After a second and third place on his two previous outings, AF Sanad was an easy winner in the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival’s Wathba Stallions Cup For Private Owners Only race, the opening 1600m handicap at the Al Ain race course on Friday.
Never far away under Tadhg O’Shea, AF Sanad hit the front soon after entering the long straight and finished over 12 lengths ahead of Shamikht Al Dhafra ridden by Jesus Rosales followed by AF Nashet under Antonio Fresu.
It was a first win of the season for Khalifa Al Neyadi who owns and trains the horse, bred by champion owner Khalid Khalifa Al Nabooda. It was more than 12 lengths back to the remainder!
O’Shea said: “In theory we had a bad draw in 13 but it was only his third start so I was able to keep out of any trouble so his inexperience was not an issue.
“I followed Antonio Fresu on AF Nashet as I thought he was one of the main dangers and he carried me into the race before my fellow put the race to bed quite quickly early in the straight.
“It is a good result for a small operation and this horse is probably going to improve with experience.”
Ms. Lara Sawaya, Executive Director of the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival, General Manager of Wathba Stallions, Chairperson of the International Federation of Horse Racing Academies (IFHRA), Chairperson of Ladies & Apprentice Racing Committees in the International Federation of Arabian Horse Racing Authorities (IFAHR), Faisal Al Rahmani, IFAHR chief and ADEC Racing Director Pat Buckley gave away the trophies.
RMMAS OPENS UAE ACCOUNT
On the same day, Rmmas, running in the colours of Yas Horse Racing Management LLC belonging to HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs scored a smart win in a 1600m conditions contest Richard Mullen was aboard Rmmas, trained on the Al Ain track by Jean de Roualle, and the win opened the 4-year-old Mahabb son’s UAE account at the second attempt.
His UAE debut was actually when ninth in the world’s most valuable Purebred Arabian race, the Group 1 Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Jewel Crown, so this was a massive drop in class.
Sporting the silks of Yas Horse Racing Management, Mullen had to get serious with Rmmas to coax him past Inthar but they won well enough in the end.
The HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival is sustained by the Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority and coordinated by Abu Dhabi Sports Council, with National Feed and Flour Production and Marketing Co. LLC as associate sponsors, The National Archives as the official partner and Emirates airline as the official carriers, Al Massood Automobiles and Nissan Middleast as official car partners, in cooperation with Emirates Racing Authority, IFAHR, Emirates Arabian Horse Society, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, General Authority of Youth and Sports Welfare and sponsored by Ayadi LLC, Global United Veterinary Services LLC, Wathba Stallions, Abu Dhabi Falconers Club, Emirates Falconers Club, Mohamed Bin Zayed Falconry and Desert Physiognomy School, Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), Al Awani General Enterprises, Kabale, Omeir Travels, Laboratories Fadia Karam Cosmetics, YAS Channel, Racing Post, Paris Turf, Al Wathba Centre, the UAE’s General Women’s Union, The Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, the HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy, Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition 2018, Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, Eastern Mangroves Suites-Abu Dhabi by Jannah, Anantara Eastern Mangroves Spa and Resort.
