Summer Supplement 2023
T H E A R A B I A N
R A C E H O R S E
The UAE President Cup
UK Arabian Derby
T H E A R A B I A N R A C E H O R S E ' S t r e n g t h ' - B r o n z e - E d i t i o n 1 o f 9 A w a r d W i n n i n g S c u l p t o r i n B r o n z e - C o m m i s s i o n s W e l c o m e w w w . d e b o r a h b u r t s c u l p t o r . c o m T e l : 0 0 4 4 ( 0 ) 7 7 8 2 3 4 9 0 4 7 E m a i l : e q u i n e c r e a t i v e m e d i a @ g m a i l . c o m D E B O R A
H B U R T
T H E A R A B I A N
R A C E H O R S E
4 UAE President Cup - UK Arabian Derby - Past Winners
5 UAE President Cup - UK Arabian Derby - Race History
9 UAE President Cup - UK Arabian Derby - Runners Overview
Welcome to this special edition of The Arabian Racehorse previewing the UK's most valuable race for four-year-old Arabians
Year on year Arabian racing continues to grow around the world and with the increase in prize money for such events, such as the HH The Amir Sword, the Saudi Cup, the Dubai World Cup and the Arc de Triomphe meetings, international interest in these races grows with it.
Since it's establishment under the current sponsorship at Doncaster, the UAE President CupUK Arabian Derby has supplied the winners of three of those globally prestigious races, in Abbes (HH The
Produced by equine creative media
Amir Sword), Hayyan (Kahayla Classic) and 2016 runner-up Tayf (Qatar Arabian World Cup)
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Debbie Burt
Editor, The Arabian Racehorse
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3 U A E P r e s i d e n t C u p - U K A r a b i a n D e r b y - 2 0 2 3
UAE President Cup - UK Arabian Derby
Group 1PA
Previous Winners, Ground, Times:
2022 NO RACE
2021 Abbes (FR) HH Sheikh Abdullah bin Khalifa Al Thani
Good to Soft, 2 19 00
2020 Hattal (FR) YAS Horseracing Management
Good, 2.24.51
2019 Hayyan (FR) YAS Horseracing Management
Good to Firm, 2 16 89
2018 Rodess Du Loup (FR) Khalifa bin Hamad Al-Attiyah
Good, 2 25 08
2017 Nafees (FR) Royal Cavalry of Oman
Good to Soft, 2.20.01
2016 Lightining Bolt (FR) Langoed Waterland
Good, 2 22 05
Distance: 1m2f (2000m)
Surface: Turf
Prize Fund: £80,000
Winning Horse: £45,368
Second: £17,200
Third: £8,608
Fourth: £4,288
Fifth: £2,152
Sixth: £1,080
Age range: 4yo only
Field Safety Limit: 18
T Fourcy (FR) O Peslier
X Thomas-Demeaulte (FR) T O'Shea
F Sanchez (FR) I Mendizabal
C Gourdain (FR) C Soumillon
C Gourdain (FR) T O'Shea
K Van Den Bos (NL) A De Vries
Weights: Colts 9st Fillies 8st 10lb
Nomination (entry) £200: closed July 7
Supplementary Entries £800: closed August 13
Declaration: £400 by 1000 hrs on August 16
Saturday 19th August 2023
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It was fitting that in 2016 the UK Arabian Derby, newly sponsored by the sports oldest Arabian classic series, should relocate to the historic Town Moor racecourse at Doncaster, home of the UK’s oldest thoroughbred classic, the St Leger. Since then, sponsors of the St Leger itself have come and gone, however the UAE President Cup continues to go from strength to strength in its global support of Arabian racing and of the UK Arabian Derby.
The now familiar logo can been seen on many a country’s leading racedays, the opening race of the 2023 series, The President of the UAE Cup – Coupe d’Europe des Cheveaux Arabes (Gr1PA) was held on 14 May at ParisLongchamp on Guineas day for the thoroughbreds. The race was won in a thrilling finish by Ch’ezza, with just a neck
separating him from former UK Derby winner, Abbes. The longevity of Arabian racehorse’s careers and the global nature of the sport means that many of the series races can be contested by the same horses, such as the aforementioned Abbes, or perennial globetrotter Jarif, who won two UAE President Cup’s last year and has already added another this season
When studying the UK edition, it has always been the last opportunity for four-year-old colts, geldings and fillies to exclusively race against each other in Europe at Group 1PA level. A fact not lost on many of their trainers when making their declarations to race It is also encouraging that two runners this year, the strongly fancied Al Doha and her stablemate Ghadah, were supplementary entries, at a cost of £800 per horse
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5 U A E P r e s i d e n t C u p - U K A r a b i a n D e r b y ( G r o u p 1 P A ) R a c e H i s t o r y
Since the race ’ s arrival at Doncaster, it is interesting to note that it has always been won by the highest rated horse on the card. Whilst this is no surprise when the winner of the French equivalent, the Qatar Arabian Derby des Pur-Sang Arabes is seeking to ‘do the double’, it is significant when the winner of that race chooses as different target, as Al Ghadeer did this year (and in some style, when winning at Goodwood), leaving this opportunity to the other horses of their generation.
Though at the time, it may have seemed disappointing that Abbes won off the lowest mark to date of 112 in 2021, he has since gone on to prove jockey Olivier Peslier right in his post-race observations Peslier noted that, “The horse has now won a Group 1 but has always had a lot of ability. Today it was a good race, he responded to my hands, but he still needs more experience, it will be a good preparation for Longchamp ”
As it turned out, he was no match for Hoggar De L’Ardus at Longchamp that year, finishing fifth and was even more frustrating for connections last year when he was seventh, a fact his current trainer Alban de Mieulle attributed to the very soft ground However he has proved himself of the very highest class on quick, winning several more Group1PA races, including Qatar’s most coveted event, the $2 5 million HH The Amir Sword over 1m4f in February this year.
2023 has been a stellar year for past UAE President Cup – UK Arabian Derby winners as Hayyan, the winner in 2019, put up a superb performance to win Dubai’s top Arabian contest, the $1 million Dubai Kahayla Classic over 1m2f in March on World Cup night. Now eight, Hayyan is another example of how these top-class Arabians can be successful for a variety of trainers and to win throughout the later stages of their careers.
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Hayyan (FR) [right] and Ioritz Mendizabal win at Doncaster in 2019 from Melabi (FR) [left] and Ibn Gadir (QA) [centre]
Who knows how good 2020 winner Hattal may have become, had he not sadly lost his life last autumn. One of the four French Derby winners to contest the UK race, the others being Hayyan, Rodess Du Loup and Nafees, he had a stellar pedigree for his owner breeder Sheikh Mansoor and YAS Horseracing Management, being by their top stallion Mahabb, out of Mizzna, their Kahayla Classic wining mare After Doncaster he went on to win three further Group1PA races, including two
Though 2018 winner Rodess Du Loup failed to secure a further top level race after Doncaster, Rajeh who was runner-up, won Round 2 of the Al Maktoum Challenge (Gr1PA) last February in Dubai, and was runner-up to non-other than Hayyan this year. In third at Doncaster was Rijm, who went on to win the French Arabian Breeders Classic (Gr1PA) on his next start and is now a stallion
In 2017 Rodess Du Loup’s trainer, Charles Gourdain gained his first UK Derby success with Nafees. He had had a strenuous campaign as a four-year-old as having won the French Derby in June, he is one of a handful of horses to go to Goodwood to contest the Qatar International Stakes just six weeks later. Finishing fourth in torrential rain behind two of the sports’ giants in Tayf and Ebraz, he bounced back to form at Doncaster to win by two and a quarter lengths from Ahzar. After a break he was prepared for the following year ’ s Kahayla Classic, in which he disappointed, however he was only beaten a neck on reappearance in the 2018 The President of the UAE Cup –Coupe d’Europe des Cheveaux Arabes at Longchamp, in which Doncaster’s first UK Arabian Derby winner, Lightning Bolt was third. Nafees then struck Group 1PA gold again in the UK in Newbury’s Dubai International Stakes and retired to stud thereafter
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7
Hattal (FR) and Tadhg O'Shea, winners in 2020
Some might consider Lightning Bolt a lucky winner of the first UK Arabian Derby under the UAE President Cup sponsorship at Doncaster. Though he was the top rated in the race on 118, and he did go on to win other Group 1PA races, he benefitted from a brilliant ride by Adrie de Vries and the hesitation of the second Tayf at the vital moment, to win by a head. Tayf has since gone on to be the superior horse, winning that epic battle at Goodwood, as well as the 2019 President of the UAE Cup – Coupe d’Europe des Cheveaux Arabes at Longchamp, the Qatar Arabian World Cup at the same track and the Qatar Gold Sword in Doha.
During the race ’ s history in its current format at Doncaster, the following statistics apply to the winner:
Top rated horse: 6/6
Rated – 118, 117, 114, 116, 115, 112
French Derby winners: 4/4
2017 Nafees, 2018 Rodess Du Loup, 2019 Hayyan, 2020 Hattal
Jockeys:
Tadhg O’ Shea - 2 wins, 4th, 5th [no ride this year]
Olivier Peslier - 1 win, 2nd
Jean Bernard Eyquem – 2nd
Trainers:
Charles Gourdain – 2 wins [no runner this year]
Thomas Fourcy – 1 win, 2nd, 3 x 3rd
Xavier Thomas-Demeaulte – 1 win
Francois Rohaut – 2nd
Philip Collington – 2 x 3rd
Owners:
YAS Horseracing Management – 2 wins, 3rd [no runner this year]
HH Sheikh Abdullah bin Khalifa Al-Thani – 1 win, 2nd
Al Shaqab Racing – 2nd, 3 x 3rd
Athbah Racing – 4th, 5th
Sires: Munjiz – 2 wins, 2nd
Dahess – 1 win, 2 x 2nd
Azadi – 1 win, 3rd
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8
Tayf (FR) [right] pricks his ears as he hits the front and hestiates, allowing Adrie de Vries to get Lightning Bolt's head [centre] in front to win at Doncaster in 2016
The UAE President Cup – UK Arabian Derby (Group 1PA) is a mile and a quarter contest which has traditionally been run at Doncaster since 2016 as part of the St Leger card in September For 2023 the £80,000 contest now moves to the earlier slot of August 19 The race is run as part of the world’s oldest Arabian race sponsorship series and this year the UAE President Cup encompasses 15 races with the UK’s event being run as the eighth stage
The series is dedicated to raising the profile of Arabian racing globally and the UK has gone a long way to promoting that aim by the truly international aspect of the seven runners this year The race features horses bred in France, Italy and Qatar, trained in the UK, France and Poland, with owners from Morocco, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, ridden by French, Irish, Polish and British jockeys
Reflecting this HE Faisal Al Rahmani, Event Manager for the UAE President Cup commented, “I’m very pleased with how the UAE President Cup series is going, as we have many followers all around the world Every race produces a star, just like the last winner Abbes We need to keep this momentum going and to encourage more breeding of Arabian
racehorses globally which is one of the series aims ”
Also of particular note for the UK is Joanna Mason, who was a three-time ARO lady champion jockey before she turned professional Genny Haynes, ARO Chief Executive Officer echoed Al Rahmani’s comments in her own, and also highlighted Mason’s achievements saying,“Year on year this race crowns a progressive top-level horse, with the last winner, Abbes, going on to win the world’s most valuable race for Arabians, the $2 5 million HH The Amir Sword this February
“Though this race is always well supported with top quality French trained runners, we are delighted to welcome our first runner from Poland and we hope that the success of this race series will encourage more owners from the UK to get involved at this level
“We are also delighted to see top jockeys such as Olivier Peslier, Jean-Bernard Eyquem and Poland’s Szczepan Mazur riding in the race, along with our own Joanna Mason who had such a long and successful association riding under ARO rules as an amateur.”
T H E A R A B I A N R A C E H O R S E 9 U A E P r e s i d e n t C u p - U K A r a b i a n D e r b y ( G r o u p 1 P A ) R u n n e r s O v e r v i e w
Olivier Peslier after winning on Abbes in 2021
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Bahwan (FR) wins the UAE President Cup - Central European Arabian Derby (LRPA) at Tor Służewiec © www lukaszkowalski com
1. BAHWAN (FR) 109 (1)
Chestnut colt Jalnar Al Khalediah x Meeyur (Mared Al Sahra)
Mansour Ali Suliman Salem Alshamsi
Cornelia Fraisl – Poland
Szczepan Mazur
Bred by Al Shahania Stud
Unbeaten in three starts in Poland from 1600m to 2200m, breaking two track records at Warsaw in the process One of which was on his latest start, the UAE President Cup - Central European Arabian Derby (LRPA) over 2000m at the beginning of July which he won by two and a half lengths
His sire has produced several top class Group1PA winners including Fazza Al Khalediah (Qatar Arabian World Cup 2018, 2000m) and Mashhur Al Khalediah (Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Jewel Crown, 1600m, 2019)
His dam was a useful sprinter, winning the Group 3PA Prix Damas (1400m, Dax, 2015) beating Al
Mouhannad, before the placings were reversed in the Group 1PA Za’abeel International (1200m, Newbury 2015). Bahwan is her first foal to race.
“We arrived well this afternoon [Tuesday]. It was the first long travel for Bahwan, he seems to be fine. He is a big baby with lovely character, always trying to give his best. He won all his three races in Poland, setting two track records, one of them in the UAE President Cup in Poland. 2000m seems to be a good distance for him and with polish Championjockey S. Mazur he has a strong partner in the saddle who is doing very well on Arabian horses Of course this race will be very tough, and for sure Bahwan has to gain some more experienced until he reaches his full potential, but he is worth to try it He is the best horse I have ever trained ”
Conny Fraisal
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Mejlad (FR) with AFAC's Axelle de Watrigant, Francois Rohaut and Valentin Seguy after winning the Prix Ba Toustem - Association Des Proprietaires Du Sud-Ouest at La Teste in June © Robert Polin
2. MEJLAD (FR )108 (7)
Bay Colt Munjiz x Rawah (Amer)
HE Sheikha Yasmeen bint Mohammed Al-Thani
Francois Rohaut
Valentin Seguy
Bred by Al Shahania Stud
Placed three times at three and four years at this trip on the All Weather at Pau and on Good at Toulouse Beat Nahim by two lengths dropped back to 1900m in April at La Teste (Good) and followed up over the same trip there on Good to Soft in June Steps up to Group company for the first time
His sire is a proven producer of Group 1PA winners at this trip in Europe and the Middle East, including the 2016 winner of this race, Lightning Bolt and rthe 2019 winner, Hayyan
His dam was a five time winner for the same trainer from 1600m to 2100m in France and Sweden, successful twice in the Prix Nefta over 1900m at Bordeaux First foal
“Mejlad is a good looking horse who’s improving every day He is now mature enough to go against some of the best 4yo Track, distance and ground should suit him ”
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Francois Rohaut
3. NAHIM (FR) 102 (4)
Bay Colt Dahess x Nayima Thabet (Dormane)
ZAK Bloodstock
Xavier Thomas Demeaulte
PJ McDonald
Bred by Mme Amina Hakam & Ali Hakam
Close runner-up in the French Arabian Breeders Challenge – Poulains (Gr2PA) over this trip last September on Good at La Teste, then fifth in the Qatar Arabian Trophy des Poulains (Gr1PA) at the same distance on Very Soft, with Zamer well behind in tenth Was only a length off Zamer in Toulouse’s Prix Cheri Bibi (Gr3PA) on Good to Soft in October dropped back to a mile
Two-lengths runner-up to Mejlad on reappearance at La Teste in April, though nearly five lengths off the winner in a Group 3PA next time (Very Soft) two weeks later. Sixth in the Qatar Derby des Pur-Sang Arabes (Gr1PA) on Good to Soft behind the topclass Al Ghadeer (Al Doha 2nd) in first time blinkers. Much improved for application of cheekpieces and a tongue tie on latest start in a conditions event over this trip on good to soft, winning by two and a half lengths at La Teste Bassin Arcachon.
His sire is a consistent leading producer of Group 1PA horses at this trip, including the 2018 winner of this race, Rodess Du Loup
From a Tunisian dam line, his dam was a winner over 1900m in Morocco and 1700m in France First registered runner in France
“We try the adventure with Nahim because at the end of his last race he showed us what he was capable of doing while waiting behind the others He showed great turn of foot and acceleration to beat the leader I trust his jockey to give him the best race possible Doncaster’s Derby is the last opportunity for the fouryear-olds to run together, so it’s worth trying
Xavier Thomas-Demeaulte
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Nahim (FR) goes to post for the 2022 Qatar Arabian Trophy des Poulains (Gr1PA) at Saint-Cloud
4. ZAMER (IT) 108 (2)
Grey Colt Nizam x Iviolada De Zamaglia (Veinard Al Maury)
HE Sheikha Iman bint Mohammed Al-Thani
Thomas Fourcy
Anthony Crastus
Bred Massimiliano Narduzzi
Unbeaten in five starts in Italy at three years, from 1350m to 1800m. Well beaten on French debut for new connections in the Qatar Trophy des Poulains finishing tenth, but bounced back in the Prix Cheri Bibi (Gr3PA) to beat Nahim by a length Not disgraced on reappearance against older horses in the Sheikh Mansoor Festival – Coupe de Sud-Ouest des Pur-Sang Arabes over 1900m when two lengths third to Moshrif Last two runs in a tongue tie, though lines up without it here
Four-time Group 1PA winning sire who can get top class winners such as Tabarak (HH The Amir Sword, 1m4f) and Al Mouhannad (three-time Za’abeel International winner, 6f)
Zamer is the third foal of his dam and the first known runner Her furth produce Nawaf is a maiden winner over 1500m in Pisa and was third over 1600m in Rome this current season as a three-year-old
“ZAMER made a great comeback at La Teste recently behind some very good older horses. He needed to get back into competition and made progress in this last race. ”
Thomas Fourcy
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Zamer (IT) goes to post for the 2022 Qatar Arabian Trophy des Poulains (Gr1PA) at Saint-Cloud
5. AL DOHA (FR) 115 (6)
Grey Filly Al Mourtajez x Topaz Du Croate (Dormane)
HH Sheikh Abdullah bin Khalifa AL-Thani
Thomas Fourcy
Olivier Peslier
Bred Al Shaqab Racing
Debut winner over this trip last August on Good at Mont de Marsan beating 15 other fillies, before finishing just over two lengths fourth in the Qatar Arabian Trophy des Pouliches (Gr1PA) on very soft ground Put away for the winter, she finished a length and a quarter off of stablemate Ghadah in the Sheikh Mansoor Festival - Prix Nefta (Gr2PA) over this trip on very soft on reappearance in April Facing older horses for the first time, she won the Qatar Prix L’Elevage (Gr2PA) also at this trip on good, beating Group 1PA winning mare Elaf by two and a half lengths, however she was in receipt of five and a half kilos from the second, due to her age allowance and Elaf’s penalty
Considered good enough to be a rare female runner in the Qatar Derby des Pur-Sang Arabes (Gr1PA) at Chantilly, she was the nearest to the impressive
winner Al Ghadeer, finishing second by three and a half lengths and forming a one-two-three result for their sire AL Mourtajez
Her sire is the highest rated Arabian ever, already producing top class Group1PA winners with his first crop to race, headed by Al Ghadeer, Al Doha is his second highest earner to date.
Her dam won over 2000m and was fourth in the Qatar Arabian Trophy des Pouliches (Gr1PA). She is the dam of three other winners and is herself a halfsister to the dam of Group1PA winner and sire Nieshan
"AL DOHA is in very good form, she's very easy to ride on a course and has shown great ability on the track before, finishing 2nd to AL GHADEER recently in the Gr1 at Chantilly, she deserves to win her GR1
“My three horses are arriving in excellent condition for the Derby, and preparation has gone very well for all of them Now they'll have to travel well, as the journey is long "
Thomas FourcyT H E A R A B I A N R A C E H O R S E
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Al Doha (FR) and Olivier Peslier go to post for the 2022 Qatar Arabian Trophy des Pouliches (Gr1PA) at Saint-Cloud
6. GHADAH 111 (3)
Chestnut Filly Azadi x Majida (Majd Al Arab)
Al Shaqab
Thomas Fourcy
Jean-Bernard Eyquem
Bred Al Shaqab Racing
Not beaten far when fifth on her juvenile debut over a mile. Made a winning reappearance stepped up to this trip on soft in March, winning by a clear two and a half lengths in a field of 11 Followed up in the Prix Nefta beating Al Doha by a length and a quarter on very soft
Her sire has produced the 2017 winner of this race Nafees
Her dam was PA Listed and Group 3PA placed for this trainer over 1400m and 1900m and has produced the useful Group 3PA winner Al Wakrah (TM Fred Texas) She is a half-sister to top sprinting mare, Al Mouhannad and to the PA Group winners, AL Chammy and Rhyme AL Cham, their dam Al Ryme is a half-sister to Group winner and sire Al Saoudi and to Arwa, the dam of Al Mourtajez
“GHADAH is making a small comeback, but she's also an esteemed mare in my stable, she's a mare who's generous in the morning in training, she's in very good form and I find her very good in the morning to tackle the Derby.”
Thomas Fourcy
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Ghadah (FR) and Anthony Crastus go to post at Toulouse © Robert Polin
Philip Collington
Joanna Mason
Beaten nine lengths on racecourse debut in Belgium in January over 1500m, but took a big step forward to win on her UK debut in June over a mile at Doncaster for today’s jockey in first-time cheekpieces Has since been beaten 11 lengths in the UAE President Cup (Gr3PA) in Ostend over 1800m on Soft
Shares her sire with Al Doha, the highest rated Arabian ever, already producing top class Group1PA winners with his first crop to race, headed by Al Ghadeer, as well as Al Riffaa and Joe Star.
Her dam is an unraced half-sister to Rawah, dam of Mejlad They are out of a sister to champion racehorse and sire No Risk Al Maury and to Nacree Al Maury, dam of multiple Group1PA winners Lady Princess and Mister Ginoux
First foal, cost 200,000 QAR as a two-year-old at auction in Qatar
“ She won impressively at Doncaster at the beginning of June Based on that performance stepping up to a mile and a quarter will suit her even more We were disappointed with her last run in Belgium; we couldn’t find anything much wrong, maybe it was just an off day, soft ground and going righthanded She didn’t particularly seem to enjoy the track or the ground, but she ran a good time at Doncaster when she won ”
Philip Collington
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7. THAKEERA AL SHAHANIA (QA) 101 (5)
Grey Filly Al Mourtajez x Gelnaar (Jaafer ASF)
Athbah Racing
Bred Al Shahania Stud
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Thakeera Al Shahania (IFR) and Joanna Mason win over a mile at Doncaster in June © Nigel Kirby
The Arabian Racing Organisation Limited (ARO) is the sole Arabian racing agency in the UK, operating under the rules and regulations of the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) ARO's programme of Arabian races are fully integrated with the BHA thoroughbred fixtures and take place from the spring through to autumn This allows owners and breeders to participate at all levels, proving their bloodlines through competition, whilst the ARO International race season allows owners to experience the prestige of racing at some of the UK's leading Grade 1 racecourses
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The Arabian Racing Organisation thanks all its international and domestic sponsors for their support in 2023
