Dubai: Pandoro, ridden by Anthony Deau, came full of running in the concluding stages to land the 1800m Wathba Stud Farm Cup (PA Maiden) at the Duindigt Racecourse, Netherlands, on Sunday.

Alzain finished second under Jadey Pietrasiewicz and behind them came the mount of Anne van Den Troost, Easterlitz.

The race was held under the directives of Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, as part of the HH Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival.

Well-bred Russian colt Pandoro is trained by Diana Dorenberg on behalf of its German owner Mrs Soltau.

“He’s an honest performer and ran a big race,” said jubilant winning jockey Deau. “He responded well in the home straight and held on very strongly when attacked in the last strides.”

The same opinion was echoed by trainer Dorenberg, who added that Pandora is very easy to train and there’s more to come from him.

“He’s still a big baby and improving from one race to another. I’m truly lucky to have him at my stables and hopefully he will be enjoying a very good season with more exposure in the big races,” she said.

Winning owner Soltau reiterated that, without the encouragement and support of the Shaikh Mansour festival, nothing would have been achieved.

“We must once again thank Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan for his generous support for this noble creature. The Arabian horse deserves support and the Arabian races have grown bigger and bigger under the umbrella of the festival. It’s a brilliant idea and we are all obliged to him,” she said.

The festival is organised by the Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority and co-ordinated by Abu Dhabi Sports Council in association with Emirates Racing Authority, IFAHR and Emirates Arabian Horse Society. It is supported by General Authority for Youth and Sports Welfare and Fegentri, with Emirates airline as the official carrier.

Sponsors include the Tourism Development and Investment Company (TDIC), Invest AD Arabtec Holding PJSC, Al Rashid Investment, Areej Al Ameerat, Al Awani General Enterprises, Kabale, Al Wathba Centre, the UAE’s General Women’s Union, the HH Shaikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy, Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition 2013, Dr Nader Saab Switzerland, Wathba Stud Farm, Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, Eastern Mangroves Hotel and Spa and Eastern Mangroves Suites-Abu Dhabi by Jannah.