Global Staying Perspectives: A Preview of the 2026 Red Sea Turf Handicap
- Archie Brookes
- 2 days ago
- 10 min read
By Archie Brookes (@abracing0)
As the international racing calendar reaches its first major crescendo of 2026, the eyes of the bloodstock world turn to Riyadh. The $2.5 million Group 2 Red Sea Turf Handicap, staged over 3,000 metres at the King Abdulaziz Racecourse, has evolved into much more than a staying test; it is now the definitive mid-winter battleground for the world’s elite long-distance thoroughbreds.
The 2026 iteration, scheduled as the penultimate race on Saturday, features a total prize pool of $39.6 million across the weekend. However, for those focused on the "stayer-plus" profile - horses with the stamina of a marathon runner and the tactical acceleration of a miler - the Red Sea Turf is the weekend’s true tactical masterpiece.
The Strategic Geometry and Handicap Assignments
The Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia has presented a remarkably compressed handicap for 2026. Following the final declaration of 12 runners, the margin for error for jockeys is even slimmer. This parity suggests that the 2026 iteration will be contested at a higher average tempo than previous years, as the field lacks a single dominant outlier in the weights.
The King Abdulaziz turf course is widely recognised for its fair configuration, but for a 3,000-metre contest, the single-turn nature of the layout places a premium on horses that can travel smoothly behind a lead before utilising the long home straight.
Contender Profiles
Presage Nocturne: The Top-Weighted Traveller
The top-weighted entry, trained in Chantilly by Alessandro Botti, carries 60kg. Foaled in 2020, this talented six-year-old is a son of Wootton Bassett out of the Verglas mare Kyurem. An Irish-bred stayer, he established himself as a high-class performer on the French circuit, notably winning the Group 3 Prix de Barbeville at ParisLongchamp and placing third in the Group 1 Prix Vicomtesse Vigier.
Following his domestic success, he was campaigned extensively in Australia, where he produced an eye-catching fourth-place finish in last year’s Caulfield Cup (above) before a disappointing, unplaced run as favourite in the Melbourne Cup at Flemington. Having previously finished a creditable fourth in last year's edition of the Red Sea Turf, he returns to Riyadh as a proven traveller. His victory in the Prix de Barbeville over 3,100m highlights his immense stamina, though the 2026 assignment requires him to concede weight to younger, more progressive rivals while shouldering the maximum burden in the field.
Tabletalk: The Tactical Stable Star
Tom Clover’s Abdulla Al Mansoori-owned colt is a son of the celebrated Camelot out of the mare Dillydallydo. He rose to significant acclaim after winning the prestigious Melrose Handicap at York in August 2024 under jockey Rossa Ryan - a victory that established him as a serious contender for major staying features. Since then, he has become a consistent performer in high-level competition, frequently appearing in Group and Listed company such as the Chester Stakes and the Silver Cup at York.
Throughout the 2025 season, Tabletalk proved his stamina and reliability over distances ranging from 2,400 to 2,800 metres, earning a reputation as a "stable star" for the Clover yard. His official rating has reached as high as 113, and while he has faced stiff opposition from the best stayers in the country, his tactical versatility on good to firm ground remains his greatest asset.
This outing marks a significant juncture in his career, as it will be his first run since being gelded in October last year. With a weight of 59.5kg, he sits high in the handicap, reflecting his established quality and readiness to make the leap into Group 2 company on the flat, galloping tracks of the Middle East.
Epic Poet: The Consistent International Campaigner
A veteran of the 2025 meeting where he finished a narrow second (below), David O’Meara’s charge returns to Riyadh with unfinished business. Carrying 58.5kg, this talented seven-year-old gelding by Lope De Vega is campaigned by Akela Thoroughbreds. Originally starting his career in France with Jean-Claude Rouget, he has since become a consistent force in high-class staying handicaps and Group races across the UK and the Middle East.
His notable successes include a determined win in the Old Borough Cup at Haydock in September 2024 and the Zoho Conditions Stakes at Meydan early last year. Most recently, he demonstrated his enduring quality by finishing a close second in the Group 3 Al Khail Trophy at Meydan last month under his regular pilot Daniel Tudhope. This performance further cements his reputation as a versatile and high-rated international campaigner. His familiarity with the King Abdulaziz turf gives him a tactical edge, and his weight assignment suggests he remains one of the premier benchmark stayers in this line-up.
Sons and Lovers: The Front-Running Syndicate Find
Foaled in 2021, this high-class five-year-old is a fascinating addition to the Joseph O’Brien yard. Though he began his career in the UK with Jane Chapple-Hyam - winning on debut at Newmarket - he moved to O’Brien in early 2025 and now competes for the H.O.S. Syndicate. Allocated 58kg, he represents the "middle-distance plus" profile that is increasingly successful in Riyadh.
He reached a career peak in August by winning the Group 3 Ballyroan Stakes at Leopardstown, where he displayed impressive stamina and front-running ability to hold off a competitive field. Currently holding an official rating of 110, he has established himself as a consistent performer in Group and Listed company over distances of 2,400 to 2,800 metres. Most recently, he finished a close third in the CMG Group Stakes in September. His weight places him in the middle of a very competitive pack, and his ability to dictate from the front could be a significant asset on this track.
Struve: The Late-Closing Japanese Enigma
Trained by Noriyuki Hori for owner Katsuko Muraki, this talented seven-year-old is a son of the prominent King Kamehameha. A high-class middle-distance horse on the JRA circuit, Struve enjoyed a breakout campaign in the Spring of 2024, capturing consecutive victories in the Grade 2 Nikkei Sho and the Grade 2 Meguro Kinen (below). While he has predominantly campaigned over middle-distance trips, his stamina was notably tested in February last year when finishing fifth in the Grade 3 Diamond Stakes over 3,400m - his only outing beyond 2,500m to date.
Struve remains very unexposed over staying distances, which adds an element of unknown quantity to his profile as he steps back up to 3,000m. While he has recently faced tougher assignments in elite Group 1 company - including an appearance in the 2024 Arima Kinen and most recently the Japan Cup in November - he remains a respected competitor known for his late closing speed. Although he is a less experienced stayer than some in the field, Struve’s rating of 113 suggests he is perfectly placed to capitalise on his 58kg weight assignment.
Burdett Road: The Versatile Dual-Purpose Innovator
Trained by James Owen for the Gredley family, Burdett Road is a premier dual-purpose performer who has achieved high-class status on both the Flat and over obstacles. Originally a successful Flat performer - highlighted by his victory in the 2023 Golden Gates Stakes at Royal Ascot - he has maintained a relentless high-level campaign over the last two seasons. Known for an impressive cruising speed and sharp turn of foot, he reaffirmed his quality with a major victory in the 2024 Greatwood Hurdle at Cheltenham, carrying top weight to victory, and later finishing third behind Constitution Hill in the Christmas Hurdle.
His 2025 season was defined by a career-best performance in a dramatic Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, where he outran odds of 66/1 to finish a gallant second (above). This followed a runner-up spot in the Grade 2 Kingwell Hurdle earlier that year. Most recently, he made his debut over fences in November, finishing third in a Grade 2 novice chase at Cheltenham, before finishing a close second in a valuable Flat handicap at Meydan last month. This recent preparation in Dubai provided crucial local acclimatisation. His proven stamina across disciplines and a weight of 57.5kg make him a highly competitive proposition, sitting right in the "sweet spot" of the handicap scale for this 3,000-metre test.
Goodie Two Shoes: The Marathon Mare of Flemington
Trained by Joseph O'Brien for owner JP McManus, this high-class Irish-bred mare is a daughter of the champion sprinter Fastnet Rock out of the Galileo mare Fits Like A Glove. A versatile and talented performer over staying distances, her stellar 2025 campaign featured victories in the Group 3 Stanerra Stakes at Fairyhouse and the Listed Vintage Tipple Stakes.
She reached a magnificent career peak in November, finishing as the runner-up in the Melbourne Cup at Flemington - a result that established her as one of the pre-eminent stayers on the international circuit (above). Combining elite stamina with the speed inherited from her sire, she brings proven marathon endurance to the Riyadh turf. Despite minor veterinary concerns late last year, she has passed all inspections and arrives in Saudi Arabia as a leading contender. Partnered by Dylan Browne McMonagle, she is effectively weighted at 57.5kg, a mark that respects her top-tier Southern Hemisphere form.
Tennessee Stud: The Sophisticated Classic Raider
Sired by Wootton Bassett out of the Sadler’s Wells mare In My Dreams, this high-class four-year-old represents the absolute elite of the Joseph O’Brien yard. Raced by a powerhouse ownership group including Westerberg and the Coolmore partners, Tennessee Stud was a Group 1 winner as a juvenile in the Critérium de Saint-Cloud (below) before embarking on a top-tier classic campaign. In 2025, he proved his quality by finishing a gallant third in the Epsom Derby and fourth in the Irish Derby, confirming his status as one of Europe's premier middle-distance horses.
His transition to staying trips was confirmed with a stylish win in the Group 2 Prix Chaudenay at Longchamp in October. Known for an immense cruising speed and the grit of a true stayer, he has earned a reputation as a leading contender for future global prizes like the Melbourne Cup. With Ryan Moore booked to ride at 57.5kg, he enters this 3,000-metre test as the most sophisticated profile in the field, possessing both the raw speed of a Classic performer and the stamina required for a marathon circuit.
Espoir Avenir: The Progressive French Outsider
Trained by Christophe Ferland for owner-breeder Alain Maubert, this Group 3 winner by Montmartre carries 57kg. He represents the classic French staying tradition - horses that can travel strongly on the bridle before delivering a sustained challenge. He established himself as a progressive stayer on the French circuit during his three-year-old campaign, notably clinching a shock 50/1 victory in the Group 3 Prix Gerald de Geoffre at ParisLongchamp in August.
Throughout that season, he proved his stamina and preference for softer ground, culminating in a respectable fourth-place finish in the prestigious Group 1 Prix Royal-Oak at Saint-Cloud in October (above). Crucially, earlier in that month, he was beaten 8 1/2 lengths by the aforementioned Tennessee Stud in the Prix de Chaudenay at Longchamp. With two wins from eight starts and career earnings exceeding €100,000, he brings solid domestic credentials to his first international assignment. While he lacks the global exposure of some rivals, his weight gives him a slight advantage over the top-weighted raiders as he tests his mettle on the faster Riyadh turf.
Vermicelles: The Durable Daughter of Gold Ship
Keiji Yoshimura’s six-year-old is a daughter of Gold Ship, a sire synonymous with stamina. As of early 2026, she has developed into a consistent performer in stayers' races on the JRA circuit, securing several victories. Her notable achievements include a resilient third-place finish in the 2025 Grade 2 Kyoto Daishoten (below) - a performance that served as a perfect springboard for this trip - and another third in the Grade 3 Diamond Stakes over 3,400m.
Carrying 57kg, she is a horse that thrives when allowed to "get into the flow" of a race early. Known for her durability - a trait often associated with her sire - she recently stepped up to the highest level in the 2025 Queen Elizabeth II Cup, where she finished a respectable eighth. While she often goes off at long odds in major stakes, her ability to grind out a result over longer distances has made her a noteworthy name for fans of Japanese long-distance racing. This weight should allow her to maintain her high cruising speed as she tests her mettle on the international stage.
Real Dream: The Versatile Sound-Surface Specialist
Currently trained by Ian Williams for the Macable Partnership, Real Dream is a talented seven-year-old bay by Lope De Vega out of the Fastnet Rock mare Laganore. Having been conditioned by Sir Michael Stoute until late 2024, the horse returned from a wind operation in 2025 to prove himself a highly consistent stayer. While he hasn't hit the winner’s enclosure recently, his standout efforts included a narrow third-place finish behind the prolific Coltrane in the Listed Coral Marathon at Sandown and a solid fifth in the Ebor Handicap at York below).
Carrying a relatively light 55.5kg, he brings useful regional experience to Riyadh, having recently finished a respectable sixth in the Group 3 Al Khail Trophy at Meydan in January. Although he was never a factor in the closing stages of that race, he remains a horse that typically thrives on a sound surface over distances ranging from 2,400 to 3,200 metres. While he may lack the Group-level hardware of the top-weights, his tactical flexibility combined with this lightweight advantage makes him a dangerous "place" prospect in a crowded field.
Tarriance: The Feather-Weight Progressive
Andrew Balding’s runner is the least exposed horse in the international field and arrives with a profile of significant progression. Throughout his three-year-old campaign in 2025, he established himself as a high-quality stayer, winning three of his six starts and finishing in the frame on a further two occasions. His most significant career victory to date came in August at York, where he displayed immense determination under jockey Colin Keane to win the prestigious Sky Bet Melrose Handicap by a nose.
Prior to that success, he recorded wins in a Sandown handicap and a Beverley maiden, demonstrating a clear preference for good and good-to-firm ground. Although he concluded his season with a seventh-place effort in the Group 1 St Leger at Doncaster, he was gelded a couple of weeks after that run, with his connections viewing him as an elite staying prospect for the 2026 season. With a feather-weight of 54.5kg, he has a massive opportunity to outrun his odds in Riyadh, provided he can handle the high-tempo finish of a Middle Eastern straight while carrying the lowest weight in the race.
Conclusion: A Wide-Open Tactical Puzzle
The 2026 Red Sea Turf Handicap represents a fascinating intersection of international form and tactical versatility. With the handicap marks so closely aligned, the race is unlikely to be a simple test of attrition; instead, it promises to be a high-tempo strategic battle where positioning and mid-race acceleration will be paramount.
While the established class of performers like Tennessee Stud provides a clear benchmark for the field, the presence of progressive, unexposed light-weights like Tarriance ensures an unpredictable narrative. Ultimately, the King Abdulaziz turf will crown a stayer who possesses not just the lungs for 3,000 metres, but the tactical gear change necessary to excel on the world stage.