AF Qamoos wins Wathba Stud Farm Cup race

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AF Qamoos, winner of the last race in the HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Flat Racing Festival’s Wathba Stud Farm Cup series last season, won again in yesterday’s 12th race of this season at the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club race course.

While it was yet another win for the French pair of trainer Eric Lemartinel and jockey Gerald Avranche and owner Khalid Khalifa Al Naboodah, it was only the second win since last season’s success in the same race series.

The 7-year-old chestnut, that had two second-placed runs since that win over a mile, did well to win Sunday’s contest over 11 furlongs with a full field of 16 runners in the fray.

Taking the lead with about 300 metres to go AF Qamoos staved off the late challenge from Unique De La Garde under Royston Ffrench to win by a short head. Joyous Dream under James Doyle finished third.

His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Sultan Bin Khalifa Al Nahyan along with Adnan Sultan Al Nuaimi, Director General of the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, Ms Lara Sawaya, Director of HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Flat Racing Festival and Head of Ladies Racing at IFAHR and other representatives of sponsors of the HH Sheikh Mansoor Festival took part in the prize distribution.

Commenting on the success of the Festival’s Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Cup race on the St Moritz ice tracks, Ms Sawaya said, “It was a great success with about 35,000 watching the action.”

Bassem Rashid, representing owner Khalid Khalifa Al Nabooda said, “This is our fourth win in the HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Flat Racing Festival’s Wathba Stud Farm Cup race series this season.”

“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,” Mr. Mubarak Hamad Al Muhairi, Director General, Abu Dhabi Tourism& Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi) said in a message.

“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.

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.