MH Areeb wins Wathba Cup in Al Ain

MH Areeb scored a smart win for owner-breeder Mansoor Khalifa Sultan Bin Habtoor in the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival’s Wathba Stud Farm Cup For Private Owners race held on Saturday, January 29 at the Al Ain race course.

The 7-year-old chestnut was ridden by Tadhg O’Shea and together they struck in the opening race od Saturday’s meeting outclassing a 15-horse field over the distance of 1600-metres.

Trained by MH Stable-based Elise Jeanne, it was a fifth career victory but first over 1600 metres and second at Al Ain for the experienced winner.

The pair was in mid-division during the halfway stage and with about 300 metres left began to make the move. It was with about 100 metres left that O’Shea got MH Areeb in front and the winner sped away to win by over two lengths from NS Shamikh under Christopher Hayes. Hakim under Patrick Dobbs finished third in the Dh 70,000 handicap for Purebred Arabians.

“It is obviously the best possible start to the afternoon and Elise does well with the horses she has,” said O’Shea, who went on to register a double along with Fernando Jara and trainer Eric Lemartinel in the meeting.

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