Romeo AT settles Doncaster summit to claim UAE President’s Cup for Purebred Arabian Horses title

The colt Romeo AT, carrying the colours of Wathnan Racing, was crowned champion of the thirteenth leg of the UAE President’s Cup for Purebred Arabian Horses, held Saturday, 12 September 2026, at the historic Doncaster Racecourse in the United Kingdom, within the calendar of the 33rd edition of the Prestigious Cup, on the closing day of the Anglo Arab Derby and coinciding with the celebrations of the historic St Leger Festival in its 250th year.

The Cup series continued its run of success and its distinguished presence at the world’s most prominent racecourses, with the support of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court, reflecting H.H.’s sustained commitment to developing the Arabian horse racing industry, supporting owners and breeders in countries around the world, and encouraging them to acquire and breed the Arabian horse and to elevate its standing at the most important international races and festivals.

Doncaster Racecourse drew a considerable public turnout exceeding 50,000 spectators as part of the historic St Leger Festival, a scene that strengthened the public value of the British leg and consolidated the presence of the Prestigious Cup and the Arabian horse at one of the most historic and prominent racing festivals in the United Kingdom.

Romeo AT (by AF Al Buraq out of Tawazun, by Msyo Al Maury), owned by Wathnan Racing, delivered a powerful display under the supervision of trainer Xavier Thomas-Demeaulte and jockey Tom Marquand, carrying him to his first victory in Group 1 company and to the title of the UAE President Cup, the Anglo Arab Derby, run over 2,000 metres on turf and open to four-year-old Purebred Arabian colts and fillies, with prize money of £250,000.

The race produced strong competition among a group of the most prominent Arabian horses in this age category, before Romeo AT showed a powerful turn of foot in the closing stages, responding skilfully to the instructions of jockey Tom Marquand to move ahead of his rivals and assert his superiority deep into the straight, settling the title by a length and a half from Laffan, representing Al Wasmiyah Racing.

The champion covered the race distance in a time of 2:18.05.