Photo: Nils Rosenkjaer
May 7, 2013, Malmo, Sweden ~ It was Gazel T (Prince D’Orient x Gracja), ridden by Eduardo Pedroza, that pushed hard in the final stages to land the Wathba Stud Farm PA Gr-3 under pressure at the Jagersro Racetrack (dirt) here on Tuesday.
According to jockey, Pedroza, Gazal T deserved the win, claiming the 1730m in a time of 2:10:60 to prevail by half a length on the line. “He’s an honest and keen performer who has jumped above the difficulties which he has encountered as the race progressed in the home stretch. He didn’t break well, but managed to fight courageously when it mattered in the crucial stages and won gamely. I have won with this horse last year at the same venue, and he has improved a lot since then,” he confirmed.
The race attracted a quality field of eight runners who battled to the wire in the Euro 17.003.14 ($22,000USK – SEK 147.000) prize-money which was reserved for the top finishers. SR Dorwan under Mark Scott finished second and the mount of Espen Ski, Gallab walked away with the third place honours.
Gerd T Zoetelief, owner/ trainer of the winner, said he’s delighted to win such a prestigious event besides the fourth round of the HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship in Berlin.
“I would like to thank the Omani jockey Salima Al Taleei for her effort in the Hoppergarten. The festival has opened a wide open door for us to own more Arabians and tomorrow would definitely be better,” he said.
See Hoppegarten win: http://wp.me/p26iCL-1L1
Finish: Horse, Pedigree, Owner
2. SR Dorwan (DEN) (Marwan x Dorwana Kossack), Nina Koustrup
3. Ghalallb (GB) (Chndaka x Ikela), Familjen Kvisla
4.Al Isad (IQ) (Asad Saif x Amal Athania), Dr.M. Nujaifi
5. Al Dahis (IQ) (Sheridhan x Al Rabab), Dr. M.Nujaifi
6. Sanovagan (SWE) (Top Flyte x Golmohar), Genberg
7. Sagala z Regula (POL) (Gorec x Sirena), Jeanette Eng
8. Rogosza (SWE) (Gosh x Ruwacha), Romele Araber
Lara Sawaya, Director of HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival, Head of International Federation of Arabian Horse Racing Authorities (IFAHR) Ladies Racing praised the great success of the Watba Stud Cup in Malmo, pointing out that it’s a pleasure to see the same owner and trainer winning the series for the second time after prevailing in the 4th round of the HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship in the Hoppegarten on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Rashid Obaid Al Suwaidi, adviser at the UAE embassy in Stockholm said: “This success would have not been achieved without the strong support and backing of the wise leadership of His Highness the President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan and his brother His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai and General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces coupled with the role which is played by HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs to promote sports in general and Arabian horse races in particular.”
“Abu Dhabi Sports Channel which has streamed this race live from Malmo has been confirmed as the main sponsors of the FEI World Junior and Young Riders Endurance Championship scheduled to be held in Tarbes, France, on July 27. More details of the event will be unveiled during a news conference in Toulouse ahead of the Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship and Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Cup. The city will also host the 4th World Arabian Horse Conference from June 4 to 10,” she said.
“I would like to thank Sheikha Najla Al Qassimi, UAE ambassador to Sweden and adviser Rashid Obaid Al Suwaidi as well as the members of the UAE embassy in Stockholm for the assistance which they have provided to facilitate our job,” she added.
Ali Mosa, director general of the Dubai Equestrian Club thanked HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs for pushing forward the move to promote the Arabian horse worldwide.
The HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Flat Racing Festival is organized by the Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority and co-ordinated by Abu Dhabi Sports Council in association with Emirates Racing Authority, IFAHR and Emirates Arabian Horse Society, supported by General Authority for Youth and Sports Welfare Authority with Emirates airlines as the official carrier and sponsored by Invest AD, ArabtecHolding PJSC, SAS Investment, Al Rashid Investment, Areej Al Ameerat, Al Rashid Investment, Al Awani General Enterprises, the UAE’s General Women’s Union, Women Sports Committee, the HH Shaikha Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy, SAS Investment, Kabale, Dr. Nader Saab, Al Wathba Stud, Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition, Wathba Stud Farm and Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, under the supervision of Lara Sawaya, Director of HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival, Head of International Federation of Arabian Horse Racing Authorities ( IFAHR) Ladies Racing.
Newbury hosts the next round of the HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship IFAHR on May 18, to be followed by Toulouse on June 9 alongside the Sheikh Zayed Cup. The seventh round will be held at Duindigt Racecourse in Holland on June 23, California in US on July 6, then Caulfield Racecourse in Australia on June 13, Poland on August 25, Sweden September 15 as the final round will be held in Abu Dhabi on November 10.
~end