11-year-old Ameer Al Sraya wins Wathba Cup in Al Ain

Ameer Al Sraya showed that at 11 he can still be a force to reckon with and the Khalid Abdulrahman Al Muhairi-owned horse did just that on Friday (January 13) in Al Ain when winning the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival’s Wathba Stud Farm Cup for Private Owners Only race.

The Wathba Stud Farm Cup was the opening 1400m handicap and the Helal Al Alawi-trained Ameer Al Sraya, who was always travelling strongly under UAE Champion Jockey Tadhg O’Shea, won from stablemate Naiem under Patrick Cosgrave while in third place was Al Muwall’Aa under Goran Mesetovic.

It was the 11-year-old Ameer Al Sraya’s 7th win in 66 starts spread over nine years of competitive racing!

“I was fourth on him at Sharjah in November when I thought we were going to win so it is nice to land this one on him,” said O’Shea, who went on to complete a double later in the meeting.

“I think the key is in leaving his challenge as late as possible, which I was able to do today,” he said.

 “Al Ain has been very lucky for me and this is the perfect start to the meeting,” added O’Shea.

O’Shea completed the double with a smooth success on Ifraaj in a 2000m maiden. Recalcitrant before the race, he was a lot better behaved once the gates went back and won easily for the UAE President HH Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and trainer Eric Lemartinel.

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  and sponsored by Al Aweer Stables, 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
Photo: Morhaf Al Assaf