Success Of Emirates Sprint Series Boosted By Road Bloc's Winning Streak

The Emirates Sprint Series has been growing in popularity since its creation during the 2022-23 Emirates Racing Season. Engineer Mohammad Saeed Al Shehhi, the General Manager of the Emirates Racing Authority (ERA), believes that the series has been successful and hopes that the opening leg, the HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Cup, will one day be elevated to Listed status. The ESS was launched under the directives of Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the founder and patron of Jebel Ali Racecourse. Osama Refai’s Road Bloc won both legs of the inaugural series, including the opening Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Cup at Sharjah and the subsequent Listed Jebel Ali Sprint, earning a massive AED250,000 bonus. This success gave the ESS the momentum it needed to expand.

Eastern World Takes First Leg Of Expanded Emirates Sprint Series

During the 2023-24 season, the ERA expanded the ESS to a three-leg event with Meydan Racecourse joining the fold. This year’s series started at Sharjah on Sunday with the first leg, the Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Cup, won by Ahmad bin Harmash’s Eastern World. Eastern World, trained by Bin Harmash for Mohammed Ahmad Al Subousi, will now have the opportunity to claim the bonus retained for the winner of all three legs of the series, just like Road Bloc did last season. The 2023-24 campaign will reveal if Bin Harmash can repeat his success and win the bonus.