VG Raj Al Mared Seals Tenth Career Win in the
National Arabian Horse Grand Prix
After a year away from competition, seven-year-old grey VG Raj Al Mared made a dazzling comeback, scoring a front-running victory in the National Arabian Horse Grand Prix on July 12, 2025, at Cidade Jardim Racecourse in São Paulo. The race was staged by the Brazilian Association of Arabian Horse Breeders (ABCCA) in partnership with the São Paulo Jockey Club.
Contested over 1,800 meters on turf to horses aged three and up, the race had been billed as a clash of titans. For the first time, VG Raj Al Mared (Mared Al Sahra x Daughter of Just HVP by FA El Shawan), trained by Thiago Haidar, lined up against the unbeaten Monsenhor Rach (Seraphin Du Paon x Musa Rach by *Polonez), a five-time winner trained by Lucas Quintana.
Ridden with confidence by jockey Jeane Alves, Raj went straight to the front and dictated the pace throughout. In the final furlong, Monsenhor Rach, piloted by Altair Domingos, launched a powerful challenge on the outside and briefly looked set to snatch the lead. But Raj dug in gamely, holding on by a head at the wire to secure his tenth victory from 11 career starts.
The contest for third place was decided between two runners from the Haidar team: the grey mare Allure BV (*D’Jok PY x *Arzade by Cabirat), ridden by Ruberlei Viana, and her younger half-brother Cromo D’Jok Trio (*D’Jok PY x RT Crysti by Nawwak NA), ridden by Valdir Souza.
“VG Raj Al Mared closed a remarkable chapter at Cidade Jardim,” said trainer Thiago Haidar. “After a year on the sidelines, he returned, won, and reached his tenth career victory. Even without retiring unbeaten, with 11 races and 10 wins, he proved himself, in my opinion, the best Arabian horse to run in São Paulo over the past 12 years. Monsenhor Rach, another outstanding horse, pushed him to the limit, but Raj showed his class and delivered a thrilling win. I would like to express my gratitude to Dr. Henrique Garcia for his veterinary care, to lady jockey Jeane Alves, who has tidden him since his debut race, and farrier Raul Pirano; and congratulate José Carlos and José Caio Vaz Guimarães for breeding him — and for trusting me with his training.”
By Cidinha Franzão. Photos Porfírio Menezes
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