The historic Doncaster Racecourse in the United Kingdom is set to host the thirteenth leg of the UAE President’s Cup for Purebred Arabian Horses. This event is a key highlight of the cup’s 33rd edition, coinciding with the 250th-anniversary celebrations of the renowned St Leger Festival.
The series operates under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court. His ongoing support aims to bolster the global Arabian horse racing industry, encouraging breeders and owners while elevating the profile of the breed at premier international venues.
The centerpiece of the event, the UAE Derby for Purebred Arabian Horses, is a Group 1 race contested over 2,000 metres on turf. Open to four-year-old colts and fillies, the race carries a prize purse of £250,000, establishing it as the most valuable competition of its kind in Europe. Scheduled for 8:23pm (UAE time), the race is expected to draw a highly competitive field of top-tier horses that have already proven their mettle in Group 1 events this season.
Among the top contenders is Sab’aan Al Shahania, the French Arabian Derby champion owned by Sheikha Iman Bint Mohammed Al Thani, trained by François Rohaut, and ridden by Stephane Pasquier. He aims to secure a rare French-English Derby double. He faces stiff competition from Wathnan Racing’s Romeo AT, who finished as the runner-up in the French Derby and placed third in this race last year. Other notable entries include Laffan, trained by Rohaut and ridden by Maxime Guyon, who boasts two Group 1 victories over 2,000 metres, and the British-trained Al Sharid, owned and trained by David Griffiths. The field is rounded out by Ashj’aa and Zayin Sentinel, both under the guidance of trainer Philip Collington.
The Doncaster leg follows a successful event at Newbury on 14 August, where the colt Eljas du Bienn, owned by Sheikh Hamed Khadim Butti Al Hamed and trained by Elisabeth Bernard Jean-François, claimed victory in a Group 3 three-year-old race. This expansion into multiple UK venues underscores the growing partnership between the UAE President’s Cup and historic British racecourses.
Matar Suhail Al Yabhouni Al Dhaheri, Chairman of the Higher Organizing Committee, highlighted the significance of the Doncaster meeting. He noted that the event’s placement on the final day of the Anglo Arab Derby, alongside the St Leger festivities, reflects the high technical standards of the series. He emphasized that the strong participation of elite horses confirms the prestigious standing the cup has achieved on the global stage.
Reflecting on the series’ growth, Al Dhaheri stated that hosting two legs in the United Kingdom this year is a direct result of Sheikh Mansour’s vision to provide premier racing opportunities for the global equestrian community. He added that the event continues to serve as a vital platform for showcasing future champions, further cementing the UAE’s leading role in the promotion and development of Purebred Arabian horse racing.
The Doncaster leg maintains a legacy of excellence, with previous winners including notable champions such as Hayyan (2019), Hattal (2020), Aabes (2021), Al Dawha (2023), Lusail (2024), and last year’s victor, Libo de Carrere. The report also notes that amid anticipation of a strong contest bringing together a group of the most prominent horses to have proven themselves in Group 1 races this season, the race gets underway at 8:23pm (UAE time). The report also notes that following the success achieved by the Newbury leg on 14 August, staged for the first, the Doncaster leg comes as an extension of the Prestigious Cup’s distinguished presence in the United Kingdom during the 33rd edition. The report also notes that which would make him only the fifth champion to achieve the double, he seeks to combine the French and English Derby titles. The report also notes that he renews his rivalry with Sab’aan Al Shahania after the tight finish that separated them at Chantilly. The report also notes that carrying the colours of Athbah Racing, trained by Philip Collington and ridden by Dougie Costello, and Zayin Sentinel (by Sevrit Al Maury out of Samawaring Zayin), representing Red Dragon Racing Club, trained by Philip Collington and ridden by Joanna Mason, completing the field are Ashj’aa (by AF Al Buraq out of Munadi). The report also notes that in the Group 3 race for three-year-olds over 1,600 metres, jean-François and ridden by Antoine Werle.