Ten to run in Wathba Stud Farm Cup

Ten horses have confirmed their entry for Sunday’s Wathba Stud Farm Cup, the second in the series of races organised under the Shaikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Racing Festival at the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club race course.

Al Bashaq, Jibril, Neferman, AF Dhaham, Al Nashmy, Demdyke, Hayz, Mugeet, Platine De Sinuhe, AF Thaariyah are the ten horses that will be running in this 2,200-metre race which is open only to Purebred Arabian horses (Maidens).

Wathba Stud Farm Cup races, under the patronage of Shaikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, are open only to owners of private stables and small owners in a move to help them promote Purebred Arabian horse racing.

Wathba Stud Farm Cup races is part of the Shaikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Racing Festival organised by The Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (ADACH) in co-ordination with the Abu Dhabi Sports Council with support from the Invest AD, Areej Al Amerat, Wathba Stud Farm, Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club and the Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition 2011.

Abdullah Al Qubaisi, director of Communications Department at ADACH said, “There is a growing interest in Wathba Stud Farm Cup races and we see the number of entries is always going up. This is a good sign that the aim of the race series, which is to help promote small owners, is achieving good success.”

Lara Sawaya, director of Shaikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Racing Festival said, “With every race we can see the quality of runners improving. Most of the top trainers and jockey in the UAE are involved with horses taking part in the Wathba Stud Farm Cup races.” Mussalam Alamri, racing manager for Shaikh Mansour said, “Sunday’s race is being held over a distance of 11 furlongs and this is a good test for the small owners and their horses. With Dh40,000 as total prize money, it is also good incentive for them.”