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King Salman Presides over Saudi Cup Ceremony

The Saudi Cup is the world’s most valuable horse race. (SPA)
The Saudi Cup is the world’s most valuable horse race. (SPA)
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King Salman Presides over Saudi Cup Ceremony

The Saudi Cup is the world’s most valuable horse race. (SPA)
The Saudi Cup is the world’s most valuable horse race. (SPA)

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz, the Honorary President of the Equestrian Club, sponsored on Saturday the Saudi Cup ceremony.

The Saudi Cup is the world’s most valuable horse race.

The event took place at the King Abdulaziz Equestrian Racetrack in Riyadh.

King Salman was welcomed at the venue by Prince Khalid Al-Faisal bin Abdulaziz, Advisor to the King and Governor of Makkah Region, Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz, Governor of Riyadh Region, Prince Bandar bin Khalid Al-Faisal, Advisor at the Royal Court and Chairman of the Equestrian Club, Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal, Minister of Sport, Prince Abdullah bin Khalid bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz, Saudi Ambassador to Austria and Director of the Equestrian Club Adel Al-Mazrou.

Saturday’s race has a maximum field of 14 runners and be run over nine furlongs (1,800m) on dirt.

The prize for the winning horse will be $10 million, with horses down to 10th place sharing another $10 million between them.

Announcing the first staging of the event on Wednesday, Prince Bandar bin Khalid Al Faisal, the chairman of the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia, said: “The introduction of the Saudi Cup as an international race, is without doubt the most significant event in the history of horse racing in Saudi Arabia.”

“It demonstrates our resolve to develop this great sport in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and also our ambition to become a leading player on horse racing’s world stage.”

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Real Boss Ancelotti Rues Missed Chances in 4-0 Loss against Barca

Real Madrid's head coach Carlo Ancelotti looks from the bench before a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024. (AP)
Real Madrid's head coach Carlo Ancelotti looks from the bench before a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024. (AP)
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Real Boss Ancelotti Rues Missed Chances in 4-0 Loss against Barca

Real Madrid's head coach Carlo Ancelotti looks from the bench before a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024. (AP)
Real Madrid's head coach Carlo Ancelotti looks from the bench before a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024. (AP)

Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti lamented his side's missed opportunities in their stunning 4-0 home defeat to bitter rivals Barcelona in a LaLiga Clasico on Saturday but said it was not all doom and gloom despite the result.

"It was an evenly played match, until they scored their first goal. We played with intensity in the first half but lacked a bit of accuracy. We had chances to take the lead but they scored two goals, which sapped our energy. That's when another game started," Ancelotti told a press conference of Robert Lewandowski's quick-fire double early in the second-half to set the LaLiga leaders Barca on course for a 4-0 thrashing.

Prior to that, the home side had dominated possession and missed various chances, mainly through off-form Kylian Mbappe. Lamine Yamal and Raphinha wrapped Barca's win later.

"We are hurt, it's a tough moment, but I want to thank the fans for their support. We don't have to throw everything away, because there is nothing to throw away," added a downhearted Ancelotti.

"We have to forget the last 30 minutes. The season is very long, we must not give up. We have to learn from it. It's time to bounce back. The season is long. We must not throw everything away. The team can do better and we will."

Ancelotti said he thinks Real Madrid deserved better and that he didn't believe the result told the true story of the match, but acknowledged that his team paid the price for missing so many chances.

"The result doesn't reflect what happened on the pitch. We couldn't take the lead and they went ahead and took it. The game, until the first goal, was very even and we had more chances," Ancelotti said, before commenting on Mbappe's lackluster performance, being caught offside nine times.

"It was known that Barca use a high defense and we barely took advantage of it. (Mbappe) had chances and sometimes was offside, but he had three or four chances where he needed to be more accurate..."

Barca stretched their lead at the top with 30 points, six above Real who saw their 42-game unbeaten LaLiga run come to a bitter end after 13 months, leaving them one tantalizing positive result away from equaling the Catalans' league record of 43.