Warrawee Naaziq scored another impressive win, this time in the HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Flat Racing Festival’s Wathba Stud Farm Cup race at Mansfield Racetrack in Victoria over the weekend.

Warrawee Naaziq, the 2012 winner of the HH Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Cup at Moonee Valley racetrack and the Shadwell Arabian Mile at Caulfield racetrack, was ridden to a fine win by Robert Kirkpatrick.

The winner is owned and trained by Kim Noble.Majelica finished second and Major finished third in the 1200-metre race, the first Wathba Stud Farm Cup event to be held in Australia.

All eight runners were away well. The early leader was Wantkey Kaliph with Major and Blakes Heaven Bombora running well up there. In the final 100 metres Warrawee Naaziq moved up on the outside to take the lead.

Magelica then made a run from the back of the field along the rail and took a narrow lead from Major who had also made his run. Warrawee Naaziq proved too strong on the line to take the race from the fast finishing mare, Magelica with Major running a close third. This was the first race for the mare Magelica and she will be a lot harder to beat in her next run.

Commenting on the Festival’s Wathba Stud Farm Cup race series, Mubarak Hamad Al Muhairi, Director General, Abu Dhabi Tourism& Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi) said, “In organising the HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Flat Racing Festival, Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority has the preservation of the UAE’s cultural heritage and traditions as its driving principal.”

“Equestrianism in general, and Purebred Arabian racing in particular, has been a part of the life and spirit of every Emirati and by promoting this sport globally the Festival seeks to enhance the status of Arabian racing,” he added.

“Under the directives and support of His Highness Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs and Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women’s Union, Supreme President of the Family Development Foundation (FDF) and Head of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood the Festival has achieved tremendous success and we intend to continue and build on this,” Al Muhairi said.

“It was a great debut event for the Wathba Stud Farm Cup series. WE are now all set to launch the Festival’s activities in the New Year” said Lara Sawaya, Director the HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Flat Racing Festival and head of IFAHR ladies racing.

The HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Flat Racing Festival is organized by the Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority and co-ordinated by Abu Dhabi Sports Council in association with Emirates Racing Authority, IFAHR and Emirates Arabian Horse Society, supported by General Authority for Youth and Sports Welfare and Fegentri with Emirates airlines as the official carrier and sponsored by Invest AD, Al Rashid Investment, Areej Al Ameerat, Mauzan, Al Awani General Enterprises, Kabale, the UAE’s General Women’s Union, the HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy, Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition 2013, Dr. Nader Saab Switzerland, Wathba Stud Farm and Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club.