Alalawi takes another crack at Al Mneefah

RB Kingmaker represents the powerful Emirati stable with form in the race

Image:RB Kingmaker wins Abu Dhabi Gold Cup Prep - Jan 2025

Credit: Emirates Racing Authority

Tuesday 18 February, 2025 – Owner-trainer Helal Alalawi is back and ready for more on The Saudi Cup Friday.

The Al Ain-based Emirati horseman was fifth in last year’s Group 1, the US$1.5 million Al Mneefah Cup presented by Ministry of Culture, with Joe Star and returns in 2025 with an even stronger contender by all metrics.

Enter RB Kingmaker (USA), who heads into the same 2100m turf affair off a strong win in the Listed Abu Dhabi Gold Cup Prep in the same National Stables green and light blue silks.

"Last year was positive and not our first in the race," Alalawi said. "We were second and sixth with Soko and Fettah du Loup [in 2022] and also had RB Frynchh Dude [fourth in the 2021 G1 Obaiyah Arabian Classic]. All provided us with valuable experiences at the track."

Despite ending 2024 with a disappointing ninth when attempting to defend his title in the G1 HH The President Cup, the grey entire has shown strong top-level form and a positive trajectory.

In October, he was a game runner-up in ParisLongchamp’s G1 Qatar Arabian World Cup to the world’s top Purebred Arabian, Al Ghadeer, one race after finishing a respectable third in Deauville’s Doha Cup.

In both of those French runs, he was piloted by Cristian Demuro, also aboard Joe Star last year, who reunites on Friday.

"Kingmaker has delivered high-level performances in his recent races and has shown significant improvement in post-race training sessions, indicating his readiness for this challenge," Alalawi concluded.

"Cristian knows the horse well, having finished second with him in the World Cup in France and the horse’s style should suit the track, making a late surge from behind in the final metres."

RB Kingmaker is expected to arrive on Tuesday afternoon with all of the UAE-based contenders for the meeting.

***ENDS***