 2022 is expected to be a highly-contested race with some of the world’s elite thoroughbreds arriving in Riyadh. It is therefore perhaps smarter to spread the risk.

Saudi Cup 2022 Betting Tip

We’re spoiled for choice in this race and picking a winner will be tough. In fact, it could come down to the post position of each horse. However, when looking at the form MISHRIFF will be a justifiable favorite. An exacta bet, where you wager on the horse to finish first and second in the race, could be worth considering for Mishriff and fellow sprinter T O Keynes.

“The horse is in good shape again, he’s fit and healthy and he’s got all guns blazing, I suppose,” said Mishriff jockey David Egan.

“It was a feather in his cap having run well in the (Saudi) Derby out here the year before last and now he’s run well here twice, whereas some will be coming out here for the first time and running on this sort of surface for the first time.

However, the money is likely to be found in the place market. Sealiway is a French horse under and new trainer and hasn’t run since running at Ascot last summer, while Marche Lorraine won the Breeders’ Cup Distaff. Both horses could contest the lead here and second a third place finish or better.

Saudi Cup 2022 Weather Forecast

Rarely does it rain in Riyadh in February, and temperatures are expected to float around 77 degrees. It means the turf should be fairly firm, although it will likely receive a sprinkling of water just to keep the dust away.

Saudi Cup 2022 Prize Money

The Saudi Cup 2022 prize money stands at $20m and the winner receives a $10m check. In total the two-day Saudi Cup festival hands out prize money worth roughly $35m.