March 8, 2014, Sam Houston Park, Houston, Texas ~ Defying heavy rain showers American lady jockey Sandee D. Martin partnered RB Burn Baby Burn to glory in the fourth round of the $41,000 HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak World Ladies Championship (IFAHR) on Saturday, March 8, while Grilla, ridden by David Cabrera, won the $47,000 Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Cup Gr1. Both events were contested over seven furlongs on dirt.
Martin booked the fourth ticket to a dream finale of the HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak World Ladies Championship IFAHR with other winning jockys in Abu Dhabi in November.
The determined Martin set the early pace on RB Burn Baby Burn trained by Jerenesto Torrez, regaining the lead in the early stretch from Norway’s Silja Storen guiding MS Dixie, then pounding to the sloppy finish leaving Storen with second. Australia’s Stephanie Dorning followed with Zells Follies for third. Winning time: 1:35:38
Burn Baby Burn (TH Richie x Burning Star by Big Easy) owned by Rosebrook Farms
Also ran: TTT Dark Diamond, DC Willeys Song, TA Dance With the Star, Litle Bit, Lil Rich Girl, TM Maddamee, BR Little Red, Etres Chic.
Later David Cabrera and Grilla defied the muddy surface to land the Gr 1 for owner, trainer Bill Waldron. Grilla set the pace, never relinquishing the position and prevailing in the end by four lengths. RB Champagne Taste chased the winner home under Gerardo Mora, but didn’t disturb the leader as Burning Fleet, Emesto Valdez up, chased the pace and walked away with the third place trophy. Winning time: 1:32:62
Grilla (Kong x Dixie Darling by Wiking)
Also ran: Sand On Fire, Sergeant Pepper MHF, A Classs Act, Buth Cassidy LZP, Zells Bells, WMA Sandstorm.
The two races were held under the directives of HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs under the umbrella of the sixth edition of the HH HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival.
UAE representatives supporting the Houston race in person included Lara Sawaya, director of the HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival and Chairman of Ladies Racing Committee (IFAHR), Ali Mosa, director of the Dubai Equestrian Club, Zayed Al Mansouri from Invest AD, and Fatima Al Nuaimi, representing UAE Women’s General Union They joined Prof. Luis Combos of the University of Texas Health Science, in presenting the prizes and trophies to the winners.
Sawaya commented: “The festival is making steady progress and advancing from one success to another. Now, the Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Cup is a Gr 1 event. “The fourth round of the HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak (Mother of the UAE) World Ladies Championship IFAHR attracted eleven Arabian horses ridden by eleven ladies from around the globe to this event.
Kathy Smoke, Chair of the US Arabian Jockey Club, commented: “The festival has brought the Arabian horse to life again through the Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Cup and the HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak World Ladies Championship IFAHR.”
The HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival which is organized by the Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority and coordinated by Abu Dhabi Sports Council in association with Emirates Racing Authority, IFAHR and Emirates Arabian Horse Society, supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs , the General Authority of Youth and Sports Welfare with Arabtec Holding PJSC as the Official Partner and Emirates airline as the official carriers and sponsored by Invest AD, Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC), Al Rashid Investment, Al Awani General Enterprises, Kabale, Al Wathba Centre, the UAE’s General Women’s Union, the HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy, Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition 2014, Dr. Nader Saab Switzerland, Al Wathba Center, Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, Eastern Mangroves Suites-Abu Dhabi by Jannah, Abu Dhabi Sports Channel and Racing Post.
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