Munahis registered his first win when the Qatari-bred runner won the seventh race of the Shaikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Flat Racing Festival’s Wathba Stud Farm Cup series at the Duindigt racecourse, The Netherlands, a press release said.
In Sunday’s race which was reserved for four-year-old and above horses, Munahis, under jockey Anthony Deau, finished the 1800-metre race on turf ahead of the Parma T, ridden by Martin Watlow.
Shakira DA, with jockey Angeline Batist on board, finished third. Another horse from Qatar, Samah, ridden by lady jockey Inna Mostova, finished fourth.
The race, which is part of a series of races held to encourage small owners and trainers of Purebred Arabians, drew also horses from Belgium, France and hosts The Netherlands. “It is quite encouraging to see a Qatari horse putting up a good performance to win the seventh round of the Shaikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Flat Racing Festival’s Wathba Stud Farm Cup race on Sunday, which drew horses from European countries also,” said Lara Sawaya, Director of the Shaikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Flat Racing Festival and Head of IFAHR Ladies Racing.
“Under the direction and constant support from Shaikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, all efforts are being taken to boost the Arabian horses through the Festival,” added Sawaya.
The Shaikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Flat Racing Festival is organised by the Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority and co-ordinated by Abu Dhabi Sports Council in association with Emirates Racing Authority, IFAHR, Emirates Arabian Horse Society. It’s supported by General Authority for Youth and Sports and Fegentri with Emirates airlines as the official carrier. Invest AD, Al Rashid Investment, Areej Al Ameerat, Mauzan, Al Awani General Enterprises, Kabale, the UAE’s General Women’s Union, the Shaikha Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy, Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition 2012, Wathba Stud Farm and Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club are the sponsors.
