Somoud faces tough challenge in President’s Cup title defence

The President’s Cup meeting for both the purebred Arabians and thoroughbreds in Abu Dhabi on Monday concludes a quality three-race meeting in the UAE capital.

5pm: Al Maha Stables – Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 1,600m

5.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup – Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 1,600m

6pm: Emirates Fillies Classic – Prestige (PA) Dh100,000 (T) 1,600m

6.30pm: Emirates Colts Classic – Prestige (PA) Dh100,000 (T) 1,600m

7pm: The President’s Cup – Group 1 (PA) Dh2,500,000 (T) 2,200m

7.30pm: The President’s Cup – Listed (TB) Dh380,000 (T) 1,400m

The Dh2.5million Group 1 contest for the Arabians has drawn the maximum allowed field of 14, including defending champion Somoud, in what looks like a wide open contest.

The Jean de Roualle-trained eight year old has been a great servant to connections and has always been held in the highest regard.

He won the contest run over the 2,200-metre distance 12 months ago and also won the two most recent renewals of the Group 1 Emirates Championship over the same track and trip. However, he has failed to fire in three outings this season and most recently in the official President’s Cup Prep three weeks ago.

“He is working well and we certainly have not lost faith in him. He is a class horse but his recent races have not really worked out to his advantage,” De Roualle said.

“Hopefully there will be a nice strong gallop on Monday to give him the best chance of winning the race again under his favourite conditions.”

The prep was won by Salem Al Ketbi’s Mujeeb, who will again have the assistance of Richard Mullen in the saddle.

“He impressed me in the prep and won it in good style. Hopefully he can build on that in what is obviously a stronger race,” Mullen said of the five-year-old son of Dahess.