Oman raider BF Mughader scores in Wathba Stallions Cup in Abu Dhabi

Ace jockey Tadhg O’Shea continued his impressive run in the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival’s Wathba Stallions Cup For Private Owners Only race series with another win in Abu Dhabi on Sunday, December 10.

O’Shea, who won Al Ain’s Wathba Stallions Cup race on Friday with AF Sanad, registered a smooth victory on BF Mughader in the 2200 metre handicap in the UAE capital on Sunday.

Victorious once in his native Oman, BF Mughader was opening his local account at the third attempt having been second, then third, on his previous two, both at Abu Dhabi.

Saddled by Ibrahim Al Hadhrami, he was always travelling supremely well for O’Shea who followed Pat Cosgrave and Shivan OA through before sweeping past with about 200m left to run. MH Tawag under Gerald Avranche ran into second place pushing Shivan OA to third in the Dh 80,000 race.

“It has been a good evening,” said a beaming O’Shea who recorded three wins in the meeting. “We were drawn out in 14 but I was able to get across and into a nice position after which everything went pretty smoothly.

“I thought Pat’s horse was a big danger so was happy to stalk him and they took me nicely into the race after which my fellow picked up well to win in a bit of style.”

With seven winners over the weekend, having partnered one at Meydan and another treble at Al Ain, O’Shea has joined Pat Cosgrave on 15 at the top of the jockeys’ championship.

Ms. Lara Sawaya, Executive Director of the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival, General Manager of Wathba Stallions, Chairperson of the International Federation of Horse Racing Academies (IFHRA), Chairperson of Ladies & Apprentice Racing Committees in the International Federation of Arabian Horse Racing Authorities (IFAHR), Adnan Sultan Al Nuaimi- Director General of the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club and Khalid Khalifa Al Naboodah gave away the trophies to the winning connections.

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 carriers, Al Massood Automobiles and Nissan Middleast as official car partners, 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 Ayadi LLC, Global United Veterinary Services LLC,  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, 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 2018, 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
Photos: Morhaf Al Assaf