Excitement and anticipation filled the grand arena of the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club on Thursday afternoon as the barrier draw for the 33rd running of the UAE His Highness The President Cup, the finale of the worldwide President’s Cup series, was conducted.
The prestigious 2200m Purebred Arabian showpiece, carrying an impressive AED 8 million purse, has once again attracted a truly international crowd, with owners, trainers, and media flying in from as far afield as Virginia, U.S.A., and New Zealand.
Attendees appreciated a Q&A with speakers His Excellency Director General Ali Al Shaiba of the Abu Dhabi Turf and Equestrian Clubs and His Excellency Faisal Alrahmani, President of the International Federation of Arabian Horse Racing Authorities. As well as that, guests were treated to an Orchestra performance, with the race day barriers providing a unique backdrop.
As the connections stepped forward to choose their gates, by randomly selecting a trophy with a barrier number underneath, reactions were varied.
For Yas Racing’s contender So’ud, trained by Majed Al Jahoori, the draw proved less than ideal. Racing Manager Claude Piccioni maintained a measured outlook despite securing the widest barrier. Smiling he said, “What do you do?” Adding, “Until this we were very confident. But he’s a very good horse, well trained and fit. We have to work with the gate we have”.
Assistant Trainer Ahmad Saeed Al Mazrouei, representing last year’s winning yard of Ibrahim Al Hadhrami, was tasked with drawing the barriers for both stable runners. Al Mazrouei secured gate 4 for Munir Du Soleil and gate 14 for last year’s runner up Suny Du Loup. With a smile, Al Mazrouei joked that he might have drawn them “the wrong way around,” earning laughs from the audience
Among those most pleased with the afternoon’s results was co trainer Tahnon Alalawi, who secured an ideal spot in gate 6 for the highest rated horse in the field, HM Alchahine. The stable’s second runner, RB Kingmaker, landed alongside in gate 5.
Trainer François Rohaut also emerged from the draw with quiet confidence after Wathnan Racing’s Molfit, one of four invited European runners, was awarded gate 3.
Throughout the ceremony, recurring messages of gratitude underscored the event. Multiple participants paid tribute to His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan for his unwavering dedication to and patronage of Arabian racing.
Trainer Ernst Oertel summed up the sentiment shared among the international gathering: “We are grateful that we have been invited. Thanks to HH Sheikh Mansour for giving us these races—it means a lot.” He added simply, “His Highness is the greatest supporter of Arabian racing.”
With the barrier draw now complete, the field is set and anticipation builds for a compelling renewal of the UAE President Cup, one of the sport’s most revered Arabian racing events.
The barriers are as follows
HM Alchahine in 6
RB Kingmaker in 5
First Classs in 9
Nabucco Al Maury in 8
Luwasil in 7
Ajrad Athbah in 12
AF Maqam in 2
So’ud in 15
Kanaille De Faust in 11
Djafar in 13
Joe Star in 10
Hameem in 1
Munir Du Soleil in 4
Suny Du Loup in 14
Molfit in 3