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In contention for the 1,600 metre President of the United
Arab Emirates Cup are eight Pure-bred Arabians. All eyes will
be on Forgehill Cezanne, owned by UAE President His Highness
Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Har, owned by His
Excellency Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Deputy
Prime Minister, Minister of Presidential Affairs and Chairman
of the Emirates Racing Authority. Forgehill is trained by D.
De Watrigant and will be ridden by Jean Bernard Eyquem and
Harb is trained by Francois Rohaut and will be partnered by
Francois-Xavier-Bertras.
Also vying for the €50,000 Cup are Nieshan, (owned by Nasser
Al Habtoor Al Murri, trained by E. Dell'ova and ridden by
Olivier Peslier), Raqiyah (Owned by Sheikh Abdullah bin
Khalifa Al Thani, trained by A. De Mieulle and ridden by
Arnaud Bouleau), Vizir des Cedres (Owned by Dominique Akel,
Trained by J.P. Totain and ridden by Davy Bonilla), Altobello
(Owned by Athbah Stud International House, trained by Mlle A.
Imaz Ceca and ridden by David Michaux), Danawi (Owned by
Ecurie De Syrah, trained by D. Guillemin and ridden by Thierry
Jarnet), and Salma Thabeth (owned by Claude Attal, trained by
Richard Litt and ridden by Philippe Sogorb).
Etihad Airways Prix Jean Prat (group 1) for three-year-olds,
which will also be run over a distance of 1,600 metres has a
field of nine runners including Lord Shanakill (USA),
Westphalia (Ireland), Oiseau De Feu (USA), Handsome Maestro
(Ireland), Irian (Germany), Calvados Blues (France), Feels All
Right (Ireland, Indomito (Germany) and Milanais (France).
In 2008, this race was won by Tamayuz, owned by Sheikh Hamdan
bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Crown Prince.
The 2000-metre Prix D'Abu Dhabi ( Prix Ville Chantilly)
handicap for four-year-old horses) has a field of 18 horses
including Heavenly Light (Ireland), My Call (France), Irishia
(France), Crumpett (Ireland), Queenwell (France), Vittoria
Vetra (Great Britain), Miss Stream (France), Eire (Great
Britain), Moonlight Danceuse (Ireland), Al Tottara (France),
Rymi (Ireland), Textolie (France), Fleur Enchantee (France),
Nostaltir (France), Tiger Cliff (France), Joly Nelsa (France),
Penkinella (France) and Silent Approach (France).
The President of the UAE Cup Series began in 1994 in
Chantilly, France, under the instructions of Late Sheikh Zayed
bin Sultan Al Nahyan, whose primary intention was to boost the
Pure-bred Arabians all over the world. His efforts have
certainly borne fruits with the races entering its 15th year
in 2009, with more countries and more fans coming under its
spell. And today the President Cup Series, which was the first
Pure-bred horse race series, is still considered the premier
racing series for the breed in the world.
To mark the occasion, the Emirates Equestrian Federation
(earlier the UAE Equestrian and Racing Federation), which has
been organizing these races ever since its inception, unveiled
a new brand identity for the Series. The new visual identity,
created by the Office of the Brand of Abu Dhabi, thoughtfully
links the Emirates' long-standing relationship with Arabian
horses to the contemporary look of the Abu Dhabi brand. The
result is a visual interpretation of a meaningful aspect of
Abu Dhabi culture that has local significance and yet still
resonates with global audiences.
Taleb Dhaher Al Muhairi, Secretary General, Emirates
Equestrian Federation, who said that it was a moment of
immense pride for the Federation to be celebrating 15 years of
Pure-bred racing, added: "A new logo has been created to mark
the occasion. We are confident that it will create a positive
and significant impression with international horse
spectators."
While thanking those involved in making this series a success,
no small achievement considering it is running continuously
for 15 years, Al Muhairi said over the years the UAE has
benefited from the series, so are the host countries. "It has
helped in improving bilateral relations apart from spreading
the nobility and greatness of this great breed of horse."
In pursuance of this, the Emirates Equestrian Federation has
planned the similar series in Newmarket in England, Moscow in
Russia and Baden Baden in Germany for the current season, he
added. |
