Gazel T wins Wathba Cup for fourth year in a row in Sweden
21 May 2015, Sweden ~ Gazel T and the Wathba Stud Farm Cup seem inseparable when it comes to racing at the Jagersro race track in Sweden. The 7-year-old son of Prince d‘Orient registered his fourth successive win in as many years in the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival’s Wathba Stud Farm Cup Group 3 race on 12 May and lived up to his nickname of ‘Flying Dutchman’.
The Gerd Zoetelief-owned and trained Gazel T under Jacob Johanson however did have to hold on to stave off a fast-finishing Ameretto under Eduardo Pedroza while in third place was another Zoetelief runner Paramour T.
Gazel T once again revealed his love for the tight Jagersro dirt track in the 1730-metre Group 3 contest as he ran in his typical style, staying midway and once he hit the straight he forged ahead. Ameretto chased the winner home but fell short by half a length as Gazel T completed the distance in 1:59.0.
Gazel T becomes the first horse in the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival to win four of its races.
Gerd Zoetelief, the winning owner-trainer said, “Gazel T is a great champion and to win this Wathba Cup Group 3 race four times is a record. The victory is also a good one as it comes over the Festival’s Triple European Crown winner Ameretto. Johanson did a great job as the jockey.”
Fareedha wins in Belgium
Trainer Diana Dorenburg registered yet another victory in the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival when Fareedha (Dhahman Baghdad x Subul) under Koen Clijmans won the Wathba Stud Farm Cup race held in Ghlin, Belgium, on 11 May.
The 11-horse field was reduced to 10 with Victor playing truant at the starting gates and Fareedha under Clijmans did very well to win the 1500-m race for owner Mohammed Al Nujaifi.
Shrek OA under Anna van den Troost finished second while in third place was Bachair Qardabiyah under Anthony Deau.
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 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, Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC), Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), 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 2015, Dr. Nader Saab Switzerland, Al Wathba Center, Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, Eastern Mangroves Suites-Abu Dhabi by Jannah, Yas Channel, Omeir Travels and Racing Post.
~ ends