Photo:

Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia / Mathea Kelly

For the first time the International Jockeys’ Challenge was won by a local rider when Muhammad Aldaham ended up with 30 points thanks to two winning performances.

Victorious in the first round with Jawhar Alriyadh and then the second with Jahdoon, the Saudi Arabian-born Aldaham got off to the best possible start and although he couldn’t ride himself into a place in the other two of the four races that make up the event, the 2025 title was his.

“I’m extremely proud and very honoured to represent my country in the International Challenge,” Aldaham said.

“It’s good for me and good for my country. I am really happy, I can’t tell you how much. I came to ride here when I was 16 years old. I’m from the countryside and I had lots of help when I was young. I was listening after the race and found out that I won and I was so happy. I’m blessed.”

When receiving the trophy he was able to relax after an exciting afternoon that had started so well for him.

“I know this horse,” he said after clinching victory in the first round following a thrilling finish where he battled all the way to the line, finally beating the James McDonald-partnered Allah Maae by a head. “He ran really good a month ago and it’s great to win this race.”

The 32-year-old Aldaham was delighted while international superstar McDonald, who is going to ride Hong Kong hope Romantic Warrior in The Saudi Cup on Saturday, was left scratching his head.

“I’m disappointed, I thought I was going to win it, but then I finished second,” he said.

Aldaham had to dig deep to win the first round but was a clear winner on board Jahdoon, who flew down the final straight to win the second round by 2 3/4 lengths from the Rachel King-partnered Nasser Almuhamadia.

When the challenge moved onto the turf for the third round, Irish-born Oisin Murphy, who was crowned champion jockey in Britain for the fourth time in 2024, finally managed to put an end to the local domination.

Partnering the Jimmy Jerkens-trained Honky Tonk Man, he got his name onto the leaderboard. “He has won really well,” Murphy said. “I was delighted to have been invited to take part in the competition and I’d like to thank Prince Bandar and the organizers for producing a world-class event.

“It’s my first winner at the Saudi Cup meeting, I’ve tried for a couple of years and it’s been great, you’re up against world-class riders. Jimmy Jerkens has been successful around the world and I was thrilled to have been given the ride.”

In the fourth and final round, a 1 5/16-mile race on the turf, there was still hope for Murphy to take the championship away from Aldaham, but the finish was entirely dominated by the female jockeys.

Australian based King showed off her incredible talent with a well-timed late surge from the back of the field. On board Miyagi, she picked off the leading horses one-by-one, to score by five lengths from the Kelly Myers partnered Monsieur Jumbo and the Sofia Vivas-ridden Pretty Flag.

“It worked out really well in the race,” King said. “My instructions were to switch him off early and he finished super. I managed to save a lot of ground and a lot of horse.

The 15 points for the victory on top of her 10 points for a second place with Nasser Almuhamadia ensured that British-born King finished second in the championship.

“It’s always great to be invited to an event like this and to have some success is even better. To have the opportunity to compete on this incredible stage is special,” she said.

McDonald did not win a race this time round, but finished third on the leaderboard after collecting 21 points for a second place in the first round, seven points for a third place in the second round and four points for a fourth place in the third round.