Speed Kossack wins opening Wathba Cup race
Otermans-owned charge eases to victory in the Netherlands ahead of Sadiq
Abu Dhabi: Raymond Chang steered Speed Kossack to victory in the opening race of the Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Flat Horse Race Festival’s Wathba Stud Farm Cup 2013 series at the Duindigt race course in the Netherlands.
Speed Kossack, trained by M. Weber for owner Huub Otermans, who has had a lot of success in this series, won by more than a length from the Gillian Duffield-trained Sadiq, owned by Margaret de Ruiter-Floor and ridden by Raoul Dygas.
Plastin under Martin Watlow finished third and the Jean-Francois Bernard-trained La Nonito was fourth. The winner completed the nine-furlong (1800-metre) race in a time of 2:09.09 to win a major share of the prize money.
“In organising the Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Flat Racing Festival, Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority has the preservation of the UAE’s cultural heritage and traditions as its driving principal,” Mubarak Hamad Al Muhairi, Director General, Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi) said in a message.
“Equestrianism in general, and Purebred Arabian racing in particular, has been a part of the life and spirit of every Emirati and by promoting this sport globally the Festival seeks to enhance the status of Arabian racing,” he added.
“Under the directives and support of Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs and Her Highness Shaikha Fatima Bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women’s Union, Supreme President of the Family Development Foundation (FDF) and Head of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood the Festival has achieved tremendous success and we intend to continue and build on this,” Al Muhairi said.
“Sunday’s race was the first of the race series slated for The Netherlands in the Wathba Stud Farm Cup series and this has been a highly successful endeavour by the Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Flat Horse Race Festival,” said Ms Lara Sawaya, Director of Festival and Head of Ladies Racing at IFAHR.
The Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing 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.
