As the sun begins to dip over the capital on Saturday evening, Abu Dhabi Turf Club will be set to host one of its most prestigious and internationally charged race meetings of the season on February 7. From Group-level Purebred Arabian contests to Listed Thoroughbred showdowns worth global attention, the seven-race programme running from 4:00pm to 8:00pm will be built around depth, heritage and serious prize money. With multiple major titles on offer, the card will culminate in a million-dollar statement that places Abu Dhabi firmly on the world racing map.
The evening will revolve around several headline races, most notably the Abu Dhabi Gold Cup in Race 7, a Listed Thoroughbred contest over 1600m carrying a staggering USD 1,000,000 purse, the richest event of the night. Alongside it, the Alanudd Classic, a Group 1 Purebred Arabian race worth AED 1,000,000, will anchor the card as a defining test of stamina and class.
The action will begin at 4:00pm with Race 1, the Liwa Oasis, a Group 2 contest for Purebred Arabians aged four years and older over 1400m. With 16 runners lining up for AED 300,000, this opening race will immediately set a high standard and signal the quality to come.
Race 2 at 4:40pm will see the Arabian Triple Crown R1, a Listed event for four-year-old Purebred Arabians over 1600m. Fourteen runners will compete for AED 230,000, adding historical significance and championship implications early in the programme.
Staying with the Arabian theme, Race 3, The Purebred Pride Handicap, will be run at 5:20pm. This handicap for Purebred Arabians rated 0–85 will cover 2200m, feature 14 runners, and offer AED 66,000, providing a tactical middle-distance contest before the night’s major climax.
At 6:00pm, the spotlight will fall firmly on Race 4, the Alanudd Classic. This Group 1 race for five-year-old and upward Purebred Arabians over 2200m will bring together 15 runners chasing a prize pool of AED 1,000,000. The contender list reflects the race’s elite status: Ajrad Athbah with Mickael Barzalona for Majed Al Jahoori, Af Maqam partnered by Tadhg O’Shea for Ernst Oertel, So’ud ridden by Silvestre De Sousa for Majed Al Jahoori, and Joe Star under Bernardo Pinheiro for Hamad Al Marar.
Strong international depth will also come from Munir Du Soleil, RB Yas Man, Maqbool, RB Yas Sir, Suny Du Loup, Nassif, Clash, Kardoom, Kanti De Bozouls, Ghazy and Es Sudani, each representing leading connections across the region and beyond.
Race 5 at 6:40pm will switch to Thoroughbreds with The Royal Turf Crown, a handicap over 2200m for horses rated 0–85. Fourteen runners will compete for AED 66,000, offering a competitive bridge between the Arabian features and the Thoroughbred championships.
At 7:20pm, Race 6, the Abu Dhabi Championship, will raise the tempo further. This Listed Thoroughbred race over 2400m for four-year-olds and upward will feature 10 runners battling for AED 380,000, a significant staying test ahead of the finale.
Everything will then build toward Race 7 at 8:00pm, the Abu Dhabi Gold Cup. Run over 1600m, this Listed Thoroughbred event will draw a full field of 16 runners and carry a USD 1,000,000 prize, confirming its status as the night’s biggest race.
The contender list reads like a global roll call: Maljoom with Silvestre De Sousa for Michael Costa, Jonquil ridden by Colin Keane for Andrew Balding, Quddwah under Mickael Barzalona for Simon and Ed Crisford, and Comanche Brave partnered by Ryan Moore for Donnacha O’Brien. They will be joined by Aomori City, Witness Stand, Chicago Critic, Strauss, Dark Trooper, Tumbler, Crown Board, Vafortino, Andreas Vesalius, Folk Festival, Dioptase and Western Writer, bringing together elite jockeys and trainers from Europe, Japan and the Middle East.
With Group 1 Arabian prestige, Listed Thoroughbred depth and a million-dollar finale, Abu Dhabi Racecards 7 February will be poised to deliver an evening that blends tradition, global competition and high-class racing into one unmissable showcase.
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