The 5 races — each bearing the name of a renowned stallion standing at Al Wathba Stud for the improvement of purebred Arabian bloodlines — comprising a Group 1 contest, a Group 2 race, two Group 3 races, and a conditions race, achieved brilliant success under the patronage of Yas Racing and Al Wathba Stud when they were hosted on Saturday by the La Teste-de-Buch Arcachon racecourse in France.
The festival, in which 37 purebred Arabian horses competed for prize money totalling 150,000 euros, drew a large crowd of purebred Arabian racing enthusiasts, and all five heats were filled with excitement and suspense.
Jockey Christophe Soumillon completed a hat-trick of victories on the evening when he partnered the filly Fakhira, owned by Khalifa bin Shail Al Kawari and trained by Thomas Fourcy — making it a training double — to win the main event, the Criterium Dupolicies – Yas Racing, a Group 1 race for purebred Arabian horses aged 4 years and above over 1,900 metres, carrying prize money of 50,000 euros. Following the conclusion of the race, Muslim Al Ameri, Director-General of the UAE Global Endurance Village, presented the winning champions with their trophies.
The filly Jouyda Al Sham, owned by Pearl Racing, trained by Thomas Demeulou and ridden by Guillaume Gougeard, soared to victory in the Breeders' Prix Mihab, a Group 3 race restricted to three-year-old fillies over 1,900 metres, with total prize money of 25,000 euros.
The colt Al Karrar, owned by Wathba Racing, trained by François Rohaut and ridden by Christophe Soumillon, won the Breeders' Prix Menjed, a Group 3 race over 1,900 metres restricted to three-year-old horses, with total prize money of 25,000 euros.
The horse Munir, owned by Wathnan Racing, trained by Daimeon Vatrejant and ridden by Christophe Soumillon — completing his training double — was crowned winner of the Breeders' Prix Dryane – Coupe du Sud-Ouest, a Group 2 race for purebred Arabian horses over 1,900 metres, with prize money of 30,000 euros.
The finale was provided by the filly Nayla Al Mouri, owned by Renée-Laure Koch, who won the Breeders' Prix Arym (conditions race) over 1,900 metres, restricted to three-year-old fillies and colts, competing for total prize money of 20,000 euros.