Doha, Qatar: The stage is set for the prestigious H H The Amir Sword Festival to storm into action tomorrow at the revamped Al Rayyan Racecourse, featuring high-stakes races and record-breaking prize money.
The three-day horse racing extravaganza, one of Qatar’s premier sporting events, will host 26 fierce contests offering a total purse of $10m.
With growing international interest, the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club-organised event will feature 28 overseas entries alongside Qatar’s top racers.
The action kicks off with the 24th Al Rayyan Race Meeting – Sand Championships, featuring eight races. The day starts with the Premium Maiden Cup – Local Purebred Arabian (Class 6) and concludes with the Thoroughbred Sand Championship (Class 2) Restricted Race, each offering $100,000 in prize money.
Friday promises to be the busiest day of the Festival, showcasing 10 races during the 25th Al Rayyan Race Meeting – Al Rayyan Breeders Cup. Key events include the Purebred Arabian Sprint Cup and the Al Zubara Trophy – Local Purebred Arabian, with both races carrying prize money of $200,000 each.
The marathon day will culminate with the $400,000 Al Rayyan Breeders Cup – Local Thoroughbred feature, setting the stage for the highly-anticipated 26th Al Rayyan Race Meeting – H H The Amir Sword and Trophy on Saturday. The final day features eight high-profile races, commencing with the $500,000 Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Cup – Thoroughbred.
The marquee contests on the final day include the $500,000 H H The Amir Silver Sword – 4yo Purebred Arabian (Class 1). The Festival concludes with two flagship races: the H H The Amir Trophy – Thoroughbred (Class 1 Qa – Gr1) International and H H The Amir Sword – Purebred Arabian (Class 1 Gr1) International, both offering $2.5m each in prize money. The draw for the races will take place this evening.
All eyes will be on Al Shaqab Racing’s Al Ghadeer in the H H The Amir Sword – Purebred Arabian race. The six-year-old will be gunning for his second consecutive Triple Crown after retaining the Qatar International Stakes (Qatar Goodwood Festival) and Qatar Arabian World Cup (Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe) titles earlier this year.
Last year, the Francois Rohaut-trained bay horse clinched the Triple Crown after edging Abbes by a length in the H H The Amir Sword race.
H H THE AMIR SWORD FESTIVAL
Tomorrow - 24th Al Rayyan Race Meeting - Sand Championships
(Races starting at 3pm)
Premium Maiden Cup - Local Purebred Arabian (Class 6)
Premium Maiden Cup - Local Thoroughbred (Class 6)
Premium Maiden Cup - Purebred Arabian (Class 6)
Thoroughbred 3yo Sand Championship (Class 2)
Local Purebred Arabian Sand Championship - Open Race (Class 2) Restricted Race
Local Thoroughbred Sand Championship (Class 2)
Purebred Arabian Sand Championship (Class 2) Restricted Race
Thoroughbred Sand Championship (Class 2) Restricted Race
On Friday - 25th Al Rayyan Race Meeting - Al Rayyan Breeders Cup
(Races starting at 3pm)
Thoroughbred Open Sprint Cup (4yo And Up) (Class 2) (Far Bend)
Purebred Arabian 4yo Cup (Class 2) (Far Bend)
Local Thoroughbred Filly And Mare Desert Rose Cup (Class 2) (Far Bend)
Local Purebred Arabian Filly And Mare Al Na’ama Cup (Class 2) (Far Bend)
Purebred Arabian Filly And Mare Seada Cup (Class 2) (Far Bend)
Thoroughbred Filly And Mares Oryx Cup (Class 2) (Far Bend)
Gulf Cup - Purebred Arabian Bred In Gcc (Class 1) International Race (Far Bend)
25th Al Rayyan Race Meeting - Al Rayyan Breeders Cup
Al Zubara Trophy - Local Purebred Arabian (Class 1) (Far Bend)
Al Rayyan Breeders Cup - Local Thoroughbred (Class 1) (Far Bend)
On Saturday - 26th Al Rayyan Race Meeting – H H The Amir Sword And Trophy
(Races starting at 12:45pm)
Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Cup - Thoroughbred (Class 1 Qa-Gr2) International Invitation
Qatar International Cup - Purebred Arabian (Class 1 Gr1) International Invitation Race
Dukhan Sprint - Thoroughbred (Class 1 Qa - Gr3) International Invitation Race
Al Rayyan Mile - 3yo Thoroughbred (Class 1 Qa-Gr2) International Invitation Race
H H The Amir Shalfa - Thoroughbred Open Handicap (Class 2) Restricted Race
H H The Amir Silver Sword -4yo Purebred Arabian (Class 1) Restricted Race - International
H H The Amir Trophy - Thoroughbred (Class 1 Qa - Gr1) International Invitation Race
H H The Amir Sword - Purebred Arabian (Class 1 Gr1) International Invitation Race
