HAYYAN HEADS ENTRIES FOR THE PRESIDENT OF THE UAE CUP (UK ARABIAN DERBY) ON DONCASTER ST LEGER DAY

The Arabian Racing Organisation (ARO) was thrilled to announce today that the entries for the 2019 President of the UAE Cup (UK Arabian Derby) include this year’s French Derby winner, Hayyan. The final Group 1 of the UK Arabian racing season, The President of the UAE Cup is the oldest Purebred Arabian race series and it is fitting that it is to be held on the same card as the UK’s oldest thoroughbred classic, the St.Leger, on Saturday 14 September at Doncaster.

Run over a mile and a quarter, The President of the UAE Cup resumed its’ association with the UK Arabian Derby in 2016 and is exclusively for four-year-old Purebred Arabians. For the last two seasons it has been won by the winner of the French equivalent, in Nafees and Rodess Du Loup, so expectations will be high for Hayyan, trained by Frederdic Sanchez for YAS Horse Management. He could face a further nine winners, including his stable mate Ibn Gadir, who finished ahead of him when third in the Prix Dormane (Gr3PA) in April. Other potential challengers include recent Group 1 PA runners-up, Melabi and R’ezala who were facing older horses in the Shadwell Dubai International Stakes and the Shadwell Arabian Stallions Hatta International Stakes respectively at Newbury last month.

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Rodess Du Loup (Christophe Soumillon) wins 2018 President of the UAE Cup at Doncaster.

Genny Haynes, ARO Commercial and Finance Director was pleased commenting. “We were excited to welcome back the President of the UAE Cup in 2016 and we are proud that the race has always produced a top-quality winner. With six international entries as well as four domestic contenders we look forward to another competitive race and we are extremely grateful to the President of the UAE Cup Series for their generous support of our feature race for four-year-olds. Holding the race on St Leger Day further enhances the prestige of the contest and the status of Arabian racing in the UK, with it being run as part of Doncaster’s most prestigious meeting of the year.”