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Wadi Al Sail cruises to the Wathba Stud Farm success

Abu Dhabi – Wadi Al Sail, ridden by apprentice Thomas Brown landed the 1400m Purebred Arabians Handicap Wathba Stud Farm Cup- For Private Owners Only, the fifth race of the night at the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club on Sunday, March 9. The winner recorded his second success of the campaign and provided trainer Omar Daraj Mohammed his third winner of the season.

Daraj commented after the eye-catching performance of Wadi Al Sail: ““He’s a promising tough performer who was able to bounce back in nine days after his defeat last time out. I think there’s more to come from him and the season is not yet over for him.”

Apprentice, Thomas Brown added “We were a bit slowly away but he travelled well throughout the race. He took me to the front probably a bit earlier than I wanted but he ran on well enough and seems to be improving

Meanwhile, Jawhar, ridden by Paul Hanagan, led a 1-2-3-4 finish for the stables of Shaikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Minister of Finance and Deputy Ruler of Dubai in the 1600m Ashaab TB Handicap, the only Thoroughbreds event and final on the card. It was also a 1-2 finish for the Red Stables handler Doug Watson.

“He’s an improving horse who has travelled well in a nice gallop,” said the former British champion jockey. “He was suited with the pace. He raced keenly and responded strongly when asked the question in the sprint stage,” he added.

The blue colours of the leading international horse breeder and owner has dominated the scene with eight runners being declared in the 13-horse field. Marc Monaghan set a fast pace on board the Satish Seemar-trained Montmorency and he looked like a winner at one stage. But, he was attacked by Shaikh Hamdan’s quartet in the final stages of the trip and dropped back to end sixth place. The winner raced from the centre of the field and made a smooth progress to join the leading trio and prevail by half a length in front of the mount of Sam Hitchcott, Mujrayaat, with the Musabah Al Muhairi-trained pair Funon (Wayne Smith) and Entifaadha (Harry Bentley) filling the minor places.

The first race, Delma Purebred Arabians Maiden contested over a mile was won by AF Mashref, ridden by Gerald Avranche for the Abu Dhabi-based trainer Eric Lemartinel. The four-year-old filly by AF Al Buraq was eased to a comfortable nearly five lengths victory to seal her first win in five starts.

Egyptian trainer Mohammed Ramdan was over the moon after the Al Ain Equestrian Club Stables handler saddled Ubu Al Mels to earn him his first winner of the season under Royston Ffrench in the 1600m Al Falah Purebred Arabians Handicap. It was Ramadan’s fifth winner in the last five seasons.

Champion jockey Tadhg O’Shea rode RB Dixie Burning to a good win for the South African trainer Ernst Oertel in the 1600m Al Zahia Purebred Arabians Conditions. Oertel completed a double in the subsequent race, a 1600m Al Dana Purebred Arabians Handicap, when Patrick Cosgrave partnered Hab Nessnas to a length and three quarters comfortable victory.

Source: HH SH Mansoor Global Arabian Flat Racing Festival
Photo: Morhaf Al Assaf