Sheikh Mansour’s Rabbah races away President Cup jackpot

Peter Ward 13:19 17/02/2014
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  • Big winner: Rabbah De Carrere, Royston Ffrench (yellow), races to victory.

    Abu Dhabi’s biggest Purebred Arabian race of the season, the Dh1 million Group 1 HH The President Cup, was won by Rabbah De Carrere for owner Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

    Royston Ffrench rode the winner, who was chased home by stable companion Raaziq, the mount of Silvestre De Sousa.

    Both are trained by Majed Al Jahouri, who said: “We had four in the race and we thought they all had a chance. Rabbah De Carrere is clearly improving and hopefully will continue to do so.”

    The Thoroughbred equivalent, a 1,400m Listed race, went to Nawwaar, who became only the third horse to win the National Day Cup and this race in the same season.

    Trained by Ali Rashid Al Raihe, Nawwaar basically led all the way and kicked clear on the home turn. Champion Trainer Ernst Oertel saddled the first two winners, with Per-Anders Graberg aboard RB Smokin Rich, winner of the opening 1,600m handicap, 30 minutes before Fatat Al Arab won the Emirates Fillies’ Classic.

    She was ridden by Champion Jockey Tadhg O’Shea.

    Oertel said: “We were always hoping for some good performances this evening and winning the first two races is great.

    “We had five runners in the opener and knew all had a big chance – but you never expect to saddle the first three.”

    Apprentice Thomas Brown was in the saddle on TM AC-DC, winner of the 1,400m handicap for trainer Omar Daraj Mohammed.

    The final race on the card was a 1,600m maiden and Sam Hitchott steered the Bakhit Al Ketbi-trained Sahm W’Rsan to win for the first time at the 17th attempt.

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