Tawfiq Crowned Champion at UAE President’s Cup for Purebred Arabian Horses in Kazan
KAZAN, 31st August, 2025 – Tawfiq stole the spotlight as the new champion of the UAE President’s Cup for Purebred Arabian Horses during its exhilarating 10th stop in Russia. The prestigious Group 1 race took place on Saturday, 30 August 2025, at the Kazan International Equestrian Sand Racetrack, aligning with the 32nd edition of the storied Cup.
Amid the vibrant 35th National Day Festival of the Republic of Tatarstan, the event drew a massive crowd of 20,000 spectators. The festive atmosphere was enhanced with cultural and entertainment offerings, highlighting Tatarstan’s deep-rooted heritage and traditions.
The Cup’s Russian leg underscored the global stature and “distinguished reputation” of the UAE President’s Cup series, which continues its impressive track record across the Arab world, Europe, and the United States. The series exemplifies the UAE leadership’s vision to elevate the Purebred Arabian horse racing industry and support horse owners and breeders around the world.
Tawfiq (by General out of Rolly Polly by Valina Des Fabries), owned by D.A. Chacota, trained by Sultan Semenov, and masterfully ridden by Hamzat Ulubiev, seized the title in a dramatic finish. Tawfiq surged ahead to edge out Voskhod Tersk (by Haif Al Khalediah out of Verika by Camelot) by just 0.05 seconds, while Medni Maximus (by Maximus de Alip out of Minorca by Mongrant) secured third.
Sixteen of Russia’s elite Purebred Arabian horses, aged four years and above, vied for the USD 100,000 prize over a challenging 1,800-metre distance. The race maintained a tactical tempo until the final stretch, when Tawfiq and Voskhod Tersk dueled fiercely, thrilling the crowd. The clock stopped at 2:04.89 minutes for Tawfiq, highlighting the class and competitiveness that define this annual contest.
Dignitaries including Ahmed Al Shehhi and Ibrahim Al Balushi from the UAE Embassy in Moscow, as well as Saeed Khalifa Al Mehairi from the Higher Organising Committee, officiated the presentation ceremony. The winning connections were joined by officials from the Russian Horse Racing Authority and the management of the Kazan racetrack.
“Saeed Khalifa Al Mehairi**” stated: “We are proud of the success achieved in Kazan and the wide acclaim of the 10th Russian stop. We congratulate the winning champions. The strong public turnout added great value to the 2025 series, with Kazan delivering an exceptional organisational showcase that amplified our remarkable achievements.”
He added: “The UAE President’s Cup continues to build bridges of cultural exchange with diverse nations and communities worldwide. We are proud of the sustained success and growing public engagement, reflecting the Cup’s true value and global standing.”
Team V.4-EM-UAE
