Arabians to face off at Saint Cloud

Cambrydge and Raqiyah lead a field of eight purebred Arabians in the Coupe d'Europe des Chevaux Arabes today near Paris.

Cambrydge and Raqiyah lead a field of eight purebred Arabians in the Coupe d'Europe des Chevaux Arabes today at the Saint Cloud racecourse near Paris. The race is the second event of the President of the UAE Cup, a series initiated by the Emirates Equestrian Federation to promote interest in Arabian racing. The series has taken place in France ever year since 1994. Cambrydge, a gelding trained by Sandine Terrou in France, has a first, second and third in three starts this year.

Raqiyah is a French-trained mare who was favoured at the Abu Dhabi Irish Guineas Festival in May but finished second. Today's race is 2,000 metres over Saint Cloud's grass circuit. France has hosted an Arabian for all 16 years of the President of the UAE Cup series. This year's race is being held on the same card as the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, a Grade 1 race. Two other UAE-sponsored races are on the card today, both for thoroughbreds - the Abu Dhabi Prix Malleret and the Etihad Airways Handicap.

The first race of this year's Arabian series was held last month at Curragh in Ireland. Races are also scheduled at Newmarket and Ascot in England, Keeneland in the US, and in Moscow. Also today, at Curragh, the Godolphin colt Chabal will try to return to form in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby, a Grade 1 race over a mile and a half. The three-year-old faltered on fast turf at York on his previous start and finished fourth.

He had previously made an impressive return when quickening well to post a convincing victory in a Group Three race at Sandown Park in April. "Chabal ran a big race on his first start of the season but the ground was too fast for him at York and he didn't like it at all," said Saeed bin Suroor, Chabal's trainer. "He looks stronger now and he has been working really nicely. Ted Durcan rode his last piece of work and he was happy with him." * Agencies