Today's Edition
ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)
The Waregem Racecourse in Belgium is preparing to host the 11th leg of the prestigious UAE President’s Cup for Purebred Arabian Horses on Tuesday.
The Group 2 event over 2,200 metres on turf has assembled an outstanding field of 11 runners representing elite international studs for the 33rd edition of the historic series.
Staged under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Presidential Court, the race highlights the UAE’s continued commitment to championing the Arabian horse and fostering international competition at top-tier venues.
Competitors will contest a prize purse of €250,000 (Dh1.1 million), establishing the event as the most lucrative Arabian horse race in Belgium's history. The scheduled time is set for 7.05pm UAE time.
The contest features an impressive line-up of previous leg winners and proven performers over the current campaign. Leading the Emirati contingent is RB Kingmaker, owned by Helal Alalawi, trained by Elisabeth Bernard Jean-François, and ridden by Christophe Soumillon.
The impressive campaigner arrives in fine form after winning the Abu Dhabi leg in 2024 and securing the Group 1 Qatar International Stakes at Goodwood earlier this season.
Joining the Emirati entry is Yas Horse Racing Management’s contender Maqbool. Trained by Xavier Thomas-Demeaulte and partnered by jockey Leo-Paul Brechet, the runner aims to build upon a strong runner-up finish recorded in the Netherlands leg of the series.
The quality of the field is further enhanced by Netherlands leg champion Joe Star, trained by Bernard Jean-François for owner Mohamed Abdullah Abdul Rahman and partnered by Anthony Crastus.
Mahdi du Breuil, who finished third in the Netherlands, represents owner Wiljan Poels under trainer Melody Bailleul and jockey Fabian Lefebvre.
Multi-leg winners add substantial depth to the competitive field. Swedish leg champion of 2023 and 2024, Freddy Py, takes his place alongside stablemate El Paso T for owner-trainer Gerard Zoetelief.
Ska de l’Aigle, the 2024 Italian leg victor representing Al Leith Racing, returns under the care of Thomas-Demeaulte. Peter Deckers saddles Farida P, a winner in the Netherlands in 2024 and Sweden in 2025. The line-up is completed by local contenders El Zarka D.A., Tex D.A., and Dream Seq.
Faisal Al Rahmani, Secretary-General of the Higher Organising Committee, highlighted the significance of the Belgian fixture. It represents, he said, "one of the important legs within the agenda of the 33rd edition, given the quality of participation it brings together, uniting elite horses and studs alongside a group of champions who have achieved distinguished results in the races of the Prestigious Cup and major international races".
Founded in 1994 through the vision of the late Founding Father, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the UAE President’s Cup has established itself across more than three decades as the premier global series for Purebred Arabian horse.
