Saudi Derby: My World, Satono Voyage among international cast

Feb 12, 2026 Kellie Reilly/Brisnet.com

My World wins the Jerome Stakes at Aqueduct. (Photo by Coglianese Photo / Credit to Susie Raisher)

Two years ago, Japan’s Forever Young won the Saudi Derby (G3) on the way to his near-miss third in the Kentucky Derby (G1) and global stardom. Now the Saudi Derby has been added to the Euro/Mideast Road to the Kentucky Derby, and Saturday’s $1.5 million renewal is worth points on a 30-15-9-6-3 scale to the top five finishers.

The Saudi Derby is part of a blockbuster day at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh, anchored by the world’s richest race, the $20 million Saudi Cup (G1). Forever Young made a triumphant return in last year’s Saudi Cup, and the planet’s top dirt horse is back to defend his title on Saturday.

While you can watch Forever Young in the Saudi Cup (ninth race) at 12:40 p.m. ET, the three-year-olds who hope to emulate him in the Saudi Derby will take center stage earlier in the fourth race at 9 a.m. ET.

The 14-horse field features an international cast comprising four U.S. shippers, led by My World and Obliteration; a handful from Japan, including Satono Voyage and Best Green; a couple of Europeans; and three based in the Middle East, notably the unbeaten local, Al Haram.

The Brad Cox-trained My World ranks as the early favorite (on the published morning line stateside) after winning three straight at Aqueduct. His past two victories have come in stakes, the Nov. 1 Nashua S. and the Jan. 3 Jerome S. (where he earned 10 points in the Road to the Kentucky Derby). Both of those stakes are contested around a one-turn mile, similar to the configuration of the Saudi Derby. My World aims to become the first Group (or graded) stakes winner for his young sire, two-time champion Essential Quality.

🌎 MY WORLD runs down BALBOA to win the Jerome S. at Aqueduct!

The 3YO son of Essential Quality is now 3 for 4 in his young career for trainer @bradcoxracing! Jaime Rodriguez was in the saddle. pic.twitter.com/86wE8b4D5r

— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) January 3, 2026

Also flying the U.S. flag are the dazzling sprinter Obliteration, who just romped in the Renaissance S. at Oaklawn Park for Steve Asmussen; Doug O’Neill’s Acknowledgemeplz, who set a torrid pace before tiring to third in the San Vicente (G2) at Santa Anita; and Derby trail veteran Very Connected from the Kenny McPeek barn, who has collected six points from his top-five efforts in the Street Sense (G3), Kentucky Jockey Club (G2), and Gun Runner S.

Satono Voyage and Best Green have figured prominently on the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby. Having been on totally different trajectories at home, they will meet for the first time in the Saudi Derby.

Although not Triple Crown-nominated at this point, Satono Voyage brings a big reputation. The son of leading North American sire Into Mischief extended his winning streak to three in the Cattleya S. on the Japan Road at Tokyo.

Looking forward to welcoming Hajime Satomi’s Cattleya Stakes winner SATONO VOYAGE to @JCSA_Racing!

The Hiroyasu Tanaka pupil is pointing next to the G3 $1.5M Saudi Derby, which offers 30 @KentuckyDerby points, on February 14! #サトノボヤージュ pic.twitter.com/8Hjfa7XlmF

— The Saudi Cup (@TheSaudiCup) December 1, 2025

The other Japanese contenders are all Triple Crown nominees. Best Green won his first four starts, but he comes off a third as the favorite in the Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun on the Japan Road. Wonder Dean was a close second at Hanshin to Pyromancer, who came back to win the Zen-Nippon and thereby top the Japan Road at present. Wonder Dean’s stablemate, the filly Tokai Ma Cherie, defeated males in the Hyogo Junior Grand Prix in her latest. Rounding out Team Japan is Keiai Agito, who makes his stakes debut following a pair of narrow wins.

British-based Shayem has fine form on turf, but tests dirt for the first time here. His only loss was a third to highly-regarded Bow Echo, the subsequent winner of the Royal Lodge (G2) on the Euro/Mideast Road. Last time out in October, Shayem was a commanding winner of the Silver Tankard S. at Pontefract.

The French hope Cielo Di Roma, only seventh in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere (G1) on the Euro/Mideast Road on turf, rebounded on Polytrack in the Prix Zeddaan at Deauville. He’ll try to adapt to a different surface as he switches to dirt.

Union Security recently earned six points on the Euro/Mideast Road. The Dubai-based son of champion Maximum Security placed third in the UAE 2000 Guineas (G3).

Al Haram sports a perfect 3-for-3 record, all at this track and distance. Moreover, his margins have been increasing every time, culminating in a 7 1/4-length rout of the Saudi version of the 2000 Guineas over Tuwajeri.

You can watch and wager on Saudi Cup Day at TwinSpires.com.