Romeo AT made his move in the home straight at Doncaster, taking the President's Cup for Purebred Arabian horses and giving Wathnan Racing another win in the Anglo-Arabian Derby. Ridden by Tom Marquand and trained by Xavier Thomas-Demeaulte, the four-year-old colt finished in 2:18.05, a length and a half ahead of Laffan, with Sab'aan Al Shahania in third. The race, run over 1m2f (2,000 metres), featured six runners on September 12, 2026, according to Racing Post.
Romeo AT's victory at Doncaster marked his first ever Group 1 win, a milestone confirmed by WAM and Racing Post sources.
The President's Cup, now in its 33rd year, is a regular fixture on the international Arabian racing calendar. This year's Doncaster race coincided with the 250th anniversary of the St Leger Festival. More than 50,000 people attended, reflecting the event's growing popularity and the rising profile of Arabian racing in the UK. The day brought together top-level competition and highlighted the breed's ambitions on a global stage.
For Wathnan Racing, this Doncaster triumph represents their second consecutive win at the venue, having also captured the local stage in 2025 with Libo de Carrere. The President's Cup at Doncaster was held as part of the 250th St Leger Festival, further elevating its prestige and historical significance.
Wathnan Racing's focus on Arabian bloodlines has paid off, with back-to-back wins at Doncaster confirming their place among the sport's top stables. The President's Cup series, supported by His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, continues to encourage international investment in Arabian racing and raise the level of competition.
Officials from the President's Cup committee, including Saeed Al Muhairi, joined representatives from the UK Arabian Racing Organisation and Doncaster Racecourse for the trophy presentation. Committee member Muslim Salem Al Ameri noted the record crowd and the high standard of racing: "We are proud of the strong technical and competitive standard at Doncaster and the turnout of over 50,000 fans during the historic St Leger Festival, which reflects the Cup's standing at the world's most storied venues."
The President's Cup has drawn international stables and has also influenced the wider UAE sports scene, where efforts to professionalise and globalise equestrian sports mirror changes in other disciplines. This approach is similar to adjustments seen in UAE basketball, where international and local priorities are increasingly connected, as reported earlier.
Romeo AT's win signals the growing reach of Arabian racing, with UAE-backed events setting new standards for competition and organisation. The President's Cup at Doncaster has shown that with the right support, Arabian horses can compete at the world's most historic racing festivals.
