Falaah made history for Oman on the great night at Meydan
- Turf Diario
- Mar 28
- 2 min read
The son of AF Al Bahar won the Dubai Kahayla Classic (G1), giving his country an unprecedented victory on the Dubai World Cup card
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (Special for Turf Diario).— The 2026 Dubai World Cup night began with a moment already etched in history. Because it wasn't just another victory; it was a win for an entire nation. Falaah gave Omanits first triumph on a card of this magnitude by prevailing in the Dubai Kahayla Classic (G1, 2,000 m, dirt, US$ 1,000,000 purse), the event reserved for Purebred Arabians.
And he did it his way: coming from off the pace, without urgency, with that sustained closing kick he had already displayed weeks earlier on Super Saturday.
Starting from post 15, the worst of all, the trainee of Ahmed Al Balushi sat far back in the early stages while upfront Muraad (Thakif) set the tempo with authority and seemed headed for a clear victory upon entering the home straight.
But Falaah never stopped advancing. Guided with composure by Al Moatasem Al Balushi, the son of AF Al Baharate up ground stride by stride, racing wide throughout the trip, before launching his definitive attack in the final meters. And right on the wire, he achieved what seemed impossible: edging out Muraad by a short head in a thrilling finish. Well back, more than 6 lengths away, Mubeed (Mahabb) finished third.
For Falaah, it was the confirmation of a rising trajectory. He was coming off a win in the third leg of the Al Maktoum Challenge, also with a powerful late run, securing his first G1 there. Now, on the grandest stage, he made the ultimate leap.
“Thanks to God. It is the first Kahayla Classic for Oman, we are very happy,” expressed his trainer, still visibly moved. “On Super Saturday, he had already shown he could compete at this level. Stall 15 is never easy, but he showed all his class.”
For the jockey, meanwhile, it was a triumph difficult to describe. “I cannot explain how happy I am. I don't think I'll sleep for a week,” he confessed. “I replayed the race many times in my head, I had several plans… and luckily everything turned out as I imagined.”
The impact of the victory was also felt by his owner, HH Sayyid Shihab bin Harib bin Thuwaini Al Said, who revealed a telling anecdote: “A month ago, I received a call to buy the horse. But I would never sell the best horse in the history of Oman.”
On the other side, Brazilian jockey Silvestre de Sousa, rider of Muraad, elegantly summarized the defeat: “He ran a great race. It’s only his third start in the Emirates and he has already won two G1s. Today, there was simply one better.”
And that was Falaah. The horse that, on the most important night of turf in Dubai, changed the history of his country.
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