First of Triple Jewel Races Goes to Paddys Day in Houston
4 March 2017, Houston, Texas, USA ~ Paddys Day again proved best of the field in the Amethyst Jewel, the first leg of the USA Triple Jewel races in the USA, sponsored by the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival at Sam Houston Race Park, Houston, Texas, on Saturday, 4 March.
Making a strong bid for the bonus for a third year, the 2015 and 2016 winner of the HH Sheikh Mansoor Festival’s Triple Jewel, Paddys Day under Deshawn Parker, gained the first leg and $45,000 for winning the seven furlong Grade 1 Sheikh Zayed Cup.
The win in this Amethyst Jewel race gains the Scott Powell-trained 6-year-old son of Burning Sand a head start on points for the bonus of $150,000 that will be awarded to the horse that earns the maximum points after three Jewel US races.
Easter Man under Ivan Arellano finished second while Quick Sand AA under Adrian Ramos finished third after the 14-horse field was reduced to 13 when CR Ardiente was a late scratch. Sand Victor, after beating Paddys Day in the 2016 final leg at the Los Alamitos Racetrack in Orange County, California, California, finished fifth under David Cabrera. In spite of the loss, Paddys Day still held high points to win the 2016 Triple Jewel award.
The other two Jewel events for 2017 will be run at Race Tree Pleasanton, California, on 8 July, and Monmouth Park, New Jersey on 4 September.
Quick Finish:
Results of the 1st leg of the Triple Jewel the Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nayhan Cup.
1. Paddys Day (Burning Sand x AK Loretta by Virgule Al Maury) – 1:32.31.
2. Easter Man (Burning Sand x Angel Proof by NF Proof).
3. Quick Sand AA (Burning Sand x Triumphs Silkie by Seyvilla Triumph).
Danish schoolgirl wins HH Sheikha Fatima Ladies World Championship
Lisa Lindbjerg was spot-on riding the Jerenesto Torrez-trained Ruby AA to a classy win in the Festival’s HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship.
Lindbjerg, a 19-year-old school girl from Denmark, and Ruby AA finished ahead of Spain’s Beatriz Alonso on Dream Pearl with UK’s Emma Todd running into third place on the pre-race favorite RB Kinkie. The winning young Dane will now take part in the HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship finals in Abu Dhabi in November.
“I’m truly happy and overwhelmed over this experience! It is amazing to get this opportunity, and I’m truly grateful to the HH Sheikh Mansoor Festival for giving me this chance,” said Lindbjerg. “The race went as planned and Ruby AA was happy and ready, she was fantastic,” she said after winning from pillar to post.
“I was in Abu Dhabi last year for the final, but I didn’t ride. I can’t wait to ride in the final. That’s a dream come true to win this race and be in the final!” said the school student who works for two trainers in Aarhus.
His Excellency Saeed Mubarak Al Muhairi, Consul of the United Arab Emirates in Houston and 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 US officials gave away the trophies to the winning connections.
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, 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 Al Aweer Stables, Ayadii LLC, Global United Veterinary Services LLC, Bloom, Petromal, Rise General Trading Co. LLC, Hayatna, 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, Dr Nader Saab Switzerland, 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 2017, Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, Eastern Mangroves Suites-Abu Dhabi by Jannah, Anantara Eastern Mangroves Spa and Resort.
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