Dutch lady steers Warrawee Naaziq to victory in Caulfield, Australia

Australia marked its National Day on January 26  and their Australia Day race meeting was kick-started by the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival’s HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship (IFAHR) race  at the Caulfield Racecourse in Victoria.

One of the largest bands of racing fans watched the Purebred Arabian horses display their racing skills under lady jockeys drawn from all over the world.

Despite the presence of two professional jockeys it was Dutch lass Cindy Klinkenberg on last year’s winner and race favourite Warrawee Naaziq finishing first in a close battle to win the Euros 30,000 (Approx. $43,500 AUD) event run over a mile’s distance.

It was one of the two professional jockeys, Mina You of Korea on the Anthony Mountney-trained Coolinda Park Winston who led for most part of the race and looked headed for home. But the 11-year-old Warrawee Naaziq, trained and owned by Kim Noble, showed his class when he made his move under Klinkenberg with about two furlongs to go and then caught and overtook the leader with about half a length to spare and score another superb win.

Trainer Mountney’s horses Coolinda Park Winston and Justice For All under German lady jockey Eva Maria Herresthal finished second and third.

The winning time for the 1600-metre race was 1.54.63 and it was the fifth win in 9 starts for Warrawee Naaziq.

The Dutch jockey was thrilled with her win and said ,” I always thought I had a chance as Warrawee Naaziq was the favourite. He responded well in the final stages and I am glad I won.”

Klinkenberg has now qualified to take a shot at the HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship (IFAHR) title race which will be held in November in Abu Dhabi and contested by winners of all the rounds preceding it.

Jake Norton, General Manager of Racing at the Melbourne Racing Club, said, “It is great that HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship (IFAHR) races are being run in Australia. It helps us develop international relations.”

“There are quite a few Arabian horses in Australia and for this race we have them coming from all parts of the country,” he 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), gave away the trophies along with other local and UAE Embassy officials.

“We have always enjoyed the hospitality of  Australia and to stage our race on one of their prestigious race meetings is good for Purebred Arabian racing as well as the lady jockeys,” she said.

“The thrilling finish in today’s race showed that Purebred Arabian horses are great race horses,” Ms Sawaya added.

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