23 September 2014, Avenches, Switzerland ~ The Aeschbachers combined to lead Nil Ashal (Nil Bedouin x Nil Abiat) under jockey Olivier Placais to superb win in the HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival’s Wathba Stud Farm Cup race held in Avenches in Switzerland on Saturday 20 September.

Nil Ashal, owned by Urs Aeschbacher and trained by Franziska Aeschbacher, was attempting a third win in three months against arch rival Sayf. In the close finish Placais made it three out of three for this year on the 5-year-old grey bred in Switzerland.

Nil Ashal had beaten Sayf in July and August and once again it was a close contest, but Placais steered the 2012 Swiss National Champion to score over the Lena Mattes-ridden Sayf.

Sayf’s trainer Mrs Anika Daunheimer had to remain content with the second and third place as her other runner Atoum Re finished behind Sayf.

Nil Ashal took 2:13.38 for the 1800 metre distance.

The HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival is organised by the Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority and coordinated by Abu Dhabi Sports Council in association with Emirates Racing Authority, IFAHR and Emirates Arabian Horse Society, supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs , the General Authority of Youth and Sports Welfare with Arabtec Holding PJSC as the Official Partner and Emirates airline as the official carriers and sponsored by Invest AD, Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC),  Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), Al Rashid Investment, Al  Awani General Enterprises, Kabale, Al Wathba Centre, the UAE’s General Women’s Union, the HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy, Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition 2014, Dr. Nader Saab Switzerland, Al Wathba Center, Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, Eastern Mangroves Suites-Abu Dhabi by Jannah, Abu Dhabi Sports Channel and Racing Post.

 – text by Satya Narayan