RB Kingmaker takes his crown in the Al Mneefah Cup

Grey Purebred Arabian showed determination under Cristian Demuro

Caption: RB Kingmaker (USA) sticks his neck out for the US$1.5m Al Mneefah Cup presented by Ministry of Culture. Credit: JCSA

The fourth running of the US$1.5m Al Mneefah Cup sponsored by Ministry of Culture for Purebred Arabians was a thriller RB Kingmaker (USA) rallied widest of all, asserted himself over leading contender Asfan Al Khalediah (KSA) at the top of the stretch and held off a late rally from eventual runner-up Nabucco Al Maury (FR) to win by one length under Cristian Demuro.

It was another half-length back to Asfan Al Khalediah in third. The final time was 2:20.298 for 2100m over the King Abdulaziz Racecourse turf course.

Trained by Helal Alalawi, principal of UAE-based National Stables, the 6-year-old son of Baseq Al Khalediah broke from post 12 of 13 and was widest of all throughout the running of the race. Piloted with chilly confidence by the France-based Italian jockey, the grey won his second career Group 1, following the February 2024 edition of the HH The President Cup in Abu Dhabi.

The victory was RB Kingmaker’s sixth from 18 starts and followed some disappointing results in top company over the past few months, including a failed defence of the HH The President Cup and a valiant second to the brilliant Al Ghadeer in the Qatar Arabian World Cup on Arc Day at ParisLongchamp.

The win was especially fulfilling for Alalawi, who has long heralded RB Kingmaker as one of the best horses he has trained, as he had finished finished second (Soko, 2022), fifth (Fettah Du Loup, 2022) and fifth (Joe Star, 2024) in previous editions.

Quotes

Cristian Demuro, jockey, RB Kingmaker, 1st: "He finished second to Al Ghadeer in the Qatar Arabian World Cup on Arc day. He is not an easy horse, but today he had the perfect race.

"I anticipated the moment they would quicken, as I know the Al Khalediah. So I always had my eye on them. If you don't attack, they always get away.

"I surprised them a little and my horse responded well. He is a horse I have always ridden and I know him well. It is fabulous to win this race. It is a Group 1 race and this also opens the doors for Dubai and elsewhere."

Helal Alalawi, trainer, RB Kingmaker: "There are no words to tell you how I’m feeling. To be honest, this has been a dream that has now come true.

"It’s been a hard situation for our stable this season. As you’ve seen, we keep finishing second in the World Cup and third in the Emir’s Sword and we lost the President Cup in Abu Dhabi. It’s not easy for a local stable like us.

"Today is one of the biggest achievements we have in our career. Cristian executed the race exactly how we asked him to and was perfect. He knows the horse, and as you saw, we saw the real Kingmaker today."

Christophe Soumillon, jockey, Nabucco Al Maury, 2nd: "I saw that Cristian was going really easily when we entered the straight and so I rode him to finish second. My horse finished the race really well by going again and he was very courageous. We are very happy with him."

ends