Nabooda-owned Al Sally wins Wathba Cup

Owner and breeder Khalid Khalifa Al Nabooda tasted success in the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival’s Wathba Stud Farm Cup race held in Abu Dhabi on Sunday, January 3, 2016.

The prominent Emirati owner-breeder’s impressive AF Al Sally won for the second time this season, landing the night's edition of the Al Wathba Stud Farm Cup (1200m).

Trained at Oasis Stables in Dubai by Musabah Al Muhairi and ridden by stable jockey Fernando Jara the five-year-old settled in midfield before looming up dangerously entering the straight.

Jara did not need to get too serious to send him to the front before powering home to win decisively.

“He is a nice horse. “I was always pretty happy during the race and he won nicely. He has not had much racing and can hopefully continue improving,” the winning jockey said.

It was a night of celebration when Her Highness Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women's Union, Supreme President of the Family Development Foundation (FDF) and Head of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood acknowledged the tremendous efforts of 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).

HH Sheikha Fatima honored Ms Lara Sawaya for her active role in promoting the equestrian and women sport and contributing to success of all events at the global level.

M/S Sawaya received a Certificate of Thanks & Appreciation to this effect from HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak which was presented to her by Ms Alia Mohamed from the General Women’s Union during the race meeting at the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club on Sunday night.

HH Sheikha Fatima honours Ms Sawaya

Sawaya thanked the Mother of the Nation for allowing her to work with Her Highness and said that the team is truly obliged to the strong support and backing of Her Highness to the women sport in general and the UAE women in particular.

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