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The silks of Royal Cavalry Oman snatched victory in the Moroccan leg of the UAE President Cup at ANFA Al-Ramli racetrack in Casablanca on Sunday after Fateenah trumped the rest of her rivals to win the 1750m contest for four-year-and-older horses. A total of 18 went to post on the dirt track at Casablanca, with the Francisco Sancheztrained five-year-old Dahess filly, a recent winner of the Prix Jean Laborde at Bordeaux- Le Bouscat in France, delivering the goods in style under Mickael Forrest. Fateenah was held in a good position turning for home, with Forrest popping the question soon after straightening for home and his mount showing solid turn of foot ro score by a three-fourths of a length from Amani Atlas. Zain Al Hala finished third.
The UAE President Cup Series is run under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President and Deputy Prime Minister of the UAE and Chairman of the Presidential Court, and President of the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club.
The meeting was well-attended with racegoers and diplomats aplenty, including Saeed Ahmed Al Dhaheri, UAE Ambassador to the Kingdom of Morocco, Faisal Al Rahmani, General Manager of the UAE President Cup Series, Abu Dhabi Sports Council representative Saeed Al Muhairi, Omar Al Saqali, General Manager of Royal Cavalry Oman and Hisham Dabbagh, Deputy General Manager of the Royal Cavalry Oman. Al Dhaheri said: “We are proud of the important developments achieved by the UAE President Cup series races for Arabian Horses in the Kingdom of Morocco, and we value the generous support of the wise leadership in ensuring the sport of Purebred Arabian racing is thriving.
He added: “We are happy with the way things have gone and it was brilliant to see that the races were of such a high standard. The UAE President Cup races always attract strong fields with connections keen to send their best horses to try and take a shot at the massive prize purses being offered. “The UAE President Cup series puts the focus on the Purebred Arabian breed and the racing and how important racing is for the breed.
Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan has done brilliantly to raise the status of the sport and through his patronage the sport has been doing really well all over the world.” Highlighting the importance of the UAE President Cup in promoting Purebred Arabian racing around the world, Al Rahmani added: “This is one of the most important legs of the UAE President Cup series and a very important stop on the African continent for Arabian racing.
The vision, support and directives of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan has helped Purebred Arabian racing grow leaps and bounds all over the world and with the racing also witnessing an upwards trend in terms of quality. As part of the organisers we would like to congratulate Royal Cavalry Oman and thank Moroccan racing authorities for their cooperation in hosting this leg of the UAE President Cup.”
