On Saturday, September 19, Buraak, a purebred Arabian horse owned by Al Leith Racing and ridden by jockey Mohcine Lafram, emerged victorious in The President of the UAE Cup. This premier event was part of the second edition of the UAE Moroccan Festival of horse racing, organized by the Royal Society for the Encouragement of the Horse (SOREC) in partnership with the UAE President Cup Committee. The festival brought together Moroccan and foreign horses, owners, trainers, and jockeys for eight racing events.
The President of the UAE Cup, contested over 1,900 meters at the Casablanca-Anfa hippodrome, was open to entire male horses and purebred Arabian mares aged four years and above. The event offered a substantial prize of 250,000 euros, making it one of the richest events on the Moroccan racing calendar. Buraak secured the top spot, ahead of Moshrif, ridden by Guillaume Guedj-Gay and owned by Khalifa Bin Sheail Al Kuwari, who finished second.
The third-place finish was secured by Mugheer, ridden by Omar Lakjal and owned by Atlas Stud. The event was a highlight of the UAE Moroccan Festival, which aims to promote cooperation between Morocco and the United Arab Emirates in the field of horse racing. The festival also featured seven other racing events, including the Abu Dhabi Cup, which was won by Huda De Carrere, ridden by Guillaume Guedj-Gay and owned by Emadadein Althoushi.
The Abu Dhabi Cup, reserved for purebred Arabian mares aged four years, was contested over the same distance of 1,900 meters. Ines Grine, ridden by Omar Lakjal and owned by Ahmed Karimine, finished second, while Mellie De Faust, ridden by Amine Moughat and owned by Atlas Stud, took third place. These events showcased the quality of horses and the level of competition in the region.
According to Hicham Debbagh, Deputy Managing Director of SOREC, the festival is a testament to the strong cooperation between Morocco and the UAE in the field of horse racing. He expressed pride in the partnership, which extends beyond organizing racing events to collaboration within international institutions dedicated to purebred Arabian racing.
Debbagh also highlighted Morocco's significant horse racing and breeding industry, with over 1,000 racing events held annually and a thriving purebred Arabian breeding program. He sees this dynamic as an opportunity for Moroccan professionals, breeders, and owners to develop export and commercialization opportunities for their horses.
Faysal Al Rahmani, President of the International Federation of Authorities for Purebred Arabian Racing (IFAHR), praised the quality of horses and the level of competition at the festival. His presence at the event underscores the growing importance of Morocco in the international purebred Arabian racing scene.
Key points
- Buraak wins The President of the UAE Cup at Casablanca.
- The UAE Moroccan Festival promotes cooperation between Morocco and the UAE in horse racing.
- Morocco has a thriving horse racing and breeding industry with over 1,000 annual racing events.
