Abu Dhabi: Pyse, trained by Olga Samokhina and ridden by Nirubic Kapushev, won the Emirates Equestrian Federation's His Highness The President of the UAE Cup (Group 1) Moscow Derby in Moscow on Sunday.
The event featured eight four-year-old purebred Arabian horses and Pyse's owner, Lay Mikhaltsova, picked up the winning cheque of 345,000 roubles (Dh39,884), according to a press release from the Emirates Equestrian Federation (EEF).
Pyse finished eight lengths in front of Bagrein, ridden by A. Alberdiev and trained by A. Derov. Third place went to Patrick, partnered by jockey V. Markov.
The President of the UAE Cup was marking its sixth year at the Moscow Hippodrome and the race featured only purebred Arabian horses.
The President Cup, which carried a prize money of 720,000 roubles, was held along with the Abu Dhabi Stakes, also for purebred Arabians (Group 3).
Pagur, ridden by A. Krishin, impressed racing fans by clinching the 2,000-metre Abu Dhabi Stakes. Second and third places in this event went to Duglik and Blade, respectively.
The races were attended by several dignitaries, diplomats and ambassadors of some GCC countries.
Ali Yousuf Obaid Al Nuaimi, Second Secretary at the UAE Embassy in Moscow, Abdul Rahman Al Mazmi, also from the UAE Embassy in Moscow, and Taleb Daher Al Muhairi, Secretary-General of the Emirates Equestrian Federation, distributed the trophies to the winners in the presence of a huge crowd.
Al Muhairi said he was thrilled by the success of the races in Moscow. "Moscow has always provided a comfort zone for the Arabian races and it is a pleasure to return to the Russian soil, where the Pure-bred Arabian horses get a real boost," he said.
Hosts thanked
"The President Cup Series has been very successful ever since it was launched in 1994 and Moscow was added to the calendar in 2005. The Emirates Equestrian Federation, as the organisers of the event, are immensely pleased with the support extended by the Moscow racing officials.
"These races are the realisation of a dream to boost purebred Arabians and I thank the EEF Chairman Dr. Shaikh Sultan Bin Khalifa Al Nahyan for his continuous support," he said.
Al Nuaimi said such races were essential to build good relationship between countries. "It has been six years since the EEF started the President Cup in Moscow and over the years the interest in purebred Arabians has grown enormously with the large crowd being the ample proof."
