14 October 2015, Sweden ~ Swedish-bred 3-year-old gelding Macallan won the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival’s 1200-metre Group 3 Wathba Stud Farm Sprint Cup held on 8 October at the Jagersro Racecourse.
Ten runners were in contention as Anna Pilroth rode the Dahess son Macallan to a narrow win over Ghallab under Per-Anders Graberg. Macallan jumped smartly off along with Niraan (Fabienne De Geer astride) taking direct command. Belgian raiders Victor and Zafina were slow into their stride and were chased up to lie a couple of lengths off Niraan’s pace with Macallan on their outside and Ghallab following in the slipstream.
Coming into the straight Macallan had put his hooks in Niraan and left the Belgians fading rapidly, the pre-race favorite Ghallab the only danger. The pair put in a fair fight but in the end Macallan prevailed by a neck with a game Niraan in third from Bisht and Al Janoob finishing well over a trip too short to be suitable.
On behalf of the Festival Mats Genberg – Chairman of the Scandinavian Arabian Racing Association and Secretary of IFAHR, handed out the prizes to the owners, Stall Apperitiffe and Bodil Blomqvist, (trainer of Macallan), and to winning jockey Anna Pilroth.
Pilroth on Macallan had won the Caesar Arabian Sprint in Stockholm on 26 August and also won the Ramonia Cup in Gotenburg also in Sweden on 13 September and now is unbeaten in three starts after this prestigious Group 3 Wathba Stud Farm Sprint Cup win.
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, National Feed and Flour Production and Marketing Co. LLC, Bloom, Petromal, Rise General Trading Co. LLC, Hayatna, 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 Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, 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, Racing Post and Laboratories Fadia Karam Cosmetics.
~ Supplied text
Picture courtesy Stefan Olsson