Honors for HH Sheikh Mansoor Festival

8 July 2017, Pleasanton, California, USA ~ The second leg of the US Triple Jewel Race, the Emerald Jewel, went to the indomitable Paddys Day on 8 July 2017, at the Oak Tree Pleasanton track at Pleasanton, California.

Scott and Lori Powell, Quarter Moon Ranch, take Paddys Day awards

Although ten took the field, it remained a race between Paddys Day, Sand Victor and Quick Sand AA in the $50,000 Emerald Jewel Gr 2 on a day that reached 99F (37C) in the California Valley.

Making his record 4 wins for 4 outs for the year, it was Paddys Day under Keiber Coa, two time winner of the $150,000 bonus and in the sweet spot for the third race, that dominated the 6 Furlongs, finishing cleanly over 2 lengths ahead. Chasing for second, Sand Victor ridden by Hugo Herrera and third in, Quick Sand AA under Pedro Terrero, could not keep pace with the athletic Paddys Day owned by Quarter Moon Ranch and trained by Scott Powell.

This win gives the Burning Sand 6-year-old a definite lead in the series with 16 points (8 each win) and a positive outlook for the third race, the Diamond Jewel, to be held at Monmouth Park, New Jersey, on 4 September 2017.

Grard and Dream Pearl take the lead in the stretch

HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship (IFAHR) Gr 2

Grard after the race

In the Ladies Race, French rider Ingrid Grard Dream Pearl (Burning Sand) trained by Terry Eaton and owned by the Burt, Call, Soltau and Eaton Partnership, made off with the 6 Furlong race in a dramatic driving finish. The Scott Powell- trained Ivory Shores lost ground at the start by bucking out the gate, but USA rider Erika Taylor stayed in the saddle and the contest to place second followed home by Last Call MHF under Netherlands top rider Cindy Klinkenberg trained by Simon Hobson and owned by Lynn Bennett.

ARC stewards and guests

Stewards of the Arabian Racing Cup welcomed the crowd from the shiny red wagon pulled by 6 Clydesdale horses. Arabian Racing Cup Chief Steward, Michelle Morgan said, “We are very grateful for our sponsorship from the Festival. Added support for Arabian racing is helping to bolster the numbers of Arabian racers in the US and around the world. We also thank the staff at Pleasanton, always a good venue for us with a great track and great support here.”

Californian racing honors HH Sheikh Mansoor Festival

In a rare honor accorded by a US racing body, the Arabian Racing Association of California (ARAC) and the Texas Arabian Breeders Association (TABA) awarded Honorary Membership to the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival. A historical plaque was given to Ms Lara Sawaya, Executive Director of the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival by Sam Vasquez of TABA and Cory Soltau of ARAC.

ARAC and TABA Award Festival Honorary membership

Sam Vasquez, speaking on behalf of the Californian Arabian racing bodies said, “The membership accorded to HH Sheikh Mansoor Festival is fully deserved and this will help the promotion of Arabian racing in the state.”

The two Arabian races with 10 runners each were supported by the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Flat Racing Festival. The Festival supports racing on 6 continents from the grass roots level to Grade 1 races including Series Bonus races and Grand Finale racing in Abu Dhabi in November.

~end report by Pamela