Mahabb-sired Shateh breaks Meydan track record in Group 2 Bani Yas

Shateh is more than five lengths clear of runner-up AF Mathmoon to claim the Group 2 Bani Yas for Purebred Arabians in course record time

Another success for Wathba Stallions

In a superb display of speed, Shateh, a horse bred by HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister of the UAE and Minister of Presidential Affairs and running in the colours of his son HH Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, demolished his rivals including Kahayla Classic winner AF Mathmoon in the Group 2 Bani Yas at the Meydan racecourse on Thursday, December 1.

Ridden by Patrick Dobbs, Shateh recorded a five-and-three-quarter length over AF Mathmoon under Dubai World Cup winning jockey Fernando Jara and in the bargain shattered the 1400-metre track record at Meydan.

Shateh, a 7-year-old son of Mahabb completed the 7-furlong distance in 1:30.25, bettering the 2013 record created by the HH Sheikh Mansoor-owned Rakha, another daughter of Mahabb, the UAE-bred stallion that is currently standing at Wathba Stallions.

In Thursday’s 1400-metre Bani Yas presented by Longines Passion in Equestrian, all eyes were on AF Mathmoon, the winner of this race in 2016 who is trained by Musabbeh Al Mheiri at Oasis Stables who went on to win the Dubai Kahayla Classic on Dubai World Cup day.

However, dropping back to 1400m did not seem to suit him and his jockey, Fernando Jara, was soon niggling at him whereas Dobbs, aboard the Majed Al Jahouri-trained Shateh, always looked happy.

Jumped straight to the front by Dobbs, sporting the colours of HH Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Shateh shot clear 700m out and was never to be headed.

AF Mathmoon held second but never threatened to bridge the gap to the winner, with Burning Breeze snatching a distant third late home.

“Shateh is a genuine Group 1 horse and this was only his fourth dirt start,” said Al Jahouri. “He was second on his three other dirt runs, once behind Al Mathmoon in this race last season.

“Al Mathmoon also beat Shateh on turf at Abu Dhabi in the Group 1 Liwa Oasis, but we received weight from him today.

“Shateh has won at 1400m before but we thought he was more of a sprinter so he has surprised me a bit tonight.

“We will probably have to try the 1600m of the Group 1 Al Maktoum Challenge R1 next,” said Al Jahouri.

It is another success for the Wathba Stallions, set up as the breeding arm of the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival which is headed by Ms. Lara Sawaya.

Ms Sawaya, who is also the Executive Director of the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival, Chairperson of the Int’l Federation of Horse Racing Academies (IFHRA) and Chairperson of Ladies & Apprentice Racing Committees in the International Federation of Arabian Horse Racing Authorities (IFAHR) expressed her delight with Shateh’s record-breaking performance.

“We congratulate HH Sheikh Mansoor the young owner HH Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan on the winning run of Shateh against quality opposition,” she said.

Shateh’s sire Mahabb is one of our top stallions with proven winning by his progeny and is currently standing at Wathba Stallions, she stated.

“Semen from stallions owned by HH Sheikh Mansoor including Mahabb, his sire Taher De Candelon, in addition to Munjiz, Sire D’albret, Mawood, Quazar and Sarrab to mention a few, is provided by Wathba Stallions to Purebred Arabian horse breeders around the globe,” Ms Sawaya said. 

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 and DRC / Satya Narayan
Photo: Dubai Racing Club//Andrew Watkins