The Group 3 PA race for four-year-old purebred Arabians covers 2,000 metres on turf with prize money of 610,600 Polish zloty, the Polish Jockey Club reported in its starter list issued on September 18. This Polish leg forms part of the 33rd edition of the UAE President’s Cup series, which the Higher Organising Committee said carries total prizes exceeding 20 million dirhams across its global tour. The event takes place under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President of the UAE, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court.
The Higher Organising Committee announced the 2026 calendar on September 25, noting that the series kicked off in Tunisia in April before moving to venues including Churchill Downs in the United States, France and several other European nations. Last year’s edition drew 354 horses in front of more than 400,000 spectators and generated over 500 million digital views, according to committee figures. The Polish Jockey Club listed the 11 runners, which include representatives trained in France, Poland and Qatar.
Farooqe Al Shahania, trained in France by X. Thomas-Demeaulte and ridden by Hugo Mouesan, heads the international contingent alongside Agar Al Khalediah, a Polish-trained horse under C. Pawlak with jockey Konrad Mazur. Obsesja, prepared by P. Talarek in Poland, and Khaddah from a Qatari stable trained by A. de Mieulle complete a field drawn from elite studs across Europe. The Polish Jockey Club published the full entry list detailing each horse’s pedigree, owner and trainer.
The series originated in 1994 under the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan to promote purebred Arabian horses worldwide, a foundation the Higher Organising Committee has built upon through annual expansions. Previous European rounds this season produced winners such as Haseef in one leg and Joe Star in the Netherlands, WAM reports from earlier stages showed. Organisers positioned the Warsaw race as a highlight that combines high-level competition with efforts to elevate the breed’s international profile.
A WAM preview indicated the Central European Derby aligns with the calendar’s final European phase, following stops in Belgium, Turkey and Russia. The Higher Organising Committee emphasised that each leg offers opportunities for owners and breeders while maintaining strict standards for purebred Arabian racing. Jockeys will carry weights as specified in the conditions, with the race scheduled for 15:42 local time.
Data from the Polish Jockey Club confirmed the event as an international stakes race open exclusively to four-year-olds, drawing entries that reflect the depth of European Arabian breeding programmes. The Higher Organising Committee has tracked steady growth in participation since the series began three decades ago, with the current edition marking a record in overall prize value. This contest concludes the European segment before the series moves to further international destinations.
