Wasmy Al Khalediah eyes back-to-back titles as UAE President’s Cup returns to Hamburg

The 33rd edition of the UAE President’s Cup Series for Purebred Arabian Horses continues on Sunday with its sixth leg at Horner Rennbahn in Hamburg, Germany, as part of the German Derby meeting, further strengthening the series’ presence at one of Europe’s most renowned horse racing festivals.

Less than a month after claiming the Sweden leg title in Stockholm, Wasmy Al Khalediah returns to the starting gate seeking back-to-back UAE President’s Cup victories in the same season.

The leg is held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court, whose sustained support has driven the 33rd edition to its most expansive calendar in history 19 international legs across four continents, with total prize money exceeding Dhs20 million.

The German leg holds a special place within the UAE President’s Cup’s European calendar.

Its staging within the German Derby meeting now in its second consecutive year at Horner Rennbahn reflects the Higher Organizing Committee’s commitment to placing the Purebred Arabian horse at the heart of Europe’s most prestigious racing festivals. The race runs over 1,600 metres on turf in the Group 2 category, open to Purebred Arabian horses aged four years and above, with the first race post set for (16:40 Hamburg time).

Wasmy Al Khalediah enters the Hamburg leg as the horse to beat after capturing the Sweden leg in Stockholm on June 6 in a winning time of 1:38.06, defeating two former UAE President’s Cup champions.

He will be aiming to become one of the few horses to win back-to-back legs in the 33rd edition of the UAE President’s Cup Series.

Among his main challengers are Chdia and Haseef, both representing Wathnan Racing.

HM Majdallah, owned by Mohammed Alhuzami, as well as Ammas and Papillion T, are also expected to feature prominently in a highly competitive field.

Horner Rennbahn is one of Germany’s most storied racing venues founded in 1869 and located in the heart of Hamburg, it has hosted 157 editions of the German Derby, the country’s most prestigious flat race.

The Cup’s presence within this meeting gives the UAE President’s Cup a platform that blends elite Arabian horse racing with the energy of one of Europe’s great summer sporting occasions, consolidating the Arabian horse’s profile across Germany and the wider European racing community.

Faisal Al Rahmani, Secretary-General of the Higher Organizing Committee of the UAE President’s Cup for Purebred Arabian Horses, stated: “We are delighted to continue the UAE President’s Cup’s distinguished presence at Europe’s leading racecourses and to be part of Germany’s historic Derby, an occasion that reflects the global stature the series has attained and its pioneering role in supporting the development and growth of Purebred Arabian horse racing worldwide.” He added: “The German leg is an important milestone in the 33rd edition’s calendar. We reaffirm our commitment to fulfilling the UAE President’s Cup’s mission supporting owners, breeders, and Arabian horse studs across the world, and strengthening the presence of the Purebred Arabian horse at the world’s most prestigious racing festivals.

“The quality of this field, and the commitment of its owners and studs to compete in Hamburg, is the clearest confirmation of what this Cup has built.”

The UAE President’s Cup for Purebred Arabian Horses was founded in 1994 by the late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan as a global platform to honour the Arabian horse a symbol of UAE identity, culture, and heritage.

Over 33 years, and under the continuous support of Sheikh Mansour, the cup has become the world’s most prestigious and most valuable event of its kind connecting owners, breeders, and racing communities across four continents under the UAE’s enduring commitment to this noble sport.