RB Boujee shines in UAE racing season opener

The UAE horse racing season got off to an exciting start on Thursday as Abu Dhabi Turf Club raised the curtain on the 2026–2027 campaign with a competitive seven-race meeting, featuring some of the country’s leading owners, trainers and jockeys.

The opening fixture comprised five races for Purebred Arabian horses and two for Thoroughbreds, with total prize money of Dhs 466,000, setting the stage for another eagerly anticipated season of racing at the capital’s premier venue.

Yarmouk, owned by Yas Racing, trained by Eric Legrix and ridden by Richard Mullen, secured a hard-fought victory in the Qasr Al Watan Challenge Cup, edging out Al Ajban Stables’ Envy by less than a length in the 2,200-metre contest for Purebred Arabians aged four and above.

Sultan XMansor, owned and trained by Mansour Ali Suleiman Al Shamsi, and ridden by Hamad Al Busaidi, won the opening race of the card Fursan Al Watan.

The five-year-old son of RB Burn made a fast start and held off the challenge of Abu Dhabi Racing’s Laheeb Baynounah to secure victory in the 1,200-metre contest.

Sultan X Mansour delivered a successful performance to open the new campaign in style, giving his connections an early reason to celebrate.

M N Hattan, owned by National Stables, trained by Tahnoon Al Alaawi and ridden by Hamad Al Busaidi, produced an impressive performance to land an emphatic victory in the Al Ezz Elite Cup at Abu Dhabi Turf Club on Thursday.

The four-year-old gelding was in a class of his own in the 1,400-metre contest for Purebred Arabians, showing his superiority to cross the finish line almost five lengths clear of his nearest rivals. Sultan Majed Khalfan Al Jahoori’s RB AK Qaaher and Al Ain Stud’s Mister Vialettes were left trailing behind as M N Hattan asserted his authority in commanding fashion.

Ajban Stables’ Italy under Sandro Paiva edged out Al Majid Racing’s BF Gala F Gala to claim a narrow victory in the Arabian Stride Mile, delivering a thrilling finish in the 1,600-metre contest for Purebred Arabians.

Khalid Khalifa Al Nabooda’s RB Boujee produced a powerful late surge to overcome Al Sulaiti Racing’s Al Ghanim in a thrilling finish to the 2,200-metre Wathba Stallions Cup, designated for owners of private stables.

Sayed Hashish and Hana Refai’s Road Block lived up to expectations with a comfortable victory over Bhupat Seemar’s Royal Office in the Desert Jewel Handicap.

Masubi, owned by Sky Racing, trained by Antonio Cintra and Julio Olascoaga, and ridden by Silvestre de Sousa, brought the evening to a fitting close by winning the Capital Speed Sprint, the seventh and final race of the meeting, over 1,200 metres for maiden Thoroughbreds aged three and above.

The contest developed into a thrilling duel between Masubi and Salem Bin Ghadayer’s Aiglemont, with the pair battling for supremacy throughout the race. However, when de Sousa called upon his mount in the closing stages, the four-year-old gelding by Too Darn Hot responded with an impressive turn of foot, accelerating decisively and secure victory.