Thakif Denies Areem in Purebred Arabian Abu Dhabi National Day Cup for Al Jahouri ***

7 December 2014, Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club ~ It was Abu Dhabi’s National Day Cup meeting on Sunday evening with Areem seeking a third consecutive victory in the Purebred Arabian version.

However, new names were to be engraved on each trophy; Areem was not able to make it three consecutive victories in the Group One Purebred Arabian version but was denied by stablemate, Thakif (Mahabb (AE) x SHEENA (FR) by Djelfor (FR) by three-and-a-quarter lengths.

Areem set out well under Silvestre De Sousa, having been ridden to victory in each of the last two years by Ahmed Ajtebi. They appeared well in control turning for home as Thakif and Bentley loomed large to deny them a repeat victory.

“He’s a Group 1 winner and now we have to keep him up at that level. The Al Maktoum Challenge Round 1 is a likely option for both Thakif and Areem,” said trainer Al Jahouri said. These are two nice horses among plenty. I am lucky enough to train for Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan.”

The Thoroughbred equivalent was won by Nine Realms, having only his third start locally and first UAE outing on turf. He is now trained by Satish Seemar.

The meeting opened with a 1600m condition race, won by a neck by Sataar Al Reef (Bibi De Carrere x AF YASATER by Amer), under Mullen, initiating a double for the jockey and saddled by Jaber Bittar.

Trainer and jockey soon followed up with the success of Sharaf Al Reef (Bibi De Carrere (FR) x NOMARCHIE (FR) by Djelfor (FR) in the 1600m handicap, the second race on the card.

The other races both went the way of Jockey Silvestre De Sousa, first via  the Saifaldin Deeb-trained Boss Des Vialettes (Dormane (FR) x Hourmane Des Vialete) in a 1400m maiden denying Jaci Wickham’s Silk Stockings, followed up by the same trainer’s Najeem S’Heel (BIG EASY (US) x LAZIA LOTOISE (FR) by Kesberoy (FR) in a 1000m handicap.

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