Yalap Al Naif wins Al Ain Wathba Stallions Cup

The HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival’s Wathba Stallions Cup For Private Owners Only race opened Friday’s (February 2) card at the Al Ain race course with a Handicap over 1800 metres.

An impressive win by Yalap Al Naif served notice that his trainer Helal Al Alawi has his team back in form after a quiet spell having made a flying start to the season. Settled in the middle of the 14 runners by Anas Al Siyabi, he always appeared to be travelling well and, when asked to challenge by his jockey made smooth progress before hitting the front 300m from home after which they never looked in any danger.

Yalap Al Naif won by nearly three lengths with Jiniz under Patrick Dobbs finishing second and Cristal Des Vialettes under Gerald Avranche in third place.

It was a fourth career success for Yalap Al Naif but first for almost exactly a year when he won a 1600m handicap, also at Al Ain.

Trainer Al Alawi said: “We know the horse likes it here at Al Ain and were hopeful he would run well. He has actually won nicely and it is a great start to the afternoon.”

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 for Sports 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 Festival / Satya Narayan
Photos: Morhaf Al Assaf