Prince Khalid sweeps top honours

Dubai: Saudi Arabia's Prince Khalid Bin Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz swept the top prizes on offer at the 2008 Dubai International Arabian Horse Championships which concluded on Saturday at the Dubai World Trade Centre.

Handsome Magora won the colts Gold Cup, while Layan Al Khalediah topped the fillies division. Marquis Cahr was named the best mare in the category and Dakharo claimed the gold cup for stallions.

The quartet of horses won $800,000 (Dh2.9 million) in prize money.

The closing ceremony of the prestigious competition was attended by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai; Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance; Shaikh Maktoum Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai; Shaikh Ammar Bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, Crown Prince of Ajman, and top officials and dignitaries.

Richest of its kind

The championship, the richest of its kind in the world for Purebred Arabian horses showcasing their beauty, agility and heritage, carried a total prize purse of $4 million.

Shaikh Mohammad praised the beauty and specifications of Lubna, the horse of Shaikh Ammar Bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, which won in the foals category.

Apart from beauty, the Championship was designed to highlight the authenticity and agility of each entry, with authorised judges from the European Conference of Arab Horse Organisation (ECAHO) evaluating the beauty and performance specifications of each entry.

Shaikh Mohammad stressed his support to such competitions which enhance position of horses as an important part of Arab tradition.

Earlier, Saudi Arabian horses made a clean sweep of the Junior Male and Female Championships.

Baanderos, owned by Prince Khalid, impressed the judges to win the Junior Male Championship. Ajman Stud's AJ Dinar was voted Reserve Champion.

Lubna claimed the first prize for the UAE when the 11-year-old won the Senior Female Championship for Ajman Stud. Venetzia finished in second place.

— With inputs from WAM