21 August, Ostend, Belgium ~ It was another memorable double for owner Landgoed Waterland and
trainer Karin van den Bos in the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival-supported race in Ostend, Belgium.
Dynamites, the 4-year-old chestnut colt by Nashwan Al Khalediya, had given Waterland and van den Bos a double win on the White Turf of St Moritz in Switzerland earlier this year in February winning the Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Cup and the HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship over a 15 day-span.
On Monday, 20 August 2018, at the Wellington racecourse in the Belgian city of Ostend, Dynamites struck again to win the HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Apprentice World Championship race under Belgian Jurico Bogaerts for the owner-trainer combination.
Dynamites finished ahead of 2nd, El Zarka D.A under P.Karamanos of Cyprus while Adam Benko of Hungary on Storm Trouper finished third. The winning time for the 1,000-metre race was 1:03.55.
Later van den Bos saddled the winner for Waterland when Lightning Bolt won the Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Cup Group 3 race run over 1,800 metres. Lightning Bolt was given a superb ride by jockey Adrien de Vries to complete the double for van den Bos and Waterland.
Second in the €35,000 race was Rijm under Falah Bughenaim while the favorite Aoun under Roberto-Carlos Montenegoro finished third. The winning time was 2:11.27.
The third race under the HH Sheikh Mansoor Festival banner drew the loudest cheers as young jockeys lined up on their ponies in the Ostend leg of the Sheikha Lateefa Bint Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan International Pony championship race.
Ruben van der Scheuren crossed the finish line in style riding Minnie Moon with Seppe Balcaen narrowly losing out under Bolero in the 600-metre race. Iluna Coryn on Zarkava finished third. The winning time was 32.88 seconds.
The Belgian Apprentice Bogaerts and Ruben van der Scheuren will feature in the finals of the HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Apprentice World Championship and the HH Sheikha Lateefa Bint Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan International Pony championship respectively.
The UAE Ambassador to Belgium H.E. Mohamed AbuShahab, the UAE Charge d’Affairs to Belgium, the Mauritanian Ambassador to Belgium H.E. Abdellahi Bah Nagi Kebd, the Yemeni Ambassador Mohamed Taha Mustafa, Belgium’s Arabian horse chief Nelly Philippot and Ms. Lara Sawaya, Executive Director of 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) gave away the trophies.
The Envoys hailed the great initiative by HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs of the UAE in promoting the UAE and Purebred Arabian racing.
Ms. Lara Sawaya said, “It was such an exciting day of races and the Purebred Arabian horse racing fans witnessed some thrilling finishes.”
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 carrier, in cooperation with Emirates Racing Authority, IFHRA, IFAHR, Emirates Arabian Horse Society, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Abu Dhabi Youth Council, General Authority for Sports and sponsored by Ayadi LLC, Global United Veterinary Services LLC, Nissan Middleast Al Massood Automobiles, Nirvana Travels and Tourism LLC, Equicare Veterinary Services, Alawal Stud, Cavalos Equine Care & Supplies, SET Sustainable Environmental Technologies, Al Awani General Enterprises, Omeir Travels, Kabale, YAS Channel, Abu Dhabi Falconers Club, Emirates Falconers Club, Mohammed Bin Zayed Falconry and Desert Physiognomy School, 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, Anantara Eastern Mangroves Spa and Resort.
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