The spotlight will once again be on Abu Dhabi when the city hosts the HH The President of the UAE Endurance Cup on Saturday and the HH The President's Cup flat races for Purebred Arabians and Thoroughbreds on Sunday a Press release said.

The races are being held under the directives of the President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces and under the supervision of Shaikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs.

The HH The President of the UAE Endurance Cup is one of the most prestigious rides in the world and will be run over the championship distance of 160-kms at the Emirates International Endurance Village in Al Wathba on Saturday.

"Over 125 of the top riders and horses will be in the 160-km ride with 25 horses coming from abroad for this prestigious event. Riders from UAE KSA Bahrain Spain France Belgium Netherlands Slovakia Portugal Finland Sweden Norway Australia USA and UK will battle for honours" said Adnan Sultan Director General of the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club.

"The winner of this FEI Three-star ride will drive away with a Mercedes-Benz 4WD while the second-placed rider will win a Range Rover Sport 4WD. The eight other riders in the top ten will all be awarded a Nissan Patrol 4WD each making it ten cars for this event alone. Apart from this Dh 60000 will be distributed to all those who complete the 160-km ride" he added.

On Sunday the action shifts to the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club turf race course and the top Purebred Arabian horses will contest the HH The President's Cup (Group 1) over 2200 metres (11 furlongs) while the Thoroughbreds race in the HH The President's Cup (Listed) over 1400 metres (7 furlongs).

"The prize money for the HH The President's Cup (Group 1) for Purebred Arabian horses is Dh 3000000 (Three million) while the HH The President's Cup (Listed) for Thoroughbreds will carry a prize fund of Dh. 380000" Al Nuaimi said. Lara Sawaya executive director of the HH Shaikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival Chairperson of the International Federation of Horse Racing Academies (IFHRA) and Chairperson of Ladies & Apprentice Racing Committees in the International Federation of Arabian Horse Racing Authorities (IFAHR) said "The Endurance ride and the Flat races are being sponsored by Abu Dhabi Sports Council HH Shaikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival National Feed & Flour Production and Marketing Al Masoud and Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority.

"These events are very important and huge in stature as they carry the name of the President of the UAE and we are delighted to be part of them" she added.

"On Sunday February 14 Yas Channel marks its first anniversary and I thank them for all their support through the year and wish them all success" Sawaya said.

The HH Shaikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival is sustained by the Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority and coordinated by Abu Dhabi Sports Council with National Feed and Flour Production and Marketing Co. LLC as Associate Partner IPIC as Strategic Partner The National Archives as the official partner and Emirates airline as the official carriers.