Paris to host European leg opener of 33rd UAE President’s Cup for Arabian Horses

With the support of His Highness Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Presidential Court, Paris will host the first European leg and a summit of global confrontations within the 33rd edition of the UAE President’s Cup Series for Purebred Arabian Horses on Sunday.

The event will take place at the historic ParisLongchamp racecourse, bringing together elite Purebred Arabians and champions in one of the most prominent fixtures of the European season.

The French leg is held as part of the Emirates French Guineas (Poule d’Essai) meeting, which represents one of the most important classic dates on the French and international racing calendars.

The cup’s return to Longchamp, in cooperation with the French racing authority France Galop, reaffirms its global status and its leading role in supporting the development of Arabian horse racing.

The race is scheduled to start tomorrow at 2:25pm Paris time as part of a packed racing programme.

This event confirms the global presence of the UAE President’s Cup and its continuous role in preserving the heritage of the Arabian horse. The French leg holds special importance as the gateway for the series’ European tour, following significant success of the American leg held at Churchill Downs during the Kentucky Derby.

The UAE President’s Cup for Purebred Arabian Horses is a Group 1 race contested over 2,000 meters for horses aged four years and older, with a total prize pool of €350,000.

The highly anticipated French leg of the 33rd UAE President’s Cup Series for Purebred Arabian Horses will feature a distinguished international line-up led by the prominent Emirati contender RB Kingmaker, owned by Hilal Alalawi.

Sired by Baseq Al Khalediah x RB Royal Madame, the horse is trained by Leonardo Daniel Raco and will be ridden by Cristian Demuro.

Qatar’s Al Shaqab Racing operation will be represented by Al Zeeb (Azadi x Zheeba), trained by Thomas Fourcy and partnered by Fabrice Veron, alongside the talented filly Hajmah (Al Mourtajez x Easter de Faust), also prepared by Fourcy and ridden by Christophe Soumillon.

Wathnan Racing fields a formidable trio consisting of Lebeau du Carrere (Al Mourtajez x Almanara du Carrere) with James Doyle, Muneer (Al Mourtajez x Muneera) with Mickael Barzalona, and Muraheb (Gazwan x Manisha) under Augustin Madamet. Additional contenders include HM Majdallah (Ezz Al Khail x Anqaa Karim), owned by Mohammed Al Hazami, trained by Thomas Fourcy and ridden by Alexandre Gavilan, as well as Lacaro du Croate (No Risk Al Maury x Beanie du Croate), owned by Mansoor bin Khalil Al Shahwani, trained by Xavier Thomas-Demeulte and partnered by Guillaume Guedj-Gay. The French leg has produced a remarkable roll of champions over the years, including Luceil (2025), Al Doha (2024), Ch’ezza (2023), Hattal (2021 and 2022), Deryan (2020), Tayf (2019), Shahm (2018), Muraaqib (2017), and Al Mourtajez (2016). Attention will also turn tomorrow to the prestigious Emirates French Guineas (Poule d’Essai), a key opening event for the French classics, featuring the Colts Guineas over 1,600 meters with 13 runners competing for a €650,000 prize purse, while the Fillies Guineas will see 15 runners contesting the same distance for €550,000 in prize money.

Matar Suhail Al Yabhouni Al Dhaheri, Chairman of the Higher Organizing Committee, stated: “The France leg is a pivotal stop in the 33rd edition due to its historical and technical value. Under the vision and unlimited support of Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the cup continues to write history and reinforce its presence as a leading platform for Arabian horses.”

The series was launched in 1994 based on the vision of the late founding father, Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, to elevate the status of the Arabian horse globally.