Afjan, a Purebred Arabian owned by Al Shaqab Racing, claimed a close victory in the eighth leg of the UAE President’s Cup Series at Duindigt Turf Racecourse in The Hague on Sunday.
Tight finish in Group 3 race
The Group 3 race covered a distance of 2,150 metres and featured 11 contenders from across Europe. Afjan, trained by J. de Mieulle Grijs and ridden by Olivier d’Andigné, surged from the back of the field to edge out Al Zeer by a neck, finishing with a time of 2:21.02 minutes.
Second place went to Al Zeer, owned by M.F.A.H. Al-Attiyah and trained by F. Rohaut Blauw, while third place was secured by Ska de L’Aigle, representing M. Bousaif.
This leg of the UAE President’s Cup offered a prize fund of USD 100,000, making it the richest Arabian horse race ever held in the Netherlands. The event attracted strong entries from leading European stables and was open to horses aged four and above.
The event was attended by H.E. Ameirah Obaid Mohamed Obaid AlHefeiti, UAE Ambassador to the Netherlands, and H.E. Faisal Al Rahmani, Secretary General of the Higher Organizing Committee, who presented the trophies.
H.E. Musallam Al Ameri, also from the Higher Organizing Committee, said: “We take pride in the elevated competitive standing of the UAE President’s Cup Series, which continues to achieve outstanding success on a global scale. The Netherlands stage saw elite participation from top stables across Europe, which significantly raised the level of competition. The intense speed and strength throughout the race underscore the effort all owners are putting into being part of this prestigious classic series.”
He added: “These achievements are a direct result of the generous support and strategic vision of H.H. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who has consistently championed the development of Arabian horse racing on the world stage. We are proud of the incredible atmosphere and wide acclaim that accompanied this race and congratulate all the winners and participants.”
Now in its 32nd edition, the UAE President’s Cup Series continues to expand across Europe, building on its reputation for promoting Arabian horse racing and attracting global attention.
tanvir@dubainewsweek.com
