Al Wakrah shines in Spain

Abu Dhabi, UAE – His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court, continues to spearhead the international success of Purebred Arabian racing, with Al Wakrah delivering a dazzling performance in Spain.

Owned and bred by Al Shaqab Racing, the seven-year-old mare stormed to victory in the Spanish leg of the UAE President’s Cup Series for Purebred Arabian Horses, held on Friday at the historic San Sebastián Racecourse in the Basque region. The race, part of the 32nd edition of the Cup, offered a record purse of €200,000 – making it the richest Arabian race ever staged in Spain.

The event drew more than 12,000 spectators, underlining the Cup’s stature as one of the most prestigious fixtures on the global Arabian racing calendar. The remarkable turnout also reflected the vision and support of Sheikh Mansour, whose leadership has elevated the standing of Purebred Arabian horses on the international stage.

Trained by Jean de Mieulle and ridden by Olivier d’Andigné, Al Wakrah (TM Fred Texas x Majida by Majd Al Arab) demonstrated her class with a late surge in the final 400 metres, crossing the line in 1:42.67 minutes over 1,600 metres. The win marked her ninth career triumph and a significant milestone in her racing journey.

Lino (AF Albahar x Azza by Kerbela) finished second, while Extra Time (Valiant Boy x Sand Witchh by Burning Sand) secured third, completing a high-quality line-up of Europe’s finest Arabian horses aged four and above.

The winners were crowned in the presence of Ibrahim Ali Al Nuaimi, Chargé d’Affaires at the UAE Embassy in Spain; Faisal Al Rahmani, General Secretary of the Higher Organising Committee of the UAE President’s Cup Series; and Eneko Goia, Mayor of San Sebastián.

Speaking on the occasion, Al Rahmani hailed the debut Spanish round as a “historic milestone” for the Cup.
“We are proud of the outstanding success of the Spanish debut of the UAE President’s Cup, which achieved great results both in terms of the quality of participation and the impressive attendance of more than 12,000 spectators,” he said.

“This milestone reflects the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan in positioning Purebred Arabian horse racing among the world’s premier competitions. Spain’s round has reinforced the Cup’s role as a global attraction for the Arabian horse industry, driving development, sustainability, and preservation of the breed’s noble heritage.”