Sharaf Al Reef wins National Day Cup (Group 3)and Madjanthis leads 1-2-3 finish for Oertel in Wathba Cup

Sharaf Al Reef and Fernando Jara

Sharaf Al Reef and Madjanthis won the two races held under the umbrella of the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival as part of the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club Racecourse meeting held on Sunday, December 4, 2016.

Sharaf Al Reef was the surprise winner of the Festival-supported Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Cup Group 3 race while Madjanthis led a 1-2-3 finish for trainer Ernst Oertel in the Festival’s Wathba Stud Farm Cup for Private Owners Only.

In the Group 3 Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Cup hot favourite Thakif failed to fire and wilted in the final 300m having chased a furious gallop set by jockey Jesus Rosales and Hamza.

With half of the eight runners seemingly going too fast throughout the first part of the race, the picture changed dramatically in the final 300 metres when Fernando Jara was able to produce Sharaf Al Reef with a decisive challenge, having been among the back-markers during the first 1200 metres.

Trained by Ahmad Al Hammadi, who was completing a double on the card, Sharaf Al Reef was registering a fifth, and by far most important, career success. All five have come over the 1600m track at Abu Dhabi. 

“Conditions obviously really suit him,” said Jara. “They went quick early on and he has run on strongly in the final 300m to win nicely.”

The handicapper, as well as trainer Ernst Oertel, would have been delighted with the outcome of the 1200m Wathba Stud farm Cup for Private Owners handicap in which Madjanthis was produced fast and late, switching to the far side rail under Antonio Fresu, to snatch a thrilling victory.

Trained by Oertel and something of an enigmatic character, Madjanthis was recording his fourth career success and third in the UAE, all on the Abu Dhabi turf having won once on dirt in his native USA.

Madjanthis and Antonio Fresu

“The trainer said not to try and go through horses so I was keen to avoid traffic,” said Fresu. “They proved to be the perfect instructions.”

Oertel also saddled the second, Ibn Harmany and third, AF Hakeem, to record an impressive 1-2-3.

In other races, Fahadd, owned by HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs won the opener.

While he may not have looked the most willing on just his second career start, Fahadd, still managed to land the spoils in the 1400-metre opener.

Driven throughout the final 300m by Harry Bentley, it was only in the final 50 metres Fahadd, making his turf debut after finishing fifth on dirt at Al Ain first time out, hit the front for trainer Ahmed Al Mehairbi.

“He is inexperienced and can only improve,” said Bentley.

The Listed National Day Cup for Thoroughbreds, was claimed on Sunday evening by jockey, Colm O’Donoghue aboard Championship giving him a first victory as stable jockey for trainer, Ahmad Bin Harmash.

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 with inputs from DRC