9 June 2019, Chelmsford City, UK ~ It was a memorable day for Isaac Buncle who rode Mawarid to win the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival’s Wathba Stallions Cup race held at the Chelmsford City racecourse in the UK on Saturday, 8 June 2019.
Mawarid chased the leaders out the gate and advanced to the front riding down the back straight with Kayclaire under Charlie Price. In the final straight Mawarid moved to the right of the field but jockey and mount never ceased the momentum to win which was evident in the final strides. In second place running on the left was Kayclaire ridden aggressively by Price for owner-trainer Delyth Thomas. Price started his career riding as an amateur and has recently turned professional. In third was Sarah Innes and Nicola Buchan’s Zayin Zamurai, ridden by James Harding for trainer Adam Newey, who had teamed up to win the corresponding race last year with Vindetta. The winning time was 1.52.50.
This was the first winner for 18-year old Buncle on the four-year-old son of No Risk Al Maury x Aljawza by Dormane. Buncle has been working for trainer James Owen since February and he was told three weeks ago that he could ride Mawarid in the Chelmsford race. Mawarid, owned and bred by HH Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, is almost as inexperienced as his jockey, having only his third racecourse appearance. Buncle has been riding him every day in preparation and that paid off in the race on Saturday.
ARO’s Genny Haynes along with other UK racing officials gave away the trophies on behalf of the Festival.
You must see the Race Video:
https://horsereporter.com/race-replay/