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It was an Emirati show at the Ascot race course on Saturday,
July 25, 2009, with the Emirates Equestrian
Federation-sponsored The President of the UAE Cup (Group 1)
race, the first-ever Arabian race to be held here in 300
years, finishing on a huge note of success. |
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Saudi Arabian raider Nayef Al Khalidiah, whose trainer
Jean-Francois Bernard, who made it a 1-2 in this Arabian Derby
of the UK last year, came up with a brilliant run to topple
the strongly fancied General, a full brother of the recent
Newbury winner Al Dahma, with Raked, owned by Sheikh Mansour
bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of
Finance, running an equally good race to finish third.
Held soon after the prestigious King George VI and Queen
Elizabeth Stakes, the nearly-30,000 crowd at Ascot cheered the
13 runners in the President of the UAE Cup (Group 1) race.
The race has attracted some of the best 4-year old Purebred
Arabians and winning trainer Jean-Francois Bernard said, “This
is a exciting moment for us. To come and win a race at Ascot
is a great honour and I am happy that this race was held on
this big day.”
“I knew it was a tough race but I was confident of Nayef’s
win. I may run him in the Arc in France, said the French
trainer.
Earlier in the day, UAE businessman Saeed Manana and trainer
Clive
Brittain completed a big-race double after Al Muheer sprang a
40-1 shock in the Abu Dhabi International Stakes.
Manana’s Nideeb won earlier in the day to complete a grand
double for the Emirati owner. More success for the UAE came
when the Jaber Abdullah-owned Lady Of The Desert won the
Princess Margaret Abu Dhabi Stakes.
However, in King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, the
feature event of the day, Sir Michael Stoute watched all three
of his runners lead the strong field and finish 1-2-3. Ryan
Moore on Conduit, the favourite, beat back a strong challenge
from stable mates Tartar Bearer and Ask to give the veteran
trainer a fantastic result in the £750,000 race run over 12
furlongs.
With the Emirates Equestrian Federation along with the Abu
Dhabi Tourism Authority putting up Abu Dhabi banners all over
the course, Saturday’s history-making day of racing was a huge
show.
Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Deputy Ruler and
Minister of Finance. attended the race along with many other
leading UAE owners and officials.
“Today’s The President of the UAE Cup showed the world what
Purebred Arabians are capable of. Some of the trainers said
they were just delighted to be part of this first-ever race at
Ascot,” said Taleb Dhaher Al Muhairi, Secretary General of the
Emirates Equestrian Federation.
“This will grow into a strong race for 4-year-olds Arabians as
their owners chalk out plans to target their runners at bigger
races like the Dubai Kahayla Classic and the other big Group 1
races,” Al Muhairi added. |
