Abu Dhabi: Warrawee Naaziq scored another impressive win in the Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Flat Racing Festival’s Wathba Stud Farm Cup race at Mansfield Racetrack in Victoria, Australia, over the weekend.
Warrawee Naaziq, the 2012 winner of the Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Cup at Moonee Valley racetrack and the Shadwell Arabian Mile at Caulfield racetrack, was ridden to a fine victory by Robert Kirkpatrick. The winner is owned and trained by Kim Noble.
Majelica finished second and Major third in the 1,200-metre race, the first Wathba Stud Farm Cup event to be held in Australia.
The early leader in the eight-runner field was Wantkey Kaliph, with Major and Blakes Heaven Bombora running well. In the final 100 metres, Warrawee Naaziq moved up on the outside to take the lead.
Magelica then made a run from the back of the field along the rail and took a narrow lead from Major, who had also made his move. Warrawee Naaziq proved too strong on the line to take the race from the fast-finishing mare Magelica, with Major running a close third. This was Magelica’s first race and she will be a lot harder to beat in her next run.
Commenting on the festival’s Wathba Stud Farm Cup race series, Mubarak Hamad Al Muhairi, Director General of Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi) said: “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.
“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.
“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.”
Lara Sawaya, the festival’s director and head of IFAHR ladies racing, said: “It was a great debut event for the Wathba Stud Farm Cup series. We are now all set to launch the festival’s activities in the New Year.”
