The Dubai Kahayla Classic is a Group 1 race for Purebred Arabians held on Dubai World Cup Night at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai. It carries a purse of US$1,000,000 and is held annually on the last Saturday in March.
The Dubai Kahayla Classic started life as the Mashreq Bank Handicap in 1996 before becoming the Dubai Arabian Classic conditions race in 1997. In 2000 the race became the Dubai Kahayla Classic. It became a Group 1 race in 1999 and was run on dirt at Nad Al Sheba Racecourse until 2010, when the first renewal of the race was run at the newly built Meydan Racecourse on the synthetic Tapeta surface.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 Kahayla Classic was canceled.
Winners
Year Horse Trainer Jockey Owner Time2026Falaah (FR)Al Moatasem Al BalushiAhmed Al BalushiHH Sayyid Shihab bin Harib bin Thuwaini Al Said2:17.322025First Classs (US)Doug Watson Connor BeaselyDeborah Mihaloff2:12.652024Tilal Al Khalediah (KSA)Nasser Mutlaq AlkahtaniAdel Al Furiydi Al Khalediah Stables2:13.872023Hayyan (FR)M Al JahooriOscar ChavezYas Horse Racing Management2:14.152022First Classs (US)A de MieulleRonnan ThomasNayef Saad Sh S Al Kaabi2:14:242021Deryan (FR)D GuilleminIoritz MendizabalYas Horse Racing Management2:11.872020NO RACE2019Af Maher (AE)E OertelTadhg O'SheaKhalid Khalifa Al Nabooda2:15.672018Tallaab Al Khalediah (SA)M MutlaqPerez RobertoAl Khalediah Stables2:13.712017Reda (QA)J SmartHarry BentleySh Mohd Bin Khalifa Al Thani2:16.102016Af Mathmoon (AE)M AlMheiriDane O'NeillSh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum2:15.472015Manark (FR)E Charpy Dane O'NeillSh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum2:16.352014Rabbah De Carrère (FR)M Al Jahouri Oliver Peslier Sh Mansour bin Zayad al Nayan2:17:76 2013 Al Mamun Monlau (FR) JF Bernard Christophe Soumillon Sh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani 2:20.26 2012 TM Fred Texas (US) R Martino Adrie de Vries Sh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani 2:17;17 2011 Seraphin Du Paon (FR) P Barbe Olivier Peslier Sh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan 2:18.07 2010 Jaafer (GB) J Smart Adrie de Vries Sh Khalifa Bin Mohammed .K Al Thani 2:13.61 2009 Fryvolous (FR) R Simpson Daragh O'Donohoe Sh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan 2:16.25 2008 Mizzna (FR) E Lemartinel Tadhg O'Shea Sh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan 2:14.30 2007 Madjani (FR) G Duffield Richard Hills Sh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum 2:14.72 2006 Madjani (FR) G Duffield Richard Hills Sh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum 2:16.29 2005 Madjani (FR) G Duffield Willie Supple Sh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum 2:16.22 2004 Kaolino (GB) G Duffield Richard Hills Sh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum 2:16.42 2003 Bopp Moon (GB) K McLaughlin Richard Hills Sh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum 2:15.78 2002 Nez D'Or (FR) J Smart Wayne Smith HH The President 2:16.39 2001 Magic De Piboule (FR) J Totain Olivier Peslier Sh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan 2:15.07 2000 Nivour De Cardonne (FR) K McLaughlin John Carroll Sh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum 2:16.00 1999 Unchained Melody (US) L Carter Jnr Peter Brette HH The President 2:14.77 1998 Unchained Melody (US) L Carter Jnr Peter Brette HH The President 2:20.25 1997 Unchained Melody (US) L Carter Jnr Peter Brette HH The President 2:13.34 1996 Vadeer (GB) Ismael Mohammed John Carrol Sh Maktoum Bin Mohammed Al Maktoum 2:20.38
Records
Speed record: Mile and a Quarter: 2:11.87 – Deryan (2021)
Most wins by a horse: 3 – Alanudd (US) Unchained Melody (1997, 1998, 1999) 3 – Madjani (FR) (2005, 2006, 2007)
Most wins by a jockey: 4 – Richard Hills (2003, 2004, 2006, 2007)
Most wins by a trainer: 4 – Gillian Duffield (2004, 2005, 2006, 2007)
Most wins by an owner: 8 – HH Shk Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum (2000, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2015, 2016)
References