Nafe'eh wins UAE President's Cup for Purebred Arabian Horses opener in Tunisia
The opening round drew a massive audience and created a festive atmosphere celebrating the significance of this globally recognized cup.
In a thrilling upset, the horse Nafe'eh claimed the coveted title, defying expectations that favoured the trio Hatim, Lasvegas, and Khaddem.
The Tunisian round marked the emergence of a new champion, delivering an impressive performance to secure the win in the highly competitive Group 1 race over 2,000 meters. The race featured 15 elite horses from Tunisia and North Africa, aged four years and above, with a record — breaking prize of 500,000 Tunisian dinars — he highest in Tunisia's racing history.
Nafe'eh (by Noresk Al Muary out of Menjadour) is owned by Khaled Ben Othman, trained by Aymen Jaberi, and ridden by jockey Jose Santiago.
He completed the race in 2:23.03 minutes, finishing two lengths ahead of Lasvegas representing Dat Al Remal Stables while third place went to Hatim.
The UAE President's Cup Series is being held under the patronage and directives of His Highness Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of the Presidential Court, as part of the UAE's continued commitment to advancing Arabian horse racing globally and supporting horse owners and breeders worldwide.
The opener was attended by Abdulla Bin Touq Al Marri, UAE Minister of Economy; Ezzeddine Ben Cheikh, Tunisian Minister of Agriculture, Water Resources and Fisheries; Dr. Eman Ahmed Mohamed Ahmed Al Salami, UAE Ambassador to Tunisia; Faisal Al Rahmani, Secretary-General of the Higher Organizing Committee for the UAE President's Cup Series; dignitaries and members of equestrian community.
Dr Al Salami praised the UAE leadership for its continued support of the President's Cup, emphasizing: 'We are proud of the remarkable success of this opening round, which beautifully reflected the UAE's cultural heritage and was warmly received by the Tunisian public and diplomatic guests. The accompanying festivities also showcased Tunisia's rich culture and traditions. Each year, this cup brings tremendous value to Tunisia, and this year's edition has seen even more growth and recognition.'
Rahmani added: 'This was a powerful and vibrant start to the new season. The support of Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed continues to elevate Arabian horse racing internationally. The pre-race auction in Tunisia demonstrated the high demand for Arabian horses, further validating the impact of our development strategy.'
He concluded by congratulating the champions of the Tunisian round and highlighting the exceptional public and diplomatic attendance at the event.
This season's UAE President's Cup Series boasts a prize pool exceeding Dhs15 million, cementing its status as the most valuable and sought-after series in the history of Purebred Arabian horse racing.
This reflects the wise leadership's commitment to developing the sport, supporting owners and breeders worldwide.
UAE President's Cup Series includes 17 races across Europe, the UK, Turkey, Arab countries, the US, and Russia.
Following opening leg of the series in, the action continues in Morocco on April 26, offering a prize of €250,000, followed by France on May 11 with an impressive €350,000 purse.
The series then crosses the Atlantic to the United States on May 17, where a $200,000 prize is up for grabs.
The momentum carries on with the Italian leg on May 18, presenting €300,000 in prize money, followed by Sweden on June 6 with €100,000. Germany hosts its round on July 6, offering €250,000, while the Netherlands welcomes competitors on August 3 with €100,000.
Spain joins the calendar on August 15 with a €200,000 prize, ahead of Russia on August 30, offering $100,000. Belgium takes the spotlight on September 2 with €200,000, followed by Turkey on September 7 with $250,000 in prizes. England hosts one of the richest legs on September 13, with a remarkable £400,000 purse.
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