Abu Dhabi: Swiss jockey Astrid Wullschleger is back in Abu Dhabi to defend the title that completely changed her life last year.
The 30-year-old, who had never ventured out of her country, was given the platform by HH Shaikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Festival to follow her passion and she took that opportunity with both hands by winning the HH Shaikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship (IFAHR), over 1600M.
Wullschleger, rode the Eric Lemartinel trained, Najm Alemarat to victory last year from Haizoom, ridden by Rebeca Smith of Great Britain.
This time round, she will be associated with the same trainer on board Rb Burning Ash in the silks of President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Rb Burning Ash is one of the four entries of Lemartinel. The five-year-old gelded son of Burning Sand has only one win in 11 career starts. His only success was a maiden race in March last year.
Wullschleger, who has ridden for over 12 years and registered 58 wins from 490 rides, is still upbeat with the prospect of riding for the same trainer.
“I hope I can have a nice race and I had a good look at the horse. At this distance not really the form is important as it will be about doing the right things and we will see how it goes,” said Wullschleger adding, “I happy with the horse because it is under the same trainer Lemartinel like last year.”
Wullschleger went on to reveal that her victory last season turned a new chapter for her, something she never would be able to dream of being in a country where racing is mostly on snow.
“It was an amazing feeling after I won here last year. There were lot of pictures and interviews. People started to recognise me back home. All were happy of course and I had never won a race in front of lot of people so everything was special. It was nice to get a title like this in another country and a big boost for my country also,” revealed Wullschleger, who won the €25,000 HH Shaikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship race in Rome to book a ticket to this year’s Ladies Championship final for her title defence in Abu Dhabi.
“After my win here, I didn’t get more rides or something but it was a nice season for me. I’m 30 already I don’t think I will ride for 10 more years but in the next two years certainly I will be round and try to do well and see other countries,” said Wullschleger, who felt had it not been for a race series like this, lady jockeys like her would not have managed to get due recognition.
“In Switzerland, horse racing is not that big and for us if you want to follow the passion of riding or being a jockey then you have to think of going outside the country. There may be around 20 ladies jockeys in Switzerland but that’s a very small number,” concluded Wullschleger.
