Dubai: Slovakian jockey Michal Abik claimed the honour of winning the first Wathba Stud Farm Cup race in Samorin, Slovakia, when he rode the German-bred S Maran to victory on Saturday.
Abik rode a fine race aboard the eight-year-old to finish ahead of British raider Adding, the mount of amateur jockey Carolin Stummer, while the Jaroslav Linek-ridden Takiro Ibn Mirokan finished third.
A strong field of six horses contested the 2,000-metre contest.
The Wathba Stud Farm Cup race was held under the banner of the Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival, which is striving to promote Arabian racing around the world.
Adnan Sultan Al Nuaimi, Director General of the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, attended the race and gave away the trophies to the winning connections.
“It is a good start and the Arabian racing fraternity here in Slovakia expressed happiness over the staging of the Wathba Stud Farm Cup here in Samorin,” he said.
Lara Sawaya, Executive Director of the Festival, added: “Slovakia has joined other countries like the US, UK, Netherlands, Poland, Sweden, Switzerland, Belgium and France, as well as Abu Dhabi, in staging the Wathba Stud Farm Cup series in 2014.
“This is another step forward in helping boost the growth of Arabian horse racing around the globe.”
The Festival is organised by the Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority and coordinated by Abu Dhabi Sports Council in association with Emirates Racing Authority, IFAHR and Emirates Arabian Horse Society.
