Abu Dhabi: Trainer Majid Al Jahouri retained the HH The Presidents Cup title for Purebred Arabians for owner Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, with Rabbah De Carrere at the Abu Dhabi Race Course on Sunday.
The five-year-old son of champion mare Mizzna, under Royston Ffrench, burst through the pack in the last 200m to win by a quarter length from stable companion Raaziq, the mount of Silvestre De Sousa. Djainka Des Forges trained by Julian Smart in Qatar finished a creditable third.
This was also Rabbah De Carrere’s second Group One win in 10 days. He has run six times since arriving at the Al Wathba stables from France and has won thrice — never been out of the first three in six starts. “We knew we had good chances in the race but it is never easy to know the best one. Rabbah De Carrere is clearly improving and to win two big Group 1 races in such a short time is a massive effort.
“We knew Raaziq was a big contender as well and the have both run big, big races. We had good chances, going into the race, with Naseem and Musharab as well, so it is just great to land the contest,” said a pleased looking Al Jahouri.
Despite the third place finish, Julian Smart was pleased with the showing of the Qatar Arabian Derby winner Djainka Des Forges. “We brought her to give her some exposure and on this showing she should get an invite for the Dubai Kahayla Classic on the Dubai World Cup meeting,” said Smart, who had trained in Abu Dhabi until 2005-2005 season.
The thoroughbred race over 1400m was won by Nawwaar, owned by Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance. Nawwaar was ridden by Paul Hanagan. This was Nawwaar’s third victory this season and he also became the third horse to win The National Day Cup and the President’s Cup in the same year.
“Nawwaar clearly loves it around here and that rode like a really strong race; the fast time advocates that. He just loves bowling along in front, then quickens and runs all the way to the line. He is so genuine and these appear his optimum conditions,” said a beaming Hanagan.
Trainer Ernst Oertel won the first two races under two different jockeys. In the opening race, a 1600m handicap, RB Smokin Rich won under the Swedish jockey Per-Anders Graberg and stable jockey Tadhg O’Shea won the next race half an hour later on Fatat Al Arab.
“He was quite impressive to be fair. I was told to hold him up and challenge late. That has worked perfectly. I was always going pretty well and then he quickened well. He is a young horse and hopefully will improve as that was only his third start,” revealed Graberg.
O’Shea said: “The yard are in great form and this is a lovely filly who has never stopped improving. She shows very little at home but is a different prospect here on a racenight.”
