RB Boyfriend won the opening race of the 33rd UAE President’s Cup for Purebred Arabian Horses in Tunisia on Sunday.
The first leg of the new season was held at Ksar Saïd Racecourse, where a crowd of more than 15,000 watched the Group 1 contest over 2,000 metres on dirt.
Trained by Ali Al-Qiyadi and ridden by Adel Al-Qiyadi, RB Boyfriend made his move on the final turn before pulling clear in the closing stages to win in 2:18.05.
The horse, owned by Omar Ismail Garghar, is by RB Burn out of Rich Friend.
The result continued an impressive record. RB Boyfriend has now won nine of his 11 races, with two second-place finishes in his other starts.
Among those present for the race were Dr Iman Ahmed Al Salami, the UAE ambassador to Tunisia, and Faisal Al Rahmani, secretary general of the Higher Organising Committee for the President’s Cup.
Musallam Salem Al Amri, a member of the higher organising committee, said the Tunisia leg had provided a strong opening to the new season and showed the standing the series now holds in Arabian horse racing.
He said the turnout and the level of competition showed the event’s importance to owners and breeders, and underlined the UAE’s role in supporting the sport internationally.
The meeting also included heritage and cultural activities around the main race, while a horse auction held in the days before the event drew strong public interest.
The UAE President’s Cup has long been used to promote Purebred Arabian racing abroad, and Tunisia provided a busy start to its 33rd season.
