Houston: Oman's Fatima Al Manji and the UAE's Shathra Al Hajjaj spent a few nervous hours before the race, then had to overcome poor starts, but the two lady jockeys did the region proud by finishing first and third in the richest and the first-ever ladies flat race held in the US.
The two Gulf lady jockeys were not sure which horses they would be riding, before Fatima was finally named to ride Sanddpiper instead of Explosive Heat MHF, while the up and coming Emirati Shathra was due to be on Dixies Valentine, one of the pre-race favourites before it was scratched on the eve of the race.
And when the seven-furlong $25,000 Her Highness Shaikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies IFAHR Cup race started, Fatima on Sanddpiper missed the break, while Shathra on Rich Kinkga was slow out of the blocks.
TM Superbird under American jockey Sandee Beattie, the hot favourite after Dixies Valentine's withdrawal, hit the front and led for most of the race. But Al Manji, who has experience from seven wins at home in Oman, kept Sanddpiper close to the leader and then made a move once they turned for home.
Trained and owned by Bill Waldron, the five-year-old mare just kept surging ahead and, despite a second run by TM Superbird, the Omani stayed ahead and won by more than two lengths.
Caught in traffic
Shathra on Richa Kinkga did well to run into third place after being caught in the traffic.
"The trainer told me to listen to my horse, but I was not very confident after a poor start. However, she started to move well and I sensed I had a chance. When I pressed him he moved away and it was a great win, my biggest and best," said the 24-year-old Omani.
Shathra who has spent most of her time with Fatima during their US trip, was equally excited about her friend's win as she was about her own third place.
"When I saw the other horses hit the front I wanted to go, but it was a poor start and then I was near the rails and could not move out," said the Emirati jockey.
"Somehow I managed to bide my time and once I got an opening on the home stretch, the horse showed a fine turn of foot and I finished well," said Shathra who was unseated after she crossed the finish line.
Winning owner-trainer Waldron, whose Grilla finished fourth in the Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Cup, said, "I am happy but this win in no way makes up for Grilla's fourth place finish."
