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Solo Restoreto claims Wathba Stud Farm Cup in style

Abu Dhabi - Apprentice Noel Garbutt produced a scintillating late run on the Eric Lemartinel-trained Solo Restoreto to win the 1200m Wathba Stud Farm Cup for the private owners and stables, the fifth race on the card at the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club on Sunday, December 22.

The five-year-old son of former champion Big Easy got up in the concluding stages to deny the mount of Dane O’Neil Dere’A Al Jazeera in shadow of the post.

Being narrowly denied by Safir Bainuna seven days ago, Solo Restoreto was able to bounce back and go one better to land a long overdue victory.

“He’s a very smart well-bred horse. He has been a little bit slow at the start, but he picked up nicely with the progress of the race. There’s more to come from Solo Restoreto in the very near future,” the winning jockey Garbutt said.

Lemartinel, have won this title twice before through Mooser and AF Muall’Aa to make three out of six running of the competition. He commented: “We are all obliged to the HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival. This great initiative by HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs has positively contributed for the enriching of the Arabian breeding and racing industries in the UAE as well as the preservation and promotion of this noble creature around the globe.”

Meanwhile, Manal Al Menhali, representing Invest AD said: “The contribution of the Invest AD in sponsoring the HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival is a national duty and great honour for us. The festival is looking after the Arabian horse races which is part of our heritage and culture which ensures the continuity of the history of this nation among the new generations.”

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 official partner and Emirates airlines as the official carrier and sponsored by Invest AD,  Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC),  Al Rashid Investment, 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