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Safir Bainuna steals the show in Wathba Stud Cup

Abu Dhabi – Harry Bentley teamed up with trainer Ahmed Mohammed Al Mehairbi to bring Safir Bainuna home in the Wathba Stud Farm Cup For Private Owners Only, a Purebred Arabians Conditions race which was
contested over a mile at the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club on Sunday, December 15.

“He’s a nice four-year-old well-bred colt by Elios De Carrere,” said a delighted owner and trainer Ahmed Al Mehairbi later. “This is my first win of the season. We are all obliged to HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan for introducing the Wathba Stud races for private owners only. It’s a brilliant initiative that has paid dividends in encouraging and motivating small owners and breeders,” he added.

The same opinion was echoed by Bentley who praised the hard work of Al Mehairbi. “Safir Bainuna was picking up nicely and he showed great speed when asked him to improve in the home turn. I think Al Mehairbi has done a great job to prepare the horse. This colt is full of speed and will be useful even over a longer distance,” he said.

Safir Bainuna covered the mile distance in 1:49:73 seconds before being eased close home to prevail by more than two lengths and walk away with the major share of the Dh50.000 prize-money that has been
provided for the top five finishers by the sponsors Wathba Stud Farm in conjunction with the Liverpool John Moores University.

Sole Restoreto came with a late run to finish second under Noel Garbutt and behind them came the mount of Patrick Dobbs, Al Raahi, to take third.

Meanwhile, Adnan Sultan Al Nuaimi, director general of the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club alongside Sheikh Hamdan Suroor Al Sherqi and Manal Al Menhali, representing Invest AD have crowned the winners after the end of the race.

The HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival is organized by the Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority and co-ordinated by Abu Dhabi Sports Council in association with Emirates Racing Authority, IFAHR and Emirates Arabian Horse Society, supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs , the General Authority for Youth and Sports Welfare and Fegentri with Arabtec Holding PJSC main Sponsor and Emirates airlines as the official carrier and sponsored by Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC), Invest AD, Al Rashid Investment, Areej Al Ameerat, Al Awani General Enterprises, Kabale, Al Wathba Centre, the UAE's General Women's Union, the HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy, Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition 2014, Dr. Nader Saab Switzerland, Al Wathba Center, Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, Eastern Mangroves Suites-Abu Dhabi by Jannah and Racing Post. 

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