Dubai World Cup: Chavez on cloud nine after winning Dubai Kahayla Classic

Dubai World Cup: Chavez on cloud nine after winning Dubai Kahayla Classic

The 43-year-old Panamanian rider extracted the best out of Hayyan to claim one of the biggest wins of his career

Hayyan, ridden by Oscar Chavez, wins the Dubai Kahayla Classic at Meydan on Saturday. — Photo by Neeraj Murali

Published: Sat 25 Mar 2023, 5:28 PM Last updated: Sat 25 Mar 2023, 5:41 PM

Oscar Chavez rode an absolute blinder aboard YAS Racing-owned Hayyan to win the $1 million Dubai Kahayla Classic (Purebred Arabians Group 1), the opening race at the 27th Dubai World Cup meeting on Saturday, after a protracted two-horse battle with Barakka.

With the crowd cheering him on, the 43-year-old Panamanian rider extracted the best out of Hayyan to claim one of the biggest wins of his career.

The winner also gifted Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister of the UAE and Minister of Presidential Affairs, a fourth success in the race and second in the last three runnings, following Deryan in 2021.

Sheikh Mansour had previously won the 2,000 metre dirt contest with Rabbah De Carrer (2014) and Mizzna (2008).

Hayyan was having his first start for Emirati trainer Majed Al Jahouri, a former endurance rider, who is based at Sheikh Mansour’s YAS Racing Stables in Abu Dhabi.

“I can’t believe