More home-bred success for Khalid Al Naboodah

Abu Dhabi, UAE - Khalid Khalifa Al Naboodah is enjoying an amazing season as an owner with horses he has bred himself, mostly by his own sire, AF Al Buraq.

AF Maqayes, a 4-year-old son of AF Al Buraq, 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 race course on March 7, 2016.

AF Maqayes won by a length from the Ernst Oertel’s AF Laja under David Probert with Al Shabab under Royston Ffrench finishing third.

AF Maqayes, trained by Ali Rashid Al Raihe, was winning for the fifth time this season in a 1000 metres turf handicap under Tadhg O’Shea.

It was Khalid Khalifa Al Naboodah's 21st success of the campaign.

The four-year-old has now won all three times he has tackled the minimum trip, adding this victory to success at Sharjah and Al Ain.

“He is a grand little horse,” said O’Shea. “He should improve as he has only had eight starts. I think he will now go for the Ruler Of Sharjah Trophy, their biggest race, next weekend.”

Earlier in the meeting Al Naboodah, who sold AF Mathmoon to HH Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance, saw his former horse win the Group 1 Liwa Oasis (1400m) under Paul Hanagan.

The five-year-old grey hit the front about 200 metres from home and was never going to be caught. He was registering his fifth win from just six starts and protecting unbeaten records, both on turf and over 1400m.

The AF Albahar son’s first three career wins were achieved in the colours of his breeder, Khalid Khalifa Al Naboodah.

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, with National Feed and Flour Production and Marketing Co. LLC as associate sponsors, IPIC as Strategic Partner, The  National Archives as the official partner and Emirates airline as the official carriers, in cooperation with Emirates Racing Authority, IFAHR, Emirates Arabian Horse Society, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, General Authority of Youth and Sports Welfare with  and sponsored by Ayadii LLC, Global United Veterinary Services LLC, Bloom, Petromal, Rise General Trading Co. LLC, Hayatna, Wathba Stallions, Abu Dhabi Falconers Club, Emirates Falconers Club,  Mohamed Bin Zayed Falconry and Desert Physiognomy School, Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), Al Awani General Enterprises, Kabale, Omeir Travels, Dr Nader Saab Switzerland , Laboratories Fadia Karam Cosmetics, YAS Channel, Racing Post, Paris Turf,  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 2016,  Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, Eastern Mangroves Suites-Abu Dhabi by Jannah, Anantara Eastern Mangroves Spa and Resort.

Source: HH SH Mansoor Global Arabian Flat Racing Festival / Satya Narayan