The Al Maktoum Challenge R1 Sponsored By Etisalat, a Group 1 race for Purebred Arabians, opened the evening’s racing at Meydan on January 12th 2012.
The race was won by Sahib Du Clos (FR) under a ride from Royston Ffrench, who just got the better of Sheik Hamdan al Maktoum’s Kandar Du Falgas (FR) under Richard Hills, by a head.
Albar Lotois (FR) under Olivier Peslier was third, just a quarter of a length further back, in an enthralling finish: Kandar Du Falgas had looked for all the world the winner until Sahid Du Clos just got up in the final stride to take home the USD $33,000 winner’s prize money.
Meydan Results: Race 1 18:30 Al Maktoum Challenge R1 Sponsored By Etisalat
| Pos | Dist | Horse | Trainer | Jockey |
| 1st | Sahib Du Clos (FR) | S Deeb | Royston Ffrench | |
| 2rd | Hd | Kandar Du Falgas (FR) | D Watson | Richard Hills |
| 3rd | 0.25 | Albar Lotois (FR) | E Lemartinel | Olivier Peslier |
| 4th | 1 | Dariya (FR) | S Deeb | Ted Durcan |
| 5th | 0.25 | Fryvolous (FR) | E Oertel | Mirco Demuro |
| 6th | 0.25 | Paris Gagner (FR) | D Watson | Tadhg O’Shea |
| 7th | 0.25 | Af Alghabra (AE) | G Duffield | Richard Mullen |
| 8th | 8 | Saher (FR) | M Al Jahouri | Ahmad Ajtebi |
| 9th | 0.5 | Theoretically (US) | J Peromingo | Wayne Smith |
| 10th | Sh | Omayyade Thabet (FR) | A Al Shamsi | Carlos Sanchez |
| 11th | 4 | Samira De Carrere (FR) | M Al Shamsi | Jesus Rosales |
| 12th | Dist | Antar Vege (FR) | G Duffield | William Buick |
Video courtesy Emirates Racing Authority.