Ascot: Raqiyah with Olivier Peslier in the saddle, won the fifth round of the His Highness the President of the UAE Cup Series for Purebred Arabian horses at the Ascot Racecourse on Saturday.
The race was sponsored by the Emirates Equestrian Federation for the second year consecutively.
Having partnered Harbinger to the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes Group-1 glory at the same venue early in the afternoon, the Frenchman claimed his second Group-1 victory less than 45 minutes later.
Jockey Olivier Peslier said: "She made me happy. She was always going well and showed great turn of foot when she was asked the question. I think the ground suited her very well."
Zayin Barakaldo and Joybell led the field at a steady pace, but the French jockey wisely settled the mare in a good five lengths off the pace. And although Raqiyah broke from stall one, Peslier carefully shifted the Amer daughter to the centre of the track very sweetly before he found his way through in the closing stages.
"She raced keenly and did nothing wrong all the way," the French jockey noted.
Titanic clash
However, the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes day at Ascot was by all means the UAE day at the Royal venue. Toolain, ridden by Philip Robinson, delighted his trainer when he landed the Jaguar XK Winkfield Stakes (Class-1) Listed.
In the third race, Ryan Moore rode Soraaya to beat the mount of Hayley Turner Margot Did in a titanic clash close home to win The Princess Margret Abu Dhabi Stakes (Class-1) Group-3, the third race on the card to make it two out of two for owner Major General Shaikh Ahmad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Head of Dubai Police and Public Security.
Don't Call Me scored a stunning victory in the Dubai Duty Free Handicap Stakes (Class 2) fourth race of the afternoon. Top weight Yashrid came from the back seat to put his head first in the Canisbay Bloodstock Handicap Stakes (Class 4).
