Latifa Princess gives handler Aske second win

Wathba Stud Farm Cup in Al Ain

Al Ain became freshman trainer Veronica Aske’s favourite hunting ground when the she saddled the winner in the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival’s Wathba Stud Farm Cup for the second time in a row.

Aske was the winning trainer when Latifa Princess made it two wins from as many starts prevailing by a length in the 1400mWathba Stud Farm Cup for Private Owners handicap race on December 12.

Arguably one of the easiest winners of the campaign thus far when making all in a 1000m Al Ain handicap just over three weeks ago, the Faisal Seddiq Al Muwata-owned Latifa Princess had to work a bit harder on this occasion but still won with a something in hand.

Sam Hitchcott was again in the saddle and the combination led pretty much from the outset.

“She won very well last time and we were pretty hopeful today,” said Aske. “She had won over 1400m before, on her debut just over three years ago, but the trip was a bit of a concern today.

“She clearly loves it here and is in great form so we will try and find another opportunity for her with her versatility regarding trip a bonus.

“She has not been the most consistent and does not particularly travel well to the races so we will stay here, where she is trained, and probably drop back to 1000m,” Aske said.

Ms Lara Sawaya, Executive Director of the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival, Chairperson of the International Federation of Horse Racing Academies (IFHRA) and Chairperson of Ladies & Apprentice Racing Committees in the International Federation of Arabian Horse Racing Authorities (IFAHR) along with Pat Buckley, Racing Director of ADEC gave away the trophies.

The HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival is sustained by the Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority and coordinated by Abu Dhabi Sports Council in cooperation with Emirates Racing Authority, IFAHR, Emirates Arabian Horse Society, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, General Authority of Youth and Sports Welfare with The National Archives as the official partner and Emirates airline as the official carriers and sponsored by Invest AD, National Feed and Flour Production and Marketing Co. LLC, Bloom, Petromal, Rise General Trading Co. LLC, Hayatna, Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC),  Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), Al Awani General Enterprises, Kabale, Al Wathba Centre, the UAE's General Women's Union, The Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, the HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy, Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition 2015, Dr. Nader Saab Switzerland, Al Wathba Center, Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, Eastern Mangroves Suites-Abu Dhabi by Jannah, Yas Channel, Omeir Travels, Racing Post Paris Turf and Laboratories Fadia Karam Cosmetics.

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