News From UAE Presidents Cup

Duindigt Racecourse welcomed a great number of interested visitors on this last and sunny Sunday of August. The atmosphere was lively and people appreciated an enjoyable program of flat racing and harnessed racing, and the President of the UAE Cup was definitely one of the highlights of the meeting

Djelamer, owned by Mr Khalifa Bin Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Attiyah, trained by Ablan de Mieulle and ridden by gaetan Faucon, was no stranger to Duindigt, having won the Dubai International Arabian Stakes Listed race earlier this year in June and the 4yr Amer son was by far the favourite of the spectators.

Coming out the turn for the first time, the field stayed closely together, with Raya C, bred and owned by Mrs de Ruiter, took the lead, closely followed by the Belgian Shivan OA. Athlete del Sol settled nicely on the inside and Hurra followed the leaders on the outside in this early stage of the race. The 5yr old Dahess filly set a good pace and was still in the lead when the field came into the last straight.

Coming into the last 600 meters, the field spread over the full width of the course and all jockeys could pick their best position. A ferocious battle followed when Djelamer moved up and took the lead, while Raya C and Athlete del Sl kept fighting. Just as 2 weeks ago in the Wathba Stud Farm Cup, Petruschka showed a great turn of foot in the last 50 meters and managed to put her nose in front of Athlete del Sol, followed by Raya C.

Djelamer won the President of the UAE Cup over 2150 meters easily in a time of 2.27,4 sec.

The Dutch breeders were early to use the French stallions and in the last decade the Dutch bred horses have been seen travelling all over Europe to compete at international level. At their home track Duindigt too, they perforem well and courageously in international fields of high quality horses, as was shown in the President of the UEA Cup.

The Dutch Arabian Racing Committee and all the Dutch breeders, owners and trainers are very appreciative of the honour that the President of the UAE Cup Series visits Duindigt Racecourse and everybody hopes that the Netherlands may host this race again in the future.

- Hanneke Rosman-Brand , Posted on 30 August 2016