Abu Dhabi: Gazel T and the Wathba Stud Farm Cup seem inseparable when it comes to racing at the Jagersro racetrack in Sweden.
The seven-year-old son of Prince d‘Orient registered his fourth successive win in as many years in the Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan (Deputy Prime Minister of UAE and Minister of Presidential Affairs) Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival’s Wathba Stud Farm Cup Group 3 race and lived up to his nickname of the ‘Flying Dutchman’.
The Gerd Zoetelief-owned and trained Gazel T under Jacob Johanson, however, did have to hold on to stave off a fast-finishing Ameretto under Eduardo Pedroza, while in third place was another Zoetelief runner Paramour T.
Gazel T once again demonstrated his love for the tight Jagersro dirt track in the 1,730-metre contest as he raced in his typical style — staying midway and forging ahead in the straight.
Ameretto chased the winner home but fell short by half a length as Gazel T completed the distance in 1.59 minutes.
Gazel T becomes the first horse win four Festival races on the trot.
Zoetelief, the winning owner-trainer, said: “Gazel T is a great champion and to win this Wathba Cup Group 3 race four times is a record. The victory is also a good one as it comes over the Festival’s Triple European Crown winner Ameretto. Johanson did a great job as the jockey.”
Meanwhile, trainer Diana Dorenburg registered yet another victory in the Festival when Fareedha, under Koen Clijmans, won the Wathba Stud Farm Cup race in Ghlin, Belgium.
The 11-horse field was reduced to 10 with Victor playing truant at the starting gates and Fareedha did well to win the 1,500-metre race for owner Mohammad Al Nujaifi.
Shrek OA under Anna van den Troost finished second, while in third place was Bachair Qardabiyah under Anthony Deau.
