RB Kingmaker shines in UAE President’s Cup for Purebred Arabian Horses in Belgium

 The Emirati horse RB Kingmaker was crowned champion of the Belgium leg of the UAE President’s Cup for Purebred Arabian Horses, held on Tuesday, before a vast crowd of nearly 55,000 spectators who filled the stands of Belgium’s Waregem Racecourse, host of the eleventh leg of the 33rd edition of the Prestigious Cup.

The cup series is staged with the support of His Highness Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court, reflecting his considerable commitment to developing the Arabian horse racing industry, supporting owners and breeders around the world, and encouraging them to acquire and breed the Arabian horse and to elevate its standing at the most important international racecourses.

RB Kingmaker (by Baseq Al Khalediah out of RB Royale Madame) delivered a remarkable performance, launching a decisive run at the final turn of the Belgian summit and capturing the spotlight amid the huge crowd, under the supervision of trainer Elisabeth Bernard and jockey Christophe Soumillon.

He covered the 2,200 metres on turf, in the Group 2 category for horses aged four years and above, in a time of 2:22.12, among a field of 11 horses representing the finest Arabian studs on the European continent, competing for a total prize purse of €250,000, the most valuable in the history of Purebred Arabian horse racing in the Belgium.

Second place went to Mahdi du Breuil (by Mared Al Sahra out of Wanaa du Breuil), owned by Wiljan Poels, while third was taken by Maqbool (by AF Albahar out of Ghaleba), representing Yas Horse Racing Management.

The champion added this title to a record rich in achievement, headlined by his win at the UAE President’s Cup title on the Abu Dhabi racecourse in 2024, and his crowning with the Group 1 Qatar International Stakes title at England’s Goodwood Racecourse, confirming his standing among the most prominent Purebred Arabian horses on the European stage.

Born in 2019 and bred by National Stables, the horse strengthened his outstanding record with his thirteenth career victory, against 11 further placed finishes from 28 starts, carrying a rating of 129.

 Owner Helal Nasser Alalawi expressed his considerable delight at this significant victory, saying:

‘We dedicate this achievement to our wise leadership, and we value the considerable support that HH Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President of the UAE, extends to the Purebred Arabian horse, support that has had the greatest impact in strengthening the presence of our horses at the world’s most historic racecourses. Winning the title of the UAE President’s Cup for Purebred Arabian Horses carries a special value and a lofty standing among all owners and breeders, and we are proud to have achieved this before such a great crowd and on a racecourse as historic as Waregem. This crowning is the fruit of continuous work and combined effort, and it confirms the strength and outstanding readiness that RB Kingmaker brings to major races.”

The race and the crowning ceremony were attended by Faisal Al Rahmani, Secretary-General of the Higher Organizing Committee of the UAE President’s Cup for Purebred Arabian Horses, who presented the trophy to owner Helal Alalawi. The series continues to achieve exceptional organisational, technical and promotional successes worldwide, fulfilling its goals of restoring the lustre of the Purebred Arabian horse and consolidating its presence at the most historic European and international racecourses.