Loraa strikes with President’s Cup win in UAE

PHOTOS

First Group 1 winner for owner HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mansoor Al Nahyan

Abu Dhabi, UAE - Loraa, a 7-year-old chestnut mare by one of the UAE’s top locally-bred star Mawood, finally regained her Group 1 winning form of Europe with a fantastic win in the HH The President Cup, the AED 3 million Group 1 contest for Purebred Arabians at the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club racecourse on Sunday, February 12.

Loraa, running in the colours of young HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, lived up to the hopes of trainer Jean De Roaulle who expected a good run on Sunday.

Jockey Richard Mullen, the jockey’s ambassador for HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival, enjoyed a great night, winning four races, including both versions of HH The President Cup, but the highlight was the win on Loraa.

Third in the course and distance prep three weeks ago, Loraa had arrived in the UAE as a Group 1 winner in France but, reportedly, had not enjoyed a smooth transition. 

Settled in midfield by Mullen, Loraa made easy progress 800m from home and, at the top of the straight, hit the front with the race essentially over as a contest. Sniper De Monlau finished second under Royston Ffrench.

“She is a very special mare who has had a few problems,” said De Roualle. “I was delighted with her third in the prep race as I knew she would be in perfect condition tonight which was the main target.

“Hopefully we will now go for the Kahayla Classic at Meydan Racecourse on the Dubai World Cup card.”

Mullen said: “This is a great training performance as Jean did tell me before the race to expect a massive run from her. He was certainly right and that was a big performance.” 

Loraa was winning for the first time in her third local start which took her tally to seven wins from 16 career starts. She has also either finished second or third seven times.

Half an hour earlier, with seven runners in the maximum field of 16, Satish Seemar always seemed to hold the edge in the Listed Thoroughbred version of HH The President Cup and his Akeed Champion, under jockey, Mullen, ran out the impressive winner. 

Sunday also saw the running of the Wathba Stud Farm Cup for Private Owners and once again it was breeder-owner Khalid Khalifa Al Naboodah who ended up in the winner’s enclosure.

Madjanthis, trained by Ernst Oertel, scored in the Dh 70,000 race. Oertel completed a double with Antonio Fresu the victorious jockey aboard Madjanthis who led close home to win a 1400m handicap.

“This horse has to be ridden patiently and produced late so that was always my plan,” said Fresu.

Oertel added: “I was actually pretty hopeful as we gave this horse a bit of a rest and he has benefitted from that.”

It was then a treble for the trainer and a quartet for Mullen when AF Thobor landed the concluding 1200m handicap, completing a double for owner and breeder Al Naboodah.

Mussalam Al Amri received the President’s Cup on behalf of HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mansoor while Khalid Al Naboodah received the Wathba Stud Farm Cup for Private owners. Adnan Sultan Al Nuaimi, ADEC Director General and 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) along with sponsors representatives attended the prize distribution.

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: Cidinha Franzão