High-quality runners set for action in President of UAE Cup
Field includes Smart-trained Group 1 winners Aziz, Harran and Areej
Abu Dhabi: The President of the UAE Cup, a listed race for Purebred Arabians which takes place at the Abu Dhabi Irish Guineas Festival today, is set to launch the Arabian Racing Organisation's (ARO) international racing season for 2012.
Staged at the Curragh, Ireland, the race is sponsored by the Emirates Equestrian Federation (EEF) with the support of Brand Abu Dhabi, Etihad Airways and Abu Dhabi Sports Council (ADSC).
A high-quality field of six Purebred Arabians, including three Group 1 winners, will be seen in action in this second leg of the world-renowned and original Arabian Purebred Classic Series.
Run over 1,400 metres, the race carries a prize purse of ¤35,000.
The field includes Group 1 winners Aziz, Harran and Areej, all of whom are trained by Julian Smart in Qatar. Aziz is a winner of the Al Hai Group Zabeel International Stakes (Group 1 PA) and The Royal Cavalry of Oman Clarendon International Stakes (Group 3 PA) during his British campaign last season before winning two top-quality Group 1 races during the winter in Qatar.
Aziz's stablemate Areej was just touched off in last year's Emirates NBD Hatta International Stakes (Group 1 PA) at Newbury on Dubai International Arabian Raceday, but she made amends for this defeat by winning the Qatar Arabian World Cup (Group 1 PA) at Longchamp in October.
Harran has not run in the UK since 2010 when he failed to shed his maiden tag in two attempts, but had a Group 1 success this year when winning the Qatar International Trophy in Doha. Bill Smith's Chinaactic, Gillian Duffield's El Adjban and Dennis Batteate'sTidarbret complete the six-horse field.
Tale Dasher Al Mohair, Secretary General of the Emirates Equestrian Federation, said: "The Curragh is such a prestigious racing venue, and to stage our races here in Ireland is a matter of great pride and privilege. I take this opportunity to thank all those who have made this series a success, including the UAE Rulers and other supporting staff."
