Madjanthis gives Apprentice jockey Fitzpatrick
first win in the UAE

HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Festival’s Wathba Stud Farm Cup

The Ernst Oertel -trained Madjanthis under Apprentice jockey Robert Fitzpatrick won the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival’s Wathba Stud Farm Cup for Private Owners Only at the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club racecourse on Sunday.

For Apprentice Fitzpatrick, it was his first UAE winner at the eighth attempt. The five-year-old son of the great Madjani, Madjanthis last won in Houston in the USA in April last year. Since coming over to the UAE the Khaled Al Taher-owned Madjanthis had two runs in Al Ain before winning Sunday’s race, December 6.

 Taking over the running with about two furlongs to go, Madjanthis under Fitzpatrick won with about three lengths to spare from Al Shabab under George Buckell with Tm Ac-Dc under Christopher Hayes in third place. For Apprentice Fitzpatrick, it was his first UAE winner at the eighth attempt.

Earlier in the evening, Areem was far too good for his ten rivals in the Group 3 Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Cup, for Purebred Arabians.

The now seven-year old winner of the Group 1 National Day Cup (renamed this year as Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Jewel Crown) in both 2012 and 2013, as well as finishing second in the race last year made virtually every yard of the running under Richard Mullen.

Showing all his old verve and dash, Mullen’s mount always looked to be going best of all bowling along in front before putting distance between himself and the rest on the final bend.

With the remainder toiling, Areem was never going to be caught to the visible delight of his trainer Nacer Samiri celebrating his first big race winner in the UAE.

When winning the prep for this race three weeks ago, Areem became the first winner to sport the silks of owner Sheikh Hamdan bin Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

“He loves to jump out in front and put the opposition to the sword,” said Mullen. “He is obviously not as young as he was but he loves it around here and was always going strongly for me and he just galloped all the way to the line.

“It is great to ride a winner for young HH Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mansoor who now has two wins from two runs to his name.

“I am just grateful for such a quality spare ride and must thank Wayne Smith for putting my name forward.”

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