President’s Cup for Purebred Arabian Horses: Seventh Leg at Duindigt Sees 11-Star Field Compete Over 2150m
Seventh leg of the President’s Cup for Purebred Arabian Horses at Duindigt in The Hague features 11 runners, including Al Zeyr and Farida B, over 2150m turf.
The 33rd edition of the President’s Cup for Purebred Arabian Horses continues Sunday with the seventh leg staged on the turf at Duindigt racecourse in The Hague, where 11 entries will contest a 2,150-metre test for four-year-olds and upward. The President’s Cup for Purebred Arabian Horses remains a cornerstone of the international calendar for Arabian thoroughbreds, aiming to promote breeding, ownership and the heritage of the purebred Arabian worldwide. Race day is scheduled to begin in the mid-afternoon local time, with expectations of a competitive finish among a field representing leading European studs and stables.
Race day line-up at Duindigt
A diverse field of 11 purebred Arabians has been declared for the category-three turf contest, bringing together horses from prominent Dutch and European operations. The distance of 2,150 metres on grass will test stamina and tactical speed, a profile that favours established middle-distance performers. Organisers confirm the race is open to four-year-olds and older, aligning with the series’ objective to feature mature, proven competitors.
Al Zeyr returns in winning form
Attention centers on Al Zeyr, owned by Omar Ismail Gargar, who arrives under the care of trainer François Rohaut and with jockey Adel Al Qeadi in the saddle. Al Zeyr carries strong credentials after claiming the Belgian leg of the Cup in 2025 and posting a runner-up finish in the Netherlands that same season, while also recording a third-place result in the Italian leg earlier in the current series. Connections have signalled confidence in the gelding’s ability to handle the Duindigt turf and to contend for top honours once more.
Farida B and other headline contenders
Farida B, owned and trained by Peter Dekkers and partnered by rider Quin Clemans, is another leading contender whose record includes victory in the Dutch leg of the series in 2024 and a win in Sweden in 2025. The mare’s recent form, including a podium placing in the current Swedish fixture, makes her an obvious tactical challenger for the front-running and late-finishing horses alike. Additional entrants listed for the race include El Paso T, Al Rifaa, Jo Star, Zarka D.A., Love Me Do La Cier, Mehdi De Bruyl, Farouk Al Shahaniya and Papillon T, promising a tactical contest with multiple potential pacesetters.
UAE contender and international connections
Representing the UAE is Maqbool, returned to Yas Racing Management and trained by Xavier Thomas De Moult, with Leo-Paul Brische engaged as jockey for the Dutch test. Maqbool’s presence highlights the continued UAE investment in international Arabian racing and the strategic role of the President’s Cup for showcasing Emirates-bred or Emirates-based talents on European tracks. The participation of UAE runners alongside European champions underscores the Cup’s role in fostering cross-border competition and in maintaining strong links between Gulf racing interests and the European circuit.
Duindigt’s legacy within the President’s Cup series
The Dutch leg has a distinguished history within the President’s Cup, producing a roll call of notable champions that includes Gulmar (2017), Lightning Bolt (2018), Khair Al Sham (2019), Jarf (2021 and 2022), Missy (2023), Farida B (2024) and Afjan (2025). That lineage underscores Duindigt’s reputation as a venue where established and emerging Arabian stars can raise their profiles on the international stage. Officials say the continuity of the Cup in European venues such as Duindigt strengthens the series’ mission to preserve the Arabian horse’s legacy and to encourage ownership and breeding worldwide.
Organisers emphasise global mission of the series
Matar Suhail Al Yabhouni Al Dhaheri, chairman of the Supreme Organising Committee for the President’s Cup series, reiterated that the Netherlands fixture reflects the growing global stature of the Cup and its support for breeders and owners. He noted that staging competitive legs at major international tracks aligns with the series’ long-term goal of elevating the purebred Arabian’s presence on the world race calendar. Al Dhahouni emphasised that a strong entry list, including previous leg winners and high-calibre stables, enhances both the sporting quality and the international visibility of the series.
The Duindigt meeting will be closely watched by owners, trainers and breeders across Europe and the Gulf as results from the 2,150-metre turf contest feed into broader season plans and breeding valuations. Final declarations and race-day conditions will determine tactical plans, but expectations are for a tight contest decided in the closing stages, reinforcing the President’s Cup for Purebred Arabian Horses as a key platform for the sport’s leading performers.