Earlier on the day, Kendah Al Shahania (Mister Ginoux x R B Kindle) landed the opening race, a Local Purebred Arabian Handicap (65–85) over 1600m (Class 4) for four-year-olds and upwards, with 13 runners in the fray, pulling clear by 2¾ lengths. The four-year-old bay filly, in the colours of HE Sheikha Iman bint Mohammed bin Khalifa Al-Thani, is prepared by Rudy Nerbonne and had Alberto Sanna in the saddle, recording a third successive victory from four starts. Her only defeat came on debut when narrowly, by just a neck, denied in the Oaks, further underlining her potential as a top-class performer in the making. From barrier 10, Kendah Al Shahania was settled towards the rear as Al Wasmi (AF AlBahar) set a strong tempo, tracked by RM Wadha (Mared Al Sahra), Zameer (Nizam) and Concorde (AF AlBahar). The order held through the early and middle stages, with the leader maintaining a clear advantage. On straightening, RM Wadha moved up to take over, with Zameer pressing alongside while Al Wasmi began to weaken. Approaching the 300m marker, Zameer edged in front and looked set to go on, with RM Wadha and Concorde still within striking distance. Inside the final 150m, Kendah Al Shahania produced a powerful late burst from the rear, sweeping past her rivals in a matter of strides to take control. She quickly opened up a decisive gap in the closing stages, asserting her superiority with an impressive finishing effort. Zameer, representing Wathnan Racing and from the Alban de Mieulle yard, with Soufiane Saadi aboard, held on for second, 1¼ lengths ahead of his stablemate, and in the same colours, Amersun (Amer), who finished strongly from off the pace under Abdulla Rashid Al-Hajri to take third in the same colours.