Spain is set to host the UAE President’s Cup for Purebred Arabian horses for the first time, with the prestigious event taking place at San Sebastián Racecourse on Friday, August 15. The race marks the 32nd edition of the Cup and the ninth leg of the 2025 global series.
Record prize on offer
Organised under the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Presidential Court, the Spanish leg will offer a total prize purse of €200,000 — the highest for any Arabian race in Spanish racing history. The Group 3 event will cover 1,600 metres and feature Purebred Arabians aged four and up from across Europe.
Several UAE-owned horses will compete in the race. Among them are Alwarry, owned by Faisal Al Rahmani; RB Malexis, owned by Saif Bakheet Saif Murshed Al Marar; and Al Wakrah and Al Zwair, both trained by Jean de Mieulle.
Other notable contenders include Extra Time, Kanti de Bozouls, Lino, and Zakyna Al Zarayan, representing owners from Spain, France, and Qatar.
Commitment to heritage
The UAE President’s Cup series was established to support the Arabian horse racing industry and promote Purebred Arabian breeding worldwide. This includes encouraging owners and breeders and preserving the cultural significance of the breed.
His Excellency Matar Suhail Al Yabhouni Al Dhaheri, Chairman of the Higher Organising Committee, said: “We are delighted to bring the UAE President’s Cup to Spain, adding a significant new chapter to our 2025 race calendar. This reflects our commitment to geographical diversity in staging the series and to supporting Purebred Arabian horse owners and breeders in Europe and worldwide.”
He added: “Reaching our ninth stop this season with exceptional feedback and the richest prize money in Spanish Arabian racing history is a testament to the positive impact and major gains achieved by the UAE President’s Cup in various racecourses around the world. The series has become the top destination for leading studs and stables, boasting the highest levels of competition – which in turn benefits breeding, production, and global interest in the Purebred Arabian.”
The series continues to expand its global footprint, with further races planned in Europe and beyond under the ongoing patronage of the UAE’s leadership.
tanvir@dubainewsweek.com
