It was a memorable night for UAE trainer Saeed Hadher Al Mazrouei who registered his first-ever career win when Live Rich won the HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival’s Wathba Stud Farm Cup series finale at the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club here on Sunday.
It was Saeed Hadher Al Mazrouei’s fifth runner in his fledgling career and Wathba Stud Farm Cup (Private Owners Only) and jockey Tadhg O’Shea partnered Live Rich to land the 1600m event which carried a cash purse of Dh 70,000.
In fact it was a quick double in the third race of the opening meeting for the 2014-15 season here in Abu Dhabi for O’Shea who had earlier won the first race on Abhaar.
“Live Rich is in very good form and frankly I was expected him to run well and win,” said a jubilant trainer Saeed Al Mazrouei later.
“I would like to thank His Highness Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister of the UAE and Minister of Presidential Affairs, for supporting small breeders and owners and encouraging them to improve the quantity and quality of the Arabian horses within the UAE,” he said.
The UAE’s champion jockey O’Shea said: “Live Rich gave me a great ride and did all the business when asked the question.”
The HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival is organised by the Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority and coordinated by Abu Dhabi Sports Council in association with Emirates Racing Authority, IFAHR and Emirates Arabian Horse Society, supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs , the General Authority of Youth and Sports Welfare with Arabtec Holding PJSC as the Official Partner and Emirates airline as the official carriers and sponsored by Invest AD, Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC), Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), Al Rashid Investment, Al Awani General Enterprises, Kabale, Al Wathba Centre, the UAE’s General Women’s Union, the HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy, Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition 2014, Dr. Nader Saab Switzerland, Al Wathba Center, Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, Eastern Mangroves Suites-Abu Dhabi by Jannah, Abu Dhabi Sports Channel and Racing Post.
The result:
Wathba Stud Farm Cup (Private Owners Only) PA 1600m (a 8f) Purse: Dh70.000
-
Live Rich (Saeed Al Mazrouei) Tadhg O’Shea
-
AF Masharef (Eric Lemartinel) Gerald Avranche
-
Dere’a Al Jazeera (Saifaldin Deep) Royston Ffrench.
Distances: 0.5L/ 0.5L, Time: 1.47.69, Eleven ran.
Winner owned by Khalifa Ahmed Khalifa Khalaf Al Mazrouei
