Torrez trio aim for victory in Festival’s Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Cup

Festival's 2017 races in Houston

Trainer Jerenesto Torrez is strongly represented by a trio of horses in the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival’s Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Cup-Grade 1race to be held at Sam Houston Race Park, Houston Texas on Saturday, March 3, 2018.

In Saturday’s race trainer Torrez has a classy trio which includes Easter Man under Rodolfo Guerra, RB Nash under Keiber Coa and Quick Sand AA under Quincy Hamilton. Easter Man and Quick Sand AA had finished second and third respectively to Paddys Day in this race last year.  

Leading the challenge to the Torrez trio will be the Lynn Ashby-trained Uptown Flying Flynn under Sasha Risenhoover. Uptown Flying Flynn won the Grade 3, $20,000 Texas-Six Shooter for Arabian colts and geldings here a month ago and is expected to run a big race in Saturday’s US $ 48,500 race. 

Other runners in the race are Sammy V under Ernesto Valdez Jiminez, Lil Dude AA under Chris Rosier, Big Cork under Anardis Rodriquez, RB Hocus Pocus under Jason Eads, Zells Bells under Ivan Arellano and Mystical MHF under Adrian Ramos.

Prior to the Sheikh Zayed Cup, ten lady jockeys from around the world will compete in the HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship race.

RB Kinkie Boots under Dutch lady jockey Cindy Klinkenberg, WMA Success Symbol under Ireland’s Jeannie Cook, Mahra under Danila Cherio from Italy, Sabres Edge under Tracy Meneut from France, Sand Token under Germany’s Monique Luebcke, Uptown Sandy Girl under Sweden’s Tina Henriksson, Pams Masquerade under UK’s Antonia Peck, RB Gaim Changer under Zoe Valvo from the US, Burning Vaz under Willa Schou from Norway and Last Call MHF under Hungarian Polett Nagy are the ten in the fray.

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) said, “Houston is a very important racing venue for the Festival and has been a long time partner in hosting our races. The two races have attracted some of the best Arabians currently racing in the US and we expect thrilling contests.”
“Last year the HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Flat Racing Festival and the Wathba Stallion Cup Series had announced that all our races will be Lasix free. Since then that rule has been implemented. The Arabian Jockey Club is in complete support and we hope our efforts lead toward Lasix free racing for all Arabian races,” Ms Sawaya added.

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, Abu Dhabi Youth Council, General Authority for Sports and sponsored by Ayadi LLC, Global United Veterinary Services LLC,  Nirvana Travels and Tourism LLC, Wathba Stallions, Abu Dhabi Falconers Club, Emirates Falconers Club,  Mohamed Bin Zayed Falconry and Desert Physiognomy School, Al Awani General Enterprises, Kabale, Omeir Travels, 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 Festival / Satya Narayan
Photos: Morhaf Al Assaf