Abu Dhabi: British apprentice champion jockey Oisin Murphy teamed up with trainer Ahmad Al Muhairbi to steer AK Adour home in the 14th and penultimate round of the Wathba Stud Farm Cup For Private Owners Only at the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club on Sunday.
The well-bred six-year-old son of Akbar came from nowhere to pass the mount of Royston Ffrench, Abu Al Mels, and storm home unchallenged to prevail by more than three lengths. The winner covered the 1,200 metres in 1min 15.58sec. Sns Mujood, ridden by Silvestre de Sousa, was two-and-a-half lengths back in third place.
Raced by Faisal Al Rahmani and trained by Al Muhairbi in Abu Dhabi, AK Adour was claiming his first win in six starts.
“He’s a kind of improving horse who never gives up and I was confident that it was his day,” said the winning trainer later.
“At last he did it and never put me down. I would like to thank Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister of the UAE and Minister of Presidential Affairs, for encouraging the breeding of this noble creature through the Wathba Stud Farm Cup series.”
Al Rahmani added: “The bonus which is provided by the HH Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Racing Festival is paying off. All breeders and owners are attending the races to promote their breed and this is a great breakthrough.”
Meanwhile, Adnan Sultan Al Nuaimi, director general of the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, and Mosallam Al Amri, director of Al Jazira Stables, presented the prizes and trophies to the winning breeder, owner, trainer and jockey of the winning horse.
