Abu Dhabi - Top Brazilian jockey Silvestre De Sousa continued his winning partnership with Al Falah Stables’ handler Saifaldin Deeb in the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival’s Wathba Stud Farm Cup race series in Abu Dhabi.

The jockey-trainer pair were at it for the second successive race in the series and this time it was Al Waqqaad that won the fifth race of the HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival’s the Wathba Stud Farm Cup For Private Owners Only, a Purebred Arabian Conditions contest at the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club on Sunday, December 14.

The six-year-old son of Nizam got up very strongly in the concluding stages to prevail by a short head in front of Ain Jaloot from Eric Lemartinel’s yard and ridden by  Gerald Avranche in a tight finish at the busy end.

The winner covered the distance in 1:46:00 seconds to cross the line in front of Ain Jaloot as Wazn was 11 lengths away in third place under Royston Ffrench.

Deeb had last week saddled Najem S’Heel to win the fourth race of the series in the hands of De Sousa over a shorter distance at the same venue.

De Sousa commented: “Mr. Deeb is obviously a very good trainer and his horses always merit respect in these races.”

Mr. Adnan Sultan Al Nuaimi, director general of the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club and Ms Lara Sawaya, Executive Director of the HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival, Chairman of International Federation of Horse Racing Academies (IFHRA), Chairman of Ladies Racing Committee in the International Federation of Arabian Horse Racing Authorities (IFAHR) and Chairman of Apprentice Jockeys & Racing in IFAHR presented the prizes and trophies to the winners.

Trainer Saifaldin Deeb received the prize and special bonus of Dh10.000 on behalf of the owner and breeder of the winning horse Abdul Aziz Al Owais and commented: “We are all obliged to HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs for his far-sighted vision to promote the breeding and owning of Arabian horses in the UAE and other parts of the world. The special prize-money which is provided by the HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival over and above the prize-money for the winning owner, trainer and jockey to support the breeding and owning of this noble creature will doubtless motivate more interested parties to join the industry.”

The HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival is organised by the Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority and coordinated 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 of Youth and Sports Welfare with Arabtec Holding PJSC as the Official Partner and Emirates airline as the official carriers and sponsored by Invest AD, Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC), Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), 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, Abu Dhabi Sports Channel, National Archives and Racing Post.

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