President of the UAE Cup Series begins in Curragh

DUBLIN - The Arabian horse will take centre stage at the Curragh Racecourse as the County Kildare venue hosts the first leg of the His Highness the President of the UAE Cup series for Purebred Arabian horses on Sunday.

By Hisham Al Gizouli

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Published: Sat 22 May 2010, 11:54 PM

Last updated: Tue 7 Nov 2023, 10:24 AM

The race will be run as part of the Irish Classics in which the best Thoroughbred horses and jockeys in Europe compete over two days in the Abu Dhabi Irish Guineas Festival.

The Emirates Equestrian Federation is to sponsor The Irish Guineas Festival for the next five years and this year the festival will get off to a flying start with the Abu Dhabi Irish 2,000 Guineas on Saturday and the Etihad Airways Irish 1,000 Guineas on Sunday.


Both the 1,000 and 2,000 Guineas are raced over a mile straight course and will run in conjunction with the first leg of the His Highness the President of UAE Cup, a series of races for pure bred Arabians.

The series will also include races at Ascot and Newmarket in the UK, Saint Cloud in Paris, Keeneland in the US and Moscow.


The President Cup is held under the directives of the President, His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and the support of General Shaikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces and Chairman of the Executive Committee, and the follow up of Shaikh Dr. Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Emirates Equestrian Federation to promote the Arabian breed and to stimulate international interest and to promote tourism.

The whole weekend of racing will have a distinctly Arabic flavour and other partners will include Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority, Etihad Airways, Office of the brand of Abu Dhabi who hope to further strengthen Irish / Arabian relations and to promote Abu Dhabi as an attractive tourism and commercial hub.

During the Guineas Weekend, many elements of the Emirati life and culture will be showcased.

The new garden enclosure adjacent to the parade ring will feature a Guineas Festival Shopping Village, while Abu Dhabi Tourism will have a major Arabic themed marquee promoting the capital of the UAE as a major tourism destination and racegoers will be offered the chance to win a holiday including five star accommodation and flights by Etihad Airways.

Taleb Al Muhairi, secretary general of the Emirates Equestrian Federation, thanked Shaikh Dr. Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan for his continued backing.

He said: “The wide participation of the national companies and government agencies in the Abu Dhabi Irish Guineas Festival coupled with the big number of horses which have been declared for the races ensured the success of the event before it takes off.

“The exceptionally expected huge attendance of race lovers will add more elements of success and excitement for the races. “There’s no doubt about the fact that horse races are particularly popular in this beautiful island.

“I would like to thank Etihad Airways for all what they have done to push forward our efforts. It’s a team work and a collective effort that underlines the importance of our mission.”

hisham@khaleejtimes.com

The President of the UAE Cup Series

The President of the UAE Cup Series was established 15 years ago by His Highness Shaikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nayhan to promote and celebrate the Arabian horse globally. It is the original international purebred Arabian horse race series, and is still considered the premier racing series for the breed.

Irish 2000 Guineas
Irish 2000 Guineas history began in 1921; one year before the first Irish 1000 Guineas was raced. The inaugural race went to the Irish-trained colt Soldennis. Since then, the Irish 2000 Guineas has been raced every year without exception, on the opening day of the Irish Guineas Festival.

The British 2000 Guineas at Newmarket is the oldest of the British Classic races, taking its name from the prize fund offered for a race first run in 1809. In Ireland, the Derby – first raced at the Curragh in 1866 – is the oldest of the Irish Classics.

UAE 2000 Guineas winners
Wassl’s owned by Shaikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum won the Irish 2000 Guineas under jockey Tony Murray for trainer John Dunlop in 1983 to become the first UAE owner to land the Classic title.

In 1989, the crown was landed by Shaadi for His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. Shaadi was trained by Michael Stoute and ridden by Walter Swinburn. Four years later, Michel Roberts recaptured the title for Shaikh Mohammed aboard the Luca Cummani-trained Barathea.

Bachir claimed the Irish Classic silverware for the Godolphin trainer Saeed bin Suroor in the hands of Frankie Dettori in 2000. Dubawi completed a double for the Royal Stables in 2005.

The Curragh
Although the Irish versions of the Classic races have a shorter history than their British counterparts, the history of racing at the Curragh predates the earliest records of racing in Britain. Irish manuscripts show that the flat plain known as the Curragh – or “An Currach”, which means racecourse in Irish – hosted chariot races as early as the third century. In pre-Christian times of Irish 2000 Guineas history, the Celtic chieftains and kings used the Curragh as a meeting place and as a site for racing horses.

Emirates Equestrian Federation
The Emirates Equestrian Federation, earlier established as the UAE Equestrian and Racing Federation by a Presidential decree, opened its offices in Abu Dhabi under the Chairmanship of Dr Shaikh Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, Chief of the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Court and Member of the Executive Council.


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