Loraa strikes with President’s Cup win in UAE
Loraa bests Sniper De Monlau
12 February 2017, Abu Dhabi, UAE ~ Jockey, Richard Mullen enjoyed a great night at Abu Dhabi on Sunday, winning four races including both versions of HH The President Cup, highlighted by the AED3 million Purebred Arabian run over 2200m aboard the Jean De Roaulle-trained Loraa.
Third in the course and distance prep three weeks ago, Loraa had arrived in the UAE as a Group 1 winner in France but, reportedly, has not enjoyed a smooth transition.
Settled in midfield by Mullen, Loraa (Mawood (AE), made easy progress 800m from home and, at the top of the straight, hit the front with the race essentially over as a contest except for an outside challenge just a neck too late by Sniper De Monlau.
Loraa award
“She is a very special mare who has had a few problems,” said De Roualle of his charge. “I was delighted with her third in the prep race as I knew she would be in perfect condition tonight which was the main target. Hopefully we will now go for the Kahayla Classic at Meydan Racecourse on the Dubai World Cup card.”
Mullen said: “This is a great training performance as Jean did tell me before the race to expect a massive run from her. He was certainly right and that was a big performance.”
Half an hour earlier, with seven runners in the maximum field of 16, Satish Seemar always seemed to hold the edge in the Listed Thoroughbred version of HH The President Cup and his Akeed Champion, under jockey, Mullen, ran out the impressive winner.
The Emirates Fillies’ Classic, a 1600m conditions contest, was won emphatically by AF Marrah AL Kesbe (FR) in another credit to the local-bred Khalid Al Nabooda stable. She was the only previous winner among the 13 runners.
AF Marrah
Trained by Ernst Oertel for her breeder, the filly doubled her winning tally on her fourth start and proved far too good for the opposition under a confident Mullen, initiating a quick double.
“She has done that nicely,” said Mullen. “She seems to be improving with her racing and that was a good effort.”
Oertel was later to complete a double in the Wathba Stud Farm Cup for Private Owners, this time with Antonio Fresu the victorious jockey aboard Madjanthis (Madjani) leading close home to win a 1400m handicap.
“This horse has to be ridden patiently and produced late so that was always my plan,” said Fresu.
Madjanthis
Al Nabooda (3rd from left) watches from rail with Oertel
Oertel added: “I was actually pretty hopeful as we gave this horse a bit of a rest and he has benefitted from that.”
It was then a treble for the trainer and a quartet for Mullen when AF Thobor AF Al Buraq (AE) landed the concluding 1200m handicap, completing a double for owner/breeder Al Nabooda.
The meeting opened with a 1600m handicap which was won in style by Sarab Al Reef, (Bibi De Carrere (FR) ridden by Fernando Jara for Abdallah Al Hammadi.
Never far off the pace, the pair led at the top of the straight and soon had matters under control. It was a third consecutive victory for the horse who definitely appears to be on the upgrade.
Sarab al Reef-
“He had a lot of weight today but has won that in style,” said Jara. “He seems to be improving with his racing and, hopefully, can build on this but where he goes next is obviously up to the trainer.”
Race Results:
[gview file=”https://horsereporter.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Results_10712_Muroor_17-00.pdf” save=”1″]Photos: Pamela Burton
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