Today, Friday, witnessed the commencement of the 21st edition of the Dubai International Arabian Horse Championship at the Dubai World Trade Center, featuring 205 horses from 15 countries competing across 14 categories for a total prize pool of $4 million.
The first day of the championship included the staging of 9 rounds, including 7 qualifying rounds. It began with the round for fillies under one year old, followed by fillies under one year old, then divided into sections “A” and “B,” followed by the round for fillies aged two years, and fillies aged three years. Additionally, the competition featured mares aged 4-6 years, mares aged 7-9 years, concluding with the round for mares aged 10 years and above.
Twenty-one horses qualified from the first day to compete in the six “main rounds,” the finals scheduled to take place on Sunday at the championship’s conclusion.
Among the highlights of the opening day was the victory of the filly “Dree Roy” from Dubai Arabian Horse Stud, topping the fillies under one year old section (A), scoring 92.17 points. Following closely with the same score was the filly “Al Aryam Hurra” owned by Sheikh Khalifa bin Tahnoon bin Hamad Al Nahyan, securing the second position. The filly “Al Aryam Oboor” from Al Aryam Arabian Stables claimed the third spot with 91.33 points. All three qualified for the one-year-old fillies championship scheduled for Sunday, the final day of the championship.
In the fillies under one year old section (B), featuring 10 fillies, one withdrew, and the filly “Shamkha Al Hawajir” owned by Abdullah Thamer Nasser Al Hamidi clinched the top position with 91.75 points. Following in second place was “Al Aryam Ola” from Al Aryam Arabian Stables with 91.25 points, and “Nasayem Al Az” from Al Az Arabian Stud secured the third position with 91.08 points. All three qualified for the one-year-old fillies championship on Sunday.
Additionally, in the unqualified rounds, the filly “Ajeebah Al Badeer” owned by Sheikh Mohammed bin Saud Al Qasimi claimed the first position in the fillies under one year old category, while the filly “Maha Al Fahed” owned by Abdullah Saeed Delham Al Hajeri secured the second position, and the filly “Im Kye Ghazal” owned by Mohsen Hussein Ammara earned the third position. Meanwhile, the colt “Fareed Al Hamidiyah” owned by Ali Mohammed Issa Boushab Al Suwaidi claimed the first position in the colts under one year old category.
The competitions tomorrow, Saturday, will feature 7 qualifying rounds, starting with the fillies in their first year (A) and (B), followed by fillies aged two years, fillies aged three years, moving on to stallions aged 4-6 years, stallions aged 7-9 years, and concluding with the final round for stallions aged 10 years and above.
Qusai Ubaidullah, the General Manager of the championship, emphasized the distinctive nature of the 21st edition, as it marks the first time it is being held during the month of Ramadan, with competitions scheduled for nighttime, enhancing its uniqueness and attracting increased participation, evidenced by the participation of 205 horses, including 6 world champion horses, in addition to 50 horses that have previously won local and international championships.
He added, “The local participation in this edition is significant and influential, as we have a number of purebred Arabian horses capable of competing for the top spot in the six championships.”
He explained that the accompanying exhibition of the current edition of the championship differs from previous exhibitions, serving as a local market and trade platform, featuring 16 companies showcasing the latest products and technologies in the field of horses and equestrianism.
