Cover image courtesy of The President Cup
Excitement had already begun to ripple across the Abu Dhabi Turf Club well before the first race left the gates. As dusk settled over the United Arab Emirates, the venue transformed into a vibrant spectacle - traditional musicians, dancers, and Emirati culture was on show and was showcased throughout the night.
Against this colourful backdrop, the stage was set for an evening that blended cultural celebration with top-tier competition, culminating in two feature races that had the crowd on its feet, and which emphasised the potential of Abu Dhabi being a sleeping giant in terms of the future of Thoroughbred Racing while still maintaining its cultural and historical roots in Purebred Arabian racing.
Entertainment at Abu Dhabi | Image courtesy of The President Cup
HM Alchachine puts on a moonlit masterclass in the 33rd UAE President Cup
A beautiful evening, full moon and all set the tone for a superb night of racing on Saturday in Abu Dhabi, as the Abu Dhabi Turf Club staged the 33rd running of the AED 8 million (AU$3.3 million) UAE President Cup under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
As the sun dipped behind the Abu Dhabi skyline, a lively crowd streamed into the course, the crowd that was estimated to be around the 5,000-6,000 people mark created a lively atmosphere and one that was keen on everything equine.
The Arabian Purebred feature was the highlight of the ‘Grand Finale’ night, with National Stables’ HM Alchahine returning from a Group 1 placing in France on Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe day to dominate in emphatic style for trainers Helal and Tahnon Alalawi.
Winning jockey Cristian Demuro saluted the crowd before soaking up the celebrations, returning to the grandstand to a rousing reception as the Purebred elite season challenge came to a close.
Cristian Demuro | Image courtesy of The President Cup
Dark Trooper’s dazzling dash along the rail in the Thoroughbred HH The President Cup
The Thoroughbred highlight - the AED 1 million (AU$410,000) HH The President Cup- delivered its own drama one race earlier that the UAE 33rd President Cup, with Dark Trooper (Ire) (Harry Angel {Ire}) producing a stunning late burst from well back in the field along the rail to to claim the prize in a great contest,where the cream rose to the top and the proven class gallopers battled it out.
Echo Point (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and the Michael Costa-trained Regheeb (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}) rolled forward to control what proved to be a muddling tempo given the stature of the event. Another Costa trained runner in last year’s runner-up Marbaan (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) lobbed in behind with cover, while Christophe Soumillon, drawn wide in barrier 15, elected to drop Dark Trooper out the back for the 1400-metre trip.
Dark Trooper after winning the HH The President Cup | Image supplied
Forced to check several times and still last turning for home, Soumillon angled toward the rail in search of a run. Once the 5-year-old Dark Angel gelding saw daylight, he surged, producing a finish rarely seen from a backmarker around the tight Abu Dhabi circuit.
Upfront, Wathnan Racing’s Make Me King (Fr) (Dark Angel {Ire}) had momentarily hit the lead as he hunted a second consecutive win in the race, with Marbaan charging down the outside in a reprise of their clash from last year. Both, however, were left wanting as Dark Trooper exploded through the final 50 metres to snatch the feature in stylish fashion.
He stopped the clock in 1:21.89, scoring by a touch over half a length. Marbaan again had to settle for second, edging Make Me King by 0.13l.
Winning jockey Soumillon described the win as a "totally unbelievable performance", noting how rarely such a run eventuates on the Abu Dhabi track.
"He was going very well but we needed a gap, we were still held up right until the last furlong," Soumillon said. "When he got out at about the 100 meters he was so strong.
"At that distance to change his line a couple of times and to win was very special, and hands and heels I didn't even need to give him a slap really. He came through strong and won easy in the end."
Michael Costa and Silvestre De Sousa | Image supplied
Australian trainer Michael Costa took encouragement from Marbaan’s late run despite again finishing runner-up in the race after also doing so last season.
“He is in for a great preparation, that was a great resuming run. Last season his trackwork was good, but this preparation it has been much better, he has improved.
“He’s not at his peak yet, so to run like that was very pleasing, he is in for a great prep and I am very happy.”
“He’s (Marbaan) not at his peak yet, so to run like that was very pleasing, he is in for a great prep and I am very happy.” - Michael Costa
Bred in Ireland by Yeomanstown Stud, Dark Trooper is by Dark Angel (Ire), also the sire of the classy sire Harry Angel (Ire) in Australia. He is out of the unraced Shamardal (USA) mare Warshah (Ire), a half-sister to Group 1 winner Kinnaird (Ire) (Dr Devious {Ire}) and Group 3 winner Mickdaam (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}).
Warshah has produced five individual winners, including Listed winner Fantasy Lady (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), with Group 1 winners and sires Ivawood (Ire) and Ribchester (Ire) also appearing prominently on the page.
Qatar-based trainer Alban de Mieulle said Dark Trooper had long shown plenty of natural ability.
“We were so happy to win this race, especially in Abu Dhabi," he said.
“We were so happy to win this race, especially in Abu Dhabi.” - Alban de Mieulle
Abu Dhabi’s Thoroughbred rise: Momentum builds ahead of the inaugural Gold Cup
The Thoroughbred program at Abu Dhabi continues to strengthen, with the Thoroughbred President Cup being run for the second year at an AED 1 million (AU$412,000) purse. The club will also host the inaugural Abu Dhabi Gold Cup for US$1 million (AU$1.51 million) on February 7.
With this expansion and further investment into the prominence of Throughbreds, it has meant that trainers are now looking at Abu Dhabi as a target, with a possibility that Dark Trooper could possibly head towards the Abu Dhabi Cup.
De Mieulle said he had yet to decide whether Dark Trooper would stretch out to the mile for the Gold Cup or instead head to Meydan Racecourse in Dubai, but noted that the expanding opportunities for Thoroughbreds in the capital were proving invaluable for trainers.
Alban de Mieulle | Image courtesy of Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia
“Everywhere in the world, you have Thoroughbred racing,” he said. “Of course, it is nice to have a championship for Pure Arabians in Abu Dhabi, but it means we'll get better and better Thoroughbreds. And Dubai is not far away from here. They can bring very good horses.”
It capped a memorable evening for Wathnan Racing, headed by the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. Along with winning the Thoroughbred feature and placing third in the same race with the Hamad Al Jehani-trained Make Me King, the operation also secured an Arabian Purebred stakes victory with Haseef winning race 5, the Abu Dhabi Derby in the hands of jockey James Doyle.
