21 September 2014, California ~ Valiant Boy SBFAR (Darweesh) is the latest superstar of purebred Arabian racing in the US. Bred by His Highness Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan in France, the 6-year-year old grey scored an astounding victory in the first running of the HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival’s Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Cup at the Los Alamitos race track here in Los Angeles on Saturday night (20 September).
After Ms Dixie was scratched from the race, fans looked forward to another contest between Valiant Boy SBFAR and RB Champagne Taste but the former was too good for the third time they met head to head.
Coming on the back of two Group 1 wins earlier this year, Valiant Boy SBFAR, trained by Charles Treece, decimated his opposition once they headed for the home stretch in the 1600-metre contest. This was Guce’s first ride on the grey that ended with an easy win as RB Champagne Taste took second place and Ayers the third spot. Valiant Boy SBFAR won the dirt contest in 1:45.84.
It was Valiant Boy SBFAR’s seventh win on the trot bringing his career record to 11 wins in 19 starts.
“The trainer told me to just let him settle down but Valiant Boy wanted to run from the quarter-mile pole itself. I had to hold him back and once we hit the bend I let him go and the race was all but over. He is the best Arabian horse I have ever ridden,” said winning jockey Guce.
Liz Collard, representing the winning yard said, “We came here to support this race and the horse was in superb form. He showed a fine turn of foot and we hope he continues his great form.”
Also ran:
RB Burn Baby Burn, Lil Rich Girl, In X Hess, By Golly Its Hot
HE Abdulla Ali Al Saboosi, UAE Consul General based in Los Angeles, Sheikh Ahmed bin Hamad Al Hamad and Sheikh Saeed bin Hamad Al Hamad attended the races and the prize distribution along with officials of the Arabian Racing Association of California.
Lara Sawaya, Executive Director of the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival and Chairman of Ladies Racing Committee in the International Federation of Arabian Horse Racing Authorities (IFAHR) said, “With Arabian racing just having returned to Los Alamitos after a gap of seven years, fans here today witnessed a champion horse in action.We are looking forward to our return here in Los Alamitos when this track hosts the third race in the Triple Jewel series – the Festival’s new series for 2015 for Purebred Arabian horses in the US.”