Extra Time, beaten a neck in the French Arabian Derby could go one better at Doncaster ©Debbie Burt
Second, third and fourth in French equivalent seek recompense at Doncaster
Wednesday 14 August 2024 –
This year’s £80,000 UAE President Cup – UK Arabian Derby Group 1PA held at Doncaster on August 17 sees a rematch between the placed horses in Chantilly’s French Arabian Derby. The mile and a quarter contest has been run at Doncaster since 2016 under the sponsorship of the UAE President Cup, the world’s oldest Arabian race sponsorship series, which this year encompasses 15 races around the world.
Whilst winners of the Qatar Derby des Pur Sang Arabes de 4 Ans have an exceptional record at Doncaster winning every edition that they have contested, in recent years the runner-up has fared well too with Al Doha and Abbes both going one better in the UK. For the last four editions the Doncaster winner has gone on to even greater heights afterwards winning some of the best Arabian races in the world including the Dubai Kahayla Classic (Hayyan) and the HH The Amir Sword (Abbes), whilst last year’s winner Al Doha has already won two further top-level races this year.
This bodes well for Extra Time who came within a neck of claiming the French equivalent in June on Prix de Diane day. He will be partnered by twelve times UAE champion jockey Tadgh O’Shea who has already been successful twice before in this contest on Nafees (2017) and Hattal (2020). Also with winning form is Ioritz Mendizabal who partnered Hayyan to victory in 2019, he rides French Derby third Luwsail.
The UK’s current leading owner, Al Nujaifi Racing, has a homebred filly Amirat Al Zaman lining up under regular partner Marco Ghiani. Imported from France earlier this year, she is unbeaten at a lower level in the UK and though this is a step up in class, she deserves her chance on pedigree, being a half-sister to two French Oaks winning fillies.
Quotes:
HE Faisal Al Rahmani, Event Manager for the UAE President Cup commented, “We hope that the success of these races will encourage people to spread the word and bring more new people into the sport. I’m very pleased with how the UAE President Cup series is going, as we have many followers all around the world. Every race produces a star, just like the last winner Al Doha. We need to keep this momentum going and to encourage more breeding of Arabian racehorses globally which is one of the series aims.”
Genny Haynes, ARO Chief Executive Officer said, “We’re delighted to welcome the runners from France, as well as a progressive looking filly from the UK to our most valuable race for four-year-olds. This race consistently crowns a horse that continues to improve at this level, with the last winner, Al Doha, securing her third Group 1PA contest, the Liwa Oasis in La Teste yesterday evening.
“We thank the UAE President Cup and Doncaster racecourse for supporting our racing this season and look forward to welcoming their representatives, including UAE President Cup Event Manager, Faisal Al Rahmani on Saturday.”
UAE President Cup – UK Arabian Derby – Past winners
