13 December 2015, Abu Dhabi, UAE ~ It was a stellar meeting for freshman trainer Abdulla Al Hammadi for Al Ajban Stables who led in three of the five Purebred Arabian winners on Sunday, 13 December, at the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club racecourse.
He opened his winning account when the first race on the card a 1600m maiden went to Saklawi Al Reef, ridden by Richard Mullen. The Bibi De Carrere four-year-old never looked likely to be caught although Brooklin Jet D’Azrak was closing as the line approached. At the post Mullen’s mount had a neck to spare recording his first win from nine race starts.
“The trainer was pretty confident in fairness,” said Mullen. “He has had a few starts so knew what it was all about and knuckled down well when I asked him.”
An hour later Al Ajban and Al Hammadi visited the Winner’s Circle again after Nawarat Al Reef came from well back on the home turn taking out the 1600m conditions event restricted to fillies and mares.
Al Hammadi also saddled the runner-up, Bouthayna Al Reef under Dane O’Neill, a challenge to the winner until Fernando Jara unleashed the decisive challenge of her stable companion to win.
Jesus Rosales, a regular rider for Al Ajban, delivered the third leg of the treble guiding Jamila Al Reef (FANFAN DE CARRERE (FR) – DJEZEBEL(US) to an easy win in the concluding 2200m conditions race.
Al Asayl-trainer Eric Lemartinel fresh from his own treble at Al Ain on Saturday supplied the 1-2 in a 1600m handicap with supposed second string Sheikh Down with Gerald Avranche holding off the late challenge of Tadhg O’Shea aboard stablemate Nashmee. Content to take his time just behind the early pace, Avranche took his mount to the front fully 300m out and they ran on strongly to gain the spoils.
“I know both our horses well,” said Avranche. “It appears Tadhg and Nashmee perhaps found a bit of trouble early in the straight whereas I had a clear run. When Tadhg’s horse challenged mine found plenty and it was a good win in a decent little race.”
Buckell steers Al Muntakhab to victory in Wathba Stud Farm Cup
The Qatar-bred Al Muntakhab scored in the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival’s Wathba Stud Farm Cup for Private Owners.
Al Muntakhab (DJELMIDOR(FR) did not always appear the most straightforward of characters but ran out the winner under apprentice George Buckell in the 11-furlong (2200m) contest.It was only the second UAE and twelve lifetime start for the lightly raced Helal Al Alawi-trained eight-year-old.
“This horse has not long arrived from Qatar,” said Buckell. “The handlers did a great job with him at the start as he was not the easiest but during the race he was fine.”
Ms Lara Sawaya, Executive Director of the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival, Chairperson of the International Federation of Horse Racing Academies (IFHRA) and Chairperson of Ladies & Apprentice Racing Committees in the International Federation of Arabian Horse Racing Authorities (IFAHR) along with Adnan Sultan of ADEC and Sheikh Hamdan bin Suroor Al Sharqi of Invest AD among others gave away the trophies.
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, in cooperation with Emirates Racing Authority, IFAHR, Emirates Arabian Horse Society, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, General Authority of Youth and Sports Welfare with The National Archives as the official partner and Emirates airline as the official carriers and sponsored by Invest AD, Bloom, Petromal, Rise General Trading Co. LLC, Hayatna, Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), Al Awani General Enterprises, Kabale, 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 2015, Dr. Nader Saab Switzerland, Al Wathba Center, Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, Eastern Mangroves Suites-Abu Dhabi by Jannah, Yas Channel, Omeir Travels, Racing Post, Paris Turf and Laboratories Fadia Karam Cosmetics.
~ end