With purse of Dh3 million, it is no surprise that today's HH The President Cup at the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club has a full field of 16 with Al Asayl trainer Salem Al Ketbi responsible for four of them.
Al Ketbi saddled Abu Alabyad who won the trial two weeks ago, making all the running under Adrie De Vries and beating stable companion Skoop.
De Vries retains the mount on Abu Alabyad and Skoop is again in opposition.
"It was a good performance winning the trial,” said De Vries ahead of the 2,200-metre Group 1 race for Purebred Arabians. "This is a stronger race but hopefully he will run well again.”
As he was in the trial, Skoop is the mount of Tadhg O'Shea.
The Al Ketbi quartet is completed by two mares, Nymphea Du Paon and Shayel Aldhabi, to be ridden by Shane Karlsson and Pat Dobbs, respectively.
Areem was in great form last season for trainer Majed Al Jahouri but has failed to live up to expectations this year.
He was second over 1,000m on his most recent start and is taking a big step up in trip.
He is reunited with Ahmed Ajtebi, who has ridden him to three Group 1 successes.
Harry Bentley rides stable companion Thakif, who beat Areem in the National Day Cup on his most recent outing in December when Shayel Aldhabi, Abu Alabyad and Nymphea Du Paon were also among the beaten runners.
Manan, to be ridden by Wayne Smith for Eric Lemartinel and the Erwan Charpy-trained Versac Py, the mount of Paul Hanagan, are other main contenders in what looks a fascinating clash.
Source: The National