Beasley leads Heros De Lagarde to victory at President Cup in Abu Dhabi

The Abu Dhabi Turf Club delivered an unforgettable edition of the HH The President Cup race night, cementing its status as one of the premier events on the UAE racing calendar.

With a remarkable Dhs11 million in prize money distributed across seven races, the evening attracted top talent from around the world, with horses and jockeys from France, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar competing alongside the UAE’s finest. However, it was the local contenders who stole the spotlight, headlined by a scintillating victory from Heros De Lagarde in the night’s feature race.

The main event, the HH The President Cup for Purebred Arabians, saw its prize purse raised to Dhs8 million this year, with Dhs4.8 million going to the winner.

This significant increase drew heightened international attention, but the UAE’s Heros De Lagarde proved unstoppable. Trained by Ibrahim Al Hadhrami and ridden masterfully by Connor Beasley, the reigning UAE Purebred Arabian of the Year surged to victory, solidifying his status as one of the best Arabians in the country and the world.

In a fitting finish to a thrilling race, Heros De Lagarde led a UAE trifecta, with Suny De Loup, trained by Hamad Al Marar, claiming second place, and Bahwan, trained by Mohamed Al Shamsi, rounding out the top three.

For 30-year-old Connor Beasley, this victory, particularly from a prize money standpoint, would be marked as the pinnacle of his career thus far. Even more meaningful for the Englishman was the opportunity to share this success with a horse he has already enjoyed many victories with.

The evening’s action was far from limited to the headline race. The program opened with a strong performance from ES Jenjal, who captured the first race for jockey Sandro Paiva and trainer Abubakar Daud. The Yas Sprint, however, offered the first international win of the night, as Qatar’s Posuelo PY sprinted to victory under Szczepan Mazur for Hamad Al Jehani.

Ben Coen and Ahmed Al Mehairbi enjoyed a stellar evening, completing a race-to-race double with commanding victories in the Al Wathba Mile (with Rasasi) and the UAE Breeders Cup (with Al Laith). In the Abu Dhabi Derby, the local contingent held firm again, with HM Alchahine, trained by Helal Alalawi, prevailing over the strong challenge of international runner Molfit to secure another win for the locals under the guidance of the “Flying Dutchman,” Adrie de Vries.

The thoroughbred edition of the HH The President Cup, worth Dhs1million, provided a thrilling moment for Wathnan Racing, who were big supporters of the meeting with multiple runners. Make Me King, piloted by James Doyle, executed a dramatic late charge through the pack to clinch victory, adding another win for Qatar on the night.

But the night undoubtedly belonged to Heros De Lagarde. The win reaffirmed the progression the UAE has made in being competitive on the world stage with its runners and underscored the growing global prestige of the HH The President Cup.

With the quality of the field assembled and the increased prize money, this year’s edition of the event was a resounding success for the Abu Dhabi Turf Club. This success leaves fans and participants eagerly awaiting what promises to be an even grander spectacle in 12 months’ time.