Aoun wins Sheikh Zayed Cup in Morocco

Marrakesh, Morocco - Aoun, a Mahabb colt owned by Yas Horse Racing Management, won the Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Cup (Listed) race which was one of the four races organized by the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival at the Marrakesh race course in Morocco on Tuesday, April 24, 2018. 

Ridden by Roberto-Carlos Montenegro, the Antoine De Watrigant – trained Aoun finished ahead of Metrag under Jerome Cabre while in third place was Dalsimata Cole ridden by Khalid Abba.

The Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Cup (Listed) race was the feature event and carried a prize fund of Euros 35,000 and was contested over 1900 metres.

French lady rider Marie Lemartinel and Omani Apprentice Abdul Aziz Al Balushi won their respective races earlier in the day to qualify for the finals to be held in Abu Dhabi in November.

Marie Lemartinel on Asraa Oum Rabie

Lemartinel, riding Asraa Oum Rabie, won the HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship race. The 1900-metre race with a prize fund of Euros 30,000 saw ten lady jockeys from around the world compete for a place in the grand final in Abu Dhabi.

Germany’s Eva Herresthal on Kouhayl Bouskoura and  Croatia’s Sara Giavarini on Rahmamiate l’Atlas finished second and third respectively.

In the 1600-metre HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Apprentice World Championship race which carried a prize fund of Euros 20,000, it was Oman’s Abdul Aziz Al Balushi who topped on Dalile Maamora. Belgium’s Felice Jacobs on Nachwan Ras Al Maa finished second followed by Spanish Apprentice Ignacio Melgarego on Charmsper.

Abdul Aziz Al Balushi on Dalile Maamora

The fourth race supported by the Festival was the Wathba Stallions Cup and Rachid Amenai on Fawzi Al Mels won this Euros 5000 race. Hamoodah Hadouch under Jaouad Kayate and Ourz Fal under Khalid Ibba finished second and third respectively.

HE Ali Salem Al Kaabi the UAE Ambassador to Morocco, Ms. Lara Sawaya, Executive Director of 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) and Musallam Al Ameri, Director of Yas Horse Racing Management attended the prize distribution ceremony.

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, The National Archives as the official partner and Emirates airline as the official carrier,  in cooperation with Emirates Racing Authority, IFHRA, IFAHR, Emirates Arabian Horse Society, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Abu Dhabi Youth Council, General Authority for Sports and sponsored by Ayadi LLC, Global United Veterinary Services LLC,  Nissan Middleast  Al Massood Automobiles, Nirvana Travels and Tourism LLC, Equicare Veterinary Services, Alawal Stud, Cavalos Equine Care & Supplies, SET Sustainable Environmental Technologies, Al Awani General Enterprises, Omeir Travels, Kabale, YAS Channel, Abu Dhabi Falconers Club, Emirates Falconers Club,  Mohammed Bin Zayed Falconry and Desert Physiognomy School,  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 2018, Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, Anantara Eastern Mangroves Spa and Resort.

Source: HH SH Mansoor Festival / Satya Narayan
Photos: Morhaf Al Assaf