Two UAE-bred/owned horses win in opening races in France
photo Noelle Derre’
3 October 2015, Paris, France ~ The Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe weekend began with top racing at St Cloud racetrack on Friday, 2 October, where Muraaqib, owned by HH Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, won the Group 1 Qatar Arabian Trophy for Colts (poulains), and Mabrooka owned by HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, won the Group 1 Qatar Arabian Trophy for Fillies (pouliches).
Muraagib was ridden by Francois-Xavier Bertras in the €100,000 Qatar Arabian Trophy des Poulains (Group 1 PA) to emerge as the champion three-year-old colt, while Mabrooka under Thierry Jarnet topped the Fillies field to win the €100,000 Qatar Arabian Trophy des Pouliches (Group 1 PA).
The Frederick Rohaut-trained Muraagib sired by Munjiz clocked 2:19:76 for the 2000-metre contest, leaving RB Burn, owned by HH Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and ridden by Jean-Bernard Eyquem in second place while Alsakar under Julien Auge representing the Royal Cavalry of Oman finished in third.
Fast Results: Horse, Jockey/Trainer
1. Muraaqub, FX Bertras/Francois Rohaut, 2. RB Burn (US), JB Eyquem/ E Bernard
3. Alsakar, J Auge/T Fourcy
Champion filly Mabrooka by Mahabb covered the 2000-metre distance in a much faster time than that recorded in the colts event to score a great win for trainer Didier Guillemin in the Qatar Arabian Trophy des Pouliches (Group1 PA). The Royal Cavalry of Oman’s Worood under David Morrisson prevented a clean sweep by HH Sheikh Mansoor-owned horses and finished second with Worood. HH Sheikh Mansoor’s Naziq under Christophe Soumillon and Shakrra under Julien Auge finished third and fourth respectively.
Winning trainer Didier Guillemin said: “2,000 meters is the longest distance she is able to hold. She managed to keep her resources in order to place her acceleration, which is one of her big qualities. She is a generous filly and we are thinking of bringing her on the French Arabian Breeder’s Cup Challenge for fillies (Gr1 PA) in Toulouse at the end of the year.” Three of the first four fillies of the race were trained by Didier Guillemin.
Fast Results:Horse, Jockey/Trainer
1. Mabrooka, T Jarnet/Guillemin, 2. Worood, D Morrison/CH Gourdain, 3. Naziq, C Soumillon/E Bernard, 4. Shakraa, J Auge/T Fourcy, 5. Deyaar, JB Eyquem/E Bernard
Adnan Sultan Al Nuaimi, Director General of the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club and Ms Lara Sawaya, Executive Director of the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival, Chairperson of the International Federation of Horse Racing Academies (IFHRA) and Chairperson of Ladies & Apprentice Racing Committees in the International Federation of Arabian Horse Racing Authorities (IFAHR) along with the winning trainer and jockey of Mabrouka received the trophies.
“It was a great run by Mabrooka and the speed was better than that recorded by the colts. Both Mabrouka and Muraagib were sired by stallions owned by HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan. We congratulate HH Sheikh Hamdan and HH Sheikh Mansoor on the success of Mugaarib and Mabrouka respectively,” said Ms Sawaya.
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.
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