Will Paddys Day retain 2015 Triple Jewel Title
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Paddys Day
file photo
6 September 2016, Los Alamitos, California, USA ~Paddys Day, winner of the 2015 Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Cup Triple Jewel series, looks set to successfully defend that title when he starts as firm favorite in the $48,700 Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Arabian Cup Diamond Jewel, a Grade II race, on Saturday, 17 September 2016, at Los Alamitos in Southern California.
Saturday’s contest over a mile also gives the Quarter Moon Ranch-owned Paddys Day a chance to avenge his defeat to Sand Victor in the Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Grade II – Emerald Arabian Triple Jewel race held in Pleasanton, California in July.
Paddys Day had begun his defense of the title back in March with a super win in the Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Amethyst Jewel Grade 1 race at Sam Houston Race Park, Texas.
In Saturday’s race, the 5 year-old will be ridden by top UK and Abu Dhabi jockey Richard Mullen for trainer Scott Powell. The Burning Sand colt has a career record of 15 wins in 21 starts and earnings of $246,408 and is fresh from his win in the Grade 1 Delaware Classic by five lengths on the east coast of the USA on 10 September.
Sand Victor has not raced since the middle of August. “Sand Victor ran well at Los Alamitos last year, but he’s a better horse now than he was in 2015,” said trainer Terri Eaton. “Is he better than Paddys Day? I don’t know, we’ll see, but he was better than Paddys Day in the Emerald Jewel. My horse stepped up to the plate and did what he needed to do,” said Eaton.
Points Hero
Paddys Day has 15 points from a win and a second place in the two legs run so far in the US Triple Crown series being held under the umbrella of the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival. His nearest challenger to another Triple Jewel is Sand Victor with 8 points from the Pleasanton win. The points allotted are 8, 7 and 6 for 1st, 2nd and 3rd respectively and 5 points for all others. Paddys Day has to just turn up and finish anywhere in the race and the 5-year-old will then be the Triple Jewel winner for the second consecutive year.
Other runners in the fray are Zells Bells, CR Ardiente, Ayers, BY Golly Its Hot, Twice Rich, One Hot Vaz, Raineing Sand and Jess Is On Fire.
Ms Lara Sawaya, Executive Director of HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival, Chairperson of the International Federation of Horse Racing Academies (IFHRA), Chairperson of Ladies & Apprentice Racing Committees in the International Federation of Arabian Horse Racing Authorities (IFAHR) said: “This third and final leg of the prestigious Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Triple Crown series is all set for a thrilling finish. The race has attracted some of the top Purebred Arabians currently racing in the US and a keen competition is on the cards.”
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, IPIC as Strategic Partner, The National Archives as the official partner and Emirates airline as the official carriers, in cooperation with Emirates Racing Authority, IFAHR, Emirates Arabian Horse Society, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, General Authority of Youth and Sports Welfare and sponsored by Al Aweer Stables, Ayadii LLC, Global United Veterinary Services LLC, Bloom, Petromal, Rise General Trading Co. LLC, Hayatna, Wathba Stallions, Abu Dhabi Falconers Club, Emirates Falconers Club, Mohamed Bin Zayed Falconry and Desert Physiognomy School, Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), Al Awani General Enterprises, Kabale, Omeir Travels, Dr Nader Saab Switzerland, Laboratories Fadia Karam Cosmetics, YAS Channel, 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 2016, Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, Eastern Mangroves Suites-Abu Dhabi by Jannah, Anantara Eastern Mangroves Spa and Resort.
~ end supplied report
File picture of Sand Victor winning with Paddys Day (extreme left) in Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Grade II – Emerald Arabian Triple Jewel race in Pleasanton, California, on Saturday, 2 July 2016.