Raqiyah goes one better at Saint Cloud

SAINT CLOUD, FRANCE // After a runner-up finish at the Abu Dhabi Irish Guineas Festival last month, Raqiyah left no doubt about which horse was best of breed by winning the President of the UAE Cup for Arabian horses yesterday. The French-trained mare won the 2km race over a grass course by charging from the back of the pack to win by a length on a hot and sunny afternoon in this community west of Paris.

Raqiyah is owned by the Qatari Sheikh Abdullah bin Khalifa Al Thani. Nayef Al Khalidiah, previously a winner in six of 14 races, was second and Damis was third. The President of the UAE Cup series was established by Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, founder of the country, in 1994 to promote the Arabian breed internationally. Sandrine Tarrou, one of the leading trainers of Arabian horses in France, said the President of the UAE Cup was important for supporters of the breed.

She estimated that the number of Arabian horses in France had tripled since 1994. "Sponsoring is always a good thing," Tarrou said. "I wish there were even more opportunities for racing Arabians in France." Sheikh Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan led the UAE delegation at the race. The Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) took advantage of the occasion to promote travel to the emirate, and a steady stream of racing patrons visited their hospitality tent.

A Ferrari Formula One race car with "Etihad" branding was parked next to the tent and was the gaudiest attraction, but perhaps the most striking was inside the tent, an enormous grey-and-white falcon bred from the Arabian saker breed and a Gyrfalcon, which is native to the Arctic Circle. Other attractions in the hospitality tent were a table of dates from the UAE as well as a gift bag that included a beige baseball cap with a green logo of a horse on the front and the words "Abu Dhabi" on the back, as well as a key chain.

Faouzia Hilmy demonstrated Arabic calligraphy and Fatima al Dhaheri of Abu Dhabi was in charge of applying henna tattoos to the hands of visitors, many of them children. Ibrahim Makki, promotion executive for the ADTA, said he was not disappointed by the modest attendance at the track. "We have seen plenty of people," he said. The Arabian series continues in Moscow next month. [e-mail]