Huge prize: €1.2 million up for grabs in world's richest pure-bred Arabian event

The world's most lucrative pure-bred Arabian race takes place at Abu Dhabi racecourse on Friday as part of the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival.

RB Burn, who won the Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Jewel Crown last year, will bid to retain his title in the richest Arabian race. Trained by Eric Lemartinel, the five-year-old will have to fend off the challenges of Paddys Day, Falcon Du Loup and host of others to land the €1.2 million prize fund.

A full field of 16 runners will take part in the contest on a day that also features two world championships and a pony race.

Fourteen jockeys from across the world will line up in the HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship in a bid to land the title and Britain are represented in the contest, with Rosie Jessop on board Bushrah Al Reef.

Prior to the ladies' final, the HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Apprentice Jockey Championship will be run with 12 apprentices from different nations out to claim the top accolade.

Announced on Tuesday by Lara Sawaya, executive director of the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival, the card will also feature the first ever Sheikha Lateefa Bint Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan International Pony race.

Among the young jockeys to take part are Adrian Nicholls' daughter Mia Ann and Frankie Dettori's son Rocco Dettori.

Father and son: Rocco Dettori, in action at Abu Dhabi on Friday, riding against his dad Frankie at Ascot this yearCredit: Mark Cranham

Sawaya said: “Each of the young jockeys in the pony race will be allotted one professional jockey who will be their mentor for this race. Next year this will become a global race series.

“Apart from the above four races, Friday’s meeting will also have the Wathba Stallions race and the UAE Martyrs Cup – all five races for pure-bred Arabian horses-and one UAE Martyrs Cup for thoroughbreds."

Abu Dhabi card

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