A strong start for the President’s Cup for Arabian Horses in Tunisia… and"RB Boyfriend" He wins the title of first station

Tunisia, April 20, 2017 (WAM) – The Qasr Al Said sand track in the Republic of Tunisia yesterday witnessed an exceptional start for the first leg of the series of races for the Cup of His Highness the President of the State for Purebred Arabian Horses in its thirty-third edition, amid a large crowd in attendance exceeding 15,000 spectators, in a festive scene that reflects the prestigious international status of the precious cup.

The horse “RB Boy Friend”, a descendant of “RB Bern x Rich Friend”, was crowned the winner of the opening leg after a heroic performance and great comfort, confirming his readiness for the international season of Arabian horse racing. Under the supervision of trainer Ali Al-Qayed and the leadership of jockey Adel Al-Qayed, the champion owned by Omar Ismail Gharghar was able to raise his tally to 9 victories and two runner-up positions out of 11 entries.

The 2,000-metre race for “Class One – Group 1” horses witnessed a strong start in the final metres, as RB Boy Friend rushed brilliantly at the finishing bend to lead the race and widen the gap, ending the competition with a time of 2:18:05 minutes.

The horse “Afjan” from Dhat Al-Rimal Stables, supervised by Mohamed Farhat and driven by Olivier Dandiné, came in second place, while “Wad Al-Adiyat” from Al-Adiyat Stables, supervised by Sami Al-Bajjawi and driven by Sandro Paiva, came in third place.

The Tunisian station witnessed a remarkable crowd attendance exceeding 15,000 spectators, crowding the stands of the Qasr Al Said racetrack, in a distinctive festive atmosphere that embodied the growing popularity of the expensive Cup races, as the audience interacted with the course of the race until the finish line, within an accompanying carnival that included heritage and cultural activities that embodied the authentic Arab heritage, and highlighted the historical and sporting value of this global event.

The race and the crowning of the winners were witnessed by His Excellency Dr. Iman Ahmed Al-Salami, UAE Ambassador to the Republic of Tunisia, and His Excellency Faisal Al-Rahmani, Secretary-General of the Supreme Organizing Committee for the President’s Cup Races, in addition to a remarkable official and diplomatic presence.

For his part, His Excellency Muslim Salem Al Ameri stressed that the start of the thirty-third edition in Tunisia represents an important milestone in the journey of the precious cup, pointing out that this milestone reflects the strength of the start of the new season, and the global value that the precious cup holds in supporting owners and breeders of Arabian horses.

He added that the large public attendance and strong competition between the participating horses embody the prestigious status of the event, and confirm its pioneering role in developing Arabian horse racing at the international level, expressing his pride in the public successes and the global launch of the precious cup.

He explained that the horse auction held in Tunisia prior to the start of the event witnessed a large turnout and record numbers, reflecting the success of the development plans to improve Arabian horse racing globally.

His Excellency said that the wide response and the high public and diplomatic presence in the first stop in Tunisia reflect the success of the organization and the level of the event, congratulating the champions of the precious cup who were crowned in this exceptional round.

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