History-making jockey Angela Jones will add another major milestone to her career when she takes her place in the field for the 2026 Diriyah International Jockeys’ Challenge at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh on February 13.
Jones, who created history last season by becoming the first female rider to win the Brisbane Jockeys Premiership, will line up as part of the seven-women, seven-men format across the four-race International Jockeys’ Challenge, held on the Friday ahead of Saudi Arabia’s showpiece meeting.
The event forms part of the build-up to the world’s richest race, the Saudi Cup, which will be run the following day for a staggering US$20 million on Saturday, February 14.
Jones will join a star-studded international line-up that includes leading UK riders Holly Doyle and Saffie Osborne, French ace Marie Velon, American jockey Forest Boyce, as well as Frida Valle-Skar and Nina Baltromei.
Local hope Mohammed Aldaham will be out to defend his crown in the male division, where he will be joined by an elite group of riders including Mickael Barzalona, Dylan Browne McMonagle, Luis Morales, Flavien Prat, Keita Tosaki and Billy Loughnane.
The two-day Saudi Cup meeting will again showcase the very best of world racing, with total prizemoney across the carnival exceeding US$39.6 million, reinforcing its status as one of the richest and most prestigious racing events on the global calendar.
