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Wathba Stallions Cup for Private Owners Only in the UAE
A 1400m handicap Wathba Stallions Cup for Private Owners Only, at Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club on February 21, was won stylishly by AF Musannef (AF Al Buraq x Nasemah by Kaolino), representing the Khalid Khalifa Al Nabooda, Ernst Oertel and Tadhg O’Shea team always feared but particularly so in these races. The Champion Jockey always looked in control on the 6yo homebred entire, the pair soon stalking the leaders but always travelling particularly strongly. Turning for home, O’Shea asked for an effort, the response was immediate and the race was over, the horse registering a fourth career success. O’Shea said: “I was drawn in 16 but we found a lovely trip throughout and it sounded like there was a fair few traffic problems in behind so what looked a bad draw turned out a good one.”
AF Falaq (AF Maqam Alezz x AF Sed by Madoua De Piboul) and apprentice Marcelino Rodrigues posted a decisive victory in the 1400m handicap in the Wathba Stallions Cup for Private Owners Only, at Al Ain Racecourse on March 4, scoring for the second time this season for the Al Buraq Syndicate and Ahmed Al Shemaili. The 6yo entire was also successful on his penultimate outing, a 1200m maiden on the turf at Abu Dhabi and was having just his seventh career outing here.
In the Wathba Stallions Cup for Private Owners Only, a 1200m handicap, like so many such races, was dominated by horses trained by Ernst Oertel for Khalid Khalifa Al Nabooda with the owner’s retained jockey, Tadhg O’Shea, picking the right one with AF Majalis (AF Albahar x Khute by Djouras Tu) prevailing cosily from stablemate AF Taghzel. The Al Nabooda duo faced just six rivals and had the race between themselves throughout the final 300m with the consistent AF Majalis taking control over the concluding 100m to record a fifth career success and second this season, at Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club on March 6. A homebred 6yo entire, he has now won four of his six starts over this Abu Dhabi 1200m and O’Shea said: “We had a big weight so I was happy to ease him into the race knowing that he stays 1400m well but this 1200m is probably his best trip and he is a lovely horse to have in the yard as is he is so consistent.”
The opening 1000m Wathba Stallions Cup for Private Owners Only, at Al Ain Racecourse on March 11, was won decisively by RB Super Duty (TM Fred Texas x Dixies Chick by Burning Sand), at Al Ain Racecourse on March 11, able to successfully concede weight to his nine rivals having raced virtually alone on the nearside rail under Antonio Fresu for trainer Ibrahim Al Hadhrami in the colours of Faisal Ali Hamed Aal Fanna. A 7yo entire, he was winning for the third time but first locally and since January 2019 when he recorded his second victory in his native US.
A 2200m handicap Wathba Stallions Cup for Private Owners Only, at Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club on March 14, was won in determined fashion by Reem Baynounah (No Risk Al Maury x Radja Du Paladin by Djouras Tu), hitting the front in the final 150m under Fernando Jara for Mohamed Daggash and Abu Dhabi Racing. In doing so, the 5yo entire was able to concede weight to all his 10 rivals and was following up a 1600m maiden course victory when opening his account at the eighth attempt a month ago. Jara said: “That was a good performance under that weight and I am delighted for connections that this horse has hit some winning form.”
At Al Ain Racecourse on March 18 the opening 1400m handicap Wathba Stallions Cup for Private Owners Only was contested by a capacity field of 15 but very few were ever involved, AF Mozhell (Al Kesbe x Al Saleel by Hatteen) probably never headed under Omani apprentice Saif Al Balushi for owner and trainer Khalifa Al Neyadi. A 7yo entire, Al Neyadi’s charge was winning for the fourth time, all on dirt and recording a third Al Ain success, second over this 1400m.
The 1400m handicap Wathba Stallions Cup for Private Owners Only was won relatively comfortably by Astral Del Sol (Hilal Al Zaman x A l'envolee Del Sol by Kesberoy), apprentice Sean Kirrane in the saddle for Ali Haddad and Al Hadhrami, at Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club on March 20. Settled just behind the early leaders, Kirrane made a decisive move leaving the home turn, pulling his mount wide and he found a willing partner, the pair quickening to the front inside the final 275m with the race soon in safekeeping. The 5yo entire was winning for the fourth time and second locally, both this season over course and distance with Kirrane in the saddle on each time. Kirrane said: “He can be a bit tricky at the start but he has ability and he did that nicely in a better race then the one I won on him before.” Source: Emirates Racing Authority Welcome to Arabian Horse Intl
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