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ZOOD Real Estate presented the Saudi Derby at King Abdulaziz Racecourse as part of the Saudi Cup 2025 programme.
The final stretch of the Saudi Derby 2025 delivered the kind of finish that makes horse racing compelling.
Japan's Shin Forever had taken the lead and looked set for victory, but Golden Vekoma kept closing the gap. In the final meters, the UAE representative moved ahead to win by a length and three-quarters, securing the US$1.5 million Group 3 race in a time of 1:38.185.
Presented by ZOOD Real Estate, the Saudi Derby took place on Saturday, 22 February, at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh, as part of the Saudi Cup 2025 programme. The result gave the day a memorable finish and placed ZOOD at the centre of one of its most closely contested races.
Golden Vekoma's victory was the culmination of a campaign that had already shown considerable promise. Trained by Ahmad Bin Harmash, the three-year-old arrived in Riyadh after winning the UAE 2000 Guineas at Meydan Racecourse in January. The Saudi Derby presented a different challenge: an international field, a demanding 1,600-metre distance, and a finish that remained uncertain until the closing moments.
British jockey Connor Beasley rode Golden Vekoma with confidence. As the Japanese challengers moved towards the front, Shin Forever, ridden by Akira Sugawara, made an early bid for the lead. Golden Vekoma gradually closed in, eventually passing his rival deep into the straight.
Reflecting on the victory, Beasley described the competition as a significant challenge and credited the horse's ability to maintain his pace all the way to the finish. For the jockey and the team behind Golden Vekoma, it was a major achievement on an international stage.
As a Saudi real estate company, ZOOD's work is closely connected to the Kingdom and its ever-developing economic and business landscape.
Our participation in the Saudi Cup offered a different expression of that connection, through a sporting event with a distinctive cultural identity deep rooted into our Saudi tradition, but now with a massive international audience and global media coverage.
The 2025 Saudi Derby will be remembered for Golden Vekoma's determined finish and the team behind his victory. For ZOOD, it also marks a meaningful occasion in the company's history: the opportunity to present a major race, celebrate its winner, and be part of a memorable day in Riyadh.
Horse racing has deep roots in Saudi Arabia, where the horse has long held a distinctive place in the country's heritage.
The Saudi Cup brings this tradition to an international audience, welcoming horses, trainers, jockeys, and racing enthusiasts from across the world to Riyadh.
The Saudi Derby reflects that international character.
The King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh brought together competitors from different racing jurisdictions, each arriving with their own records and ambitions. The result was a contest in which the UAE's Golden Vekoma prevailed over a strong Japanese challenger, with the race itself becoming part of the wider story of the Saudi Cup.
For ZOOD, presenting the Derby meant participating in an event that connects our Saudi heritage with the international sporting community.
ZOOD Chairman Abdullah Al Ghammas presents the Saudi Derby trophy to the winning team.
Following the race, ZOOD Real Estate Chairman Abdullah Al Ghammas presented the trophy to the winning stable, Golden Vekoma, whose owner was Mohammed Ahmad Ali Al Subousi. The presentation marked ZOOD's direct participation in the celebrations, bringing the company's role as race presenter into the closing moments of the competition.
The race concluded with a moment of recognition as ZOOD Real Estate Chairman Abdullah Al Ghammas presented the Saudi Derby trophy to the winning team behind Golden Vekoma, owned by Mohammed Ahmad Ali Al Subousi.
With the winning connections gathered to receive the trophy, the presentation brought the day's competition to a formal close and gave ZOOD a direct role in celebrating the achievement.
For ZOOD, this moment was an opportunity to honor the winning team and validate their effort, recognizing the horse, jockey, trainer, and the team whose performance carried them to victory.
