Abu Dhabi: Muraagib, owned by Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance, and Mabrooka, owned by Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, won prestigious Group 1 races at St Claude racecourse in France on Friday.
Muraagib was ridden to a superb win by Francois-Xavier Bertras in the €100,000 (Dh411,390) Qatar Arabian Trophy des Poulains (Group 1 PA) to emerge as the champion three-year-old colt while Mabrooka under Thierry Jarnet topped the Fillies field to win the €100,000 Qatar Arabian Trophy des Pouliches (Group 1 PA).
The Frederick Rohaut-trained Muraagib, sired by Munjiz, won the 2000-metre contest in a timef of 2:19:76. RB Burn, owned by President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and ridden by Jean-Bernard Eyquem, came in second and Alsaqr ridden by Julien Auge representing the Royal Cavalry of Oman finished third.
Mansour’s champion filly Mabrooka covered the 2000-metre distance in a much faster time than that recorded in the colts event to score a great win for trainer Didier Guillemin. The Royal Cavalry of Oman’s Worood ridden by David Morrisson prevented a clean sweep by Mansour-owned horses and finished second. Mansour’s Naziq, ridden by Christophe Soumillon and Shakrra under Julien Auge finished third and fourth, respectively.
Adnan Sultan Al Nuaimi, Director General of the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club and Lara Sawaya, Executive Director of the Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival along with the winning trainer and jockey of Mabrouka received the trophies.
“It was a great run by Mabrooka and the speed was better than that recorded by the colts. Both Mabrouka and Muraagib have been sired by stallions owned by Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister of UAE and Minister of Presidential Affairs. We congratulate Shaikh Hamdan and Shaikh Mansour on the success of Muraagib and Mabrooka, respectively,” Lara said.
Mussalam Al Amri of Al Jazira 1 & 2 Stables said: “The performance by Shaikh Mansour horses prove that they have been well prepared for the season ahead in Europe.”
