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It was an Emirati show at the Ascot race course on Saturday, July 25, 2009, with the Emirates Equestrian Federation-sponsored The President of the UAE Cup (Group 1) race, the first-ever Arabian race to be held here in 300 years, finishing on a huge note of success.
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Saudi Arabian raider Nayef Al Khalidiah, whose trainer Jean-Francois Bernard, who made it a 1-2 in this Arabian Derby of the UK last year, came up with a brilliant run to topple the strongly fancied General, a full brother of the recent Newbury winner Al Dahma, with Raked, owned by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, running an equally good race to finish third.
Held soon after the prestigious King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, the nearly-30,000 crowd at Ascot cheered the 13 runners in the President of the UAE Cup (Group 1) race.
The race has attracted some of the best 4-year old Purebred Arabians and winning trainer Jean-Francois Bernard said, “This is a exciting moment for us. To come and win a race at Ascot is a great honour and I am happy that this race was held on this big day.”
“I knew it was a tough race but I was confident of Nayef’s win. I may run him in the Arc in France, said the French trainer.
Earlier in the day, UAE businessman Saeed Manana and trainer Clive
Brittain completed a big-race double after Al Muheer sprang a 40-1 shock in the Abu Dhabi International Stakes.
Manana’s Nideeb won earlier in the day to complete a grand double for the Emirati owner. More success for the UAE came when the Jaber Abdullah-owned Lady Of The Desert won the Princess Margaret Abu Dhabi Stakes.
However, in King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, the feature event of the day, Sir Michael Stoute watched all three of his runners lead the strong field and finish 1-2-3. Ryan Moore on Conduit, the favourite, beat back a strong challenge from stable mates Tartar Bearer and Ask to give the veteran trainer a fantastic result in the £750,000 race run over 12 furlongs.
With the Emirates Equestrian Federation along with the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority putting up Abu Dhabi banners all over the course, Saturday’s history-making day of racing was a huge show.
Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Deputy Ruler and Minister of Finance. attended the race along with many other leading UAE owners and officials.
“Today’s The President of the UAE Cup showed the world what Purebred Arabians are capable of. Some of the trainers said they were just delighted to be part of this first-ever race at Ascot,” said Taleb Dhaher Al Muhairi, Secretary General of the Emirates Equestrian Federation.
“This will grow into a strong race for 4-year-olds Arabians as their owners chalk out plans to target their runners at bigger races like the Dubai Kahayla Classic and the other big Group 1 races,” Al Muhairi added.
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