Doha, January 2 (QNA) - The Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club will hold a horse race tomorrow, Saturday, for HH Sheikh Abdullah bin Khalifa Al-Thani Cup and Prize at the Al Rayyan grass track.

The race will consist of nine heats, expected to be highly competitive and exciting due to the close levels of the participating horses. This race is considered one of the major events of the annual racing season, and owners, trainers, and jockeys are all eager to achieve top positions in the races.

The two main races of the day are the third and fourth. The third race, the HH Sheikh Abdullah bin Khalifa Al-Thani Cup for Purebred Arabian Horses (Group 2), is run over 1600 meters and offers a prize of QAR 500,000 (an international race). Nine horses will compete in this race. The fourth race, the HH Sheikh Abdullah bin Khalifa Al-Thani Cup for Locally Bred Purebred Arabian Horses, is also run over 1600 meters and offers a prize of QAR 500,000. Ten horses will compete in this race.

The remaining races are as follows: The first race is for maiden and winning thoroughbred horses aged four years and older, run over 1600 meters. Sixteen horses will compete in this race, and the prize money is QAR 100,000 . The second race is for thoroughbred horses with a handicap rating of 70-90, run over 1400 meters. Sixteen horses will compete in this race, and the prize money is QAR 100,000 .

The third race is for thoroughbred horses with a handicap rating of 70-90.

The fifth race is for thoroughbred horses (rated 75-95), run over 2000 meters, with a prize purse of QAR 100,000 . Sixteen horses will compete. This race serves as a qualifier for the Shalfah race at the HH The Amir's Sword Festival in February.

The sixth race is the French King Cup for locally bred thoroughbreds, run over 1600 meters, with a prize purse of QAR 150,000.

Twelve horses will compete.

The seventh race is the Umm Qarn Prize for thoroughbreds, run over 2000 meters, with a prize purse of QAR 200,000 . Nine horses will compete. This race also serves as a qualifier for the Shalfah race at the HH The Amir's Sword Festival next month.

The eighth race, HH Sheikh Abdullah bin Khalifa Al-Thani Silver Cup, is for four-year-old purebred Arabian horses only, run over 1600 meters, with a prize purse of QAR 250,000.

Ten horses will compete, and participation is limited to horses owned by local Qatari nationals.

The ninth and main race (an international race) is the Majd Al Arab Sprint Cup for purebred Arabian horses, run over 1200 meters, with a prize purse of QAR 350,000 . Thirteen horses will compete in this race.

It is worth noting that the race was held last year at Al Uqdah Racecourse for the first time, and the horse "Al Mirage," owned by Al Shaqab Racing, won the ninth main race, HH Sheikh Abdullah bin Khalifa Al-Thani Cup, for locally bred purebred Arabian horses aged four and above, run over 1400 meters. "Al Mirage" was ridden by jockey Faleh Bughanim and trained by Jean de Mieulle.

The mare "Al Wakra", owned by Al Shaqab Racing, won the eighth race, HH Sheikh Abdullah Bin Khalifa Al-Thani Cup for Purebred Arabian Horses (Group Two), 4 years and above, 1400m, ridden by jockey Olivier Dondini and supervised by trainer John de Mieulle. (QNA)