Sara Vermeersch Takes the Win On Home Turf in Belgium

HH Sheikh Mansoor Festival’s Wathba Stallions Cup in Belgium

Vermeersch in the lead

Vermeersch in the lead for the win

26 June 2018, Ghlin, Belgium ~ Belgium’s Sara Vermeersch was again in the winning circle, this time on home turf in the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival’s Wathba Stallions Cup at the Hippodrome de Wallonie in Ghlin, Belgium, on Friday, 22 June 2018.

Vermeersch, who had scored on What A Wonder in the HH Sheikha Fatima race in Stockholm on 6 June, this time took Dakare De L’Ardus to victory in the 1500-metre race in Belgium.

The 24-year-old Vermeersch drove the 5-year-old bay by Ampeoro Des Cedres x Lasma De L’Ardus (DJELFOR) to a quarter length win over Eau Divine under Anna van den Troost while Blitters Paco under Loid Bekaert finished third in the 8-horse race. The winning time was 1 min 44.74 seconds. Dakare De L’Ardus is trained by AS &D. Allard and owned by Philippe Meunier

Belgium’s Purebred Arabian racing chief Nelly Philippot gave away the trophies and thanked the HH Sheikh Mansoor Festival for supporting Arabian races in her country.

Awards to Vermeersch by Nelly Philippot

Awards to Vermeersch by Nelly Philippot

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, with National Feed and Flour Production and Marketing Co. LLC as associate sponsors, The National Archives as the official partner and Emirates airline as the official carrier, in cooperation with Emirates Racing Authority, IFHRA, IFAHR, Emirates Arabian Horse Society, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Abu Dhabi Youth Council, General Authority for Sports and sponsored by Ayadi LLC, Global United Veterinary Services LLC, Nissan Middleast Al Massood Automobiles, Nirvana Travels and Tourism LLC, Equicare Veterinary Services, Alawal Stud, Cavalos Equine Care & Supplies, SET Sustainable Environmental Technologies, Al Awani General Enterprises, Omeir Travels, Kabale, YAS Channel, Abu Dhabi Falconers Club, Emirates Falconers Club, Mohammed Bin Zayed Falconry and Desert Physiognomy School, Racing Post, Paris Turf, 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 2018, Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, Anantara Eastern Mangroves Spa and Resort.
Photos: Roger Lothaire of AHRCB