The Abu Dhabi Turf Club is all set to host its second meeting of the 2025–26 racing season on Sunday, 2 November, with a seven-race program carrying a combined prize purse of AED 466,000. From emerging three-year-olds to seasoned campaigners, the evening promises a balanced mix of youth, experience, and homebred excellence, highlighted by the AED 70,000 Wathba Stallions Cup (For Private Owners) at 7:00 p.m.
The capital’s turf under lights will again welcome familiar names in the saddle — including Silvestre de Sousa, Tadhg O’Shea, and Andrew Slattery — as leading trainers look to build early momentum in the new season.
The meeting opens with the Homat Al Watan Challenge at 5:30 p.m., a 1600-metre test for older runners offering AED 66,000. The patriotic-themed opener sets the tone for the evening’s mix of quality and depth. Half an hour later comes the National Prestige Mile (6:00 p.m.), also over a mile and confined to three-year-olds, a race likely to reveal some promising talent from the local stables.
The Al Erth Al Emarati Stakes follows at 6:30 p.m., keeping the mile theme alive with an open-age field expected to attract several seasoned horses. Each of the first three races carries the same AED 66,000 purse, ensuring no shortage of competitive spirit early on.
Attention then turns to the feature event of the night — the Wathba Stallions Cup (For Private Owners) at 7:00 p.m. Run over 1600 metres for Purebred Arabians rated 0–70, it celebrates the contribution of private owners to the sport and has drawn a full field of sixteen runners. Champion trainer Ernst Oertel sends out a powerful pair for owner Khalid Khalifa Al Nabooda — AF Altaref, the mount of Andrew Slattery, and AF Kahaylan, to be ridden by Alexandre da Silva. Both horses have shown admirable consistency and represent one of the most successful combinations in UAE racing.
They will face stiff competition from several capable rivals, including Kalice de Carrere under Bernardo Pinheiro, Meridian (FR) partnered by Silvestre de Sousa, and the experienced RB Sarab, who runs for Khalifa Al Neyadi with Allaia Tiar aboard. Also in contention is AF Estitar, another Al Nabooda-Oertel representative with Marcelino Rodrigues taking a valuable claim, alongside Ewann with Tadhg O’Shea, giving this year’s renewal notable strength in depth.
After the feature, the spotlight shifts to stamina in the Youm Al Alam Classic at 7:30 p.m., run over 2200 metres. It has traditionally been a test for genuine stayers and patient riders. The tempo quickens again at 8:00 p.m. with the Guardians of Glory Sprint, a sharp 1200-metre dash that should thrill the evening crowd. The final race, the Catalyst of Speed Handicap (8:30 p.m.), closes proceedings with another mile event for three-year-olds and upward, rounding off a well-balanced card.
Sunday’s fixture reinforces the Abu Dhabi Turf Club’s commitment to maintaining a diverse and competitive racing calendar. With a mix of patriotic themes, local participation, and internationally renowned jockeys, Meeting 2 is expected to deliver an engaging night of action — and perhaps the first glimpse of stars who will shape the season ahead.
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