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The third day of the 2024 Grand Prix d’Afrique, held on Saturday, was marked by a series of high-profile horse races. Organized by Morocco's Royal Society for the Promotion of Horses (SOREC) in collaboration with the African Lotteries Association (ALA), the event culminated in the crowning of eight jockeys across eight different races.
The day commenced with the Prix SOREC, won by Moroccan jockey Kacem Feddoul riding Royal Air Force. In the 1600-meter race, jockeys Zouhair Madihi and Jaouad Khayate claimed second and third places, respectively. The PMU Prize went to jockey Abdelkader El Kandoussi, riding Kit De Cerisy, with Soufiane Abouhayane and Ichi Bouaroua finishing third and fourth.
The Marrakech Prize, the day’s third race, saw Amine Moughat triumph with his horse Nazir Maamora in the purebred Arabian category. Mohammed Sanad came in second, with Zouhair Madihi securing third.
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The fourth race, Fraternité Africaine, featured nine English-Arab horses and was won by Soufiane Abouhayane on Donsafa Fal. Reda Moussa and Kacem Faddoul finished second and third. Abouhayane also won the ALA Prize, his second first-place victory of the day, riding Nashwa Bouskoura in a category for purebred Arabians aged four and up. Bouchaib Labzani and Aziz Bayoud followed in second and third.
In the sixth race, the Palmeraie Prize, jockey Abdelghani Daouf won with Benzu in a category for horses aged three and older. Soufiane Abouhayane and Kacem Feddoul took second and third places, respectively. The feature race of the day, the Prix d’Afrique, a 1900-meter event, was claimed by Moroccan jockey Jaouad Khayate on Briefing, with Reda Moussa in second and Ayoub Arromali in third.
The eighth and final race, the Écoles des Jockeys Prize, was won by Moroccan jockey Salaheddine Assalouani on Fayrouz Chtouki. Senegal’s Oumar Sarr Diallo took second, and Mali’s Loubat Elbachir finished third. This race highlighted the participation of other African jockeys who had received training in Morocco, embodying the spirit of South-South cooperation.
Speaking to Yabiladi at the awards ceremony, SOREC’s Managing Director, Omar Skalli, expressed pride in the event, stating, «After two days of seminars and exhibitions, we have today the most important part, which is the races. We just concluded the Grand Prix d'Afrique race, along with an important race featuring jockeys from three African countries—three from Senegal, one from Mali, and one from Côte d'Ivoire—who were trained in Morocco. This is part of our commitment to South-South cooperation, especially in the field of horse breeding».
ALA President Dramane Coulibaly, also head of Côte d'Ivoire’s National Lottery (LONACI), commented on the event’s evolution, saying, «We are at the third edition of the Grand Prix d’Afrique, and we’re seeing ongoing improvements not only in organization but also in conservation. This year, we introduced an extra day for networking and presentations, enabling sponsors, participants, and other stakeholders to connect and exchange ideas. Today’s Grand Prix d'Afrique race was a success on all fronts».
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Reflecting on his Prix d'Afrique victory, Moroccan jockey Jaouad Khayate shared, «I am very pleased with this race. It was a beautiful day, and Briefing performed admirably. She responded well, helping me secure the win. I gave it my all, and together we achieved this victory. My thanks go to SOREC and everyone involved in organizing this event».
Saturday’s races at the Marrakech Hippodrome marked the conclusion of the third edition of the Grand Prix d’Afrique, an event that underscores the partnerships between African lotteries and promotes horse racing across the continent. Launched on Thursday, October 31, at the Marrakech National Stud, the event drew 12 African delegations, including representatives from national lotteries, government ministries, and private sector stakeholders.
