Naziq, Mirna steal the show in Ostend races
ostend — The Wellington racecourse in the Belgian city of Ostend turned out to be a happy hunting ground for Yas Horse Racing management, owned by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, on Monday.
In the two races organised under the umbrella of the HH Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Racing Festival, Naziq under Richard Mullen and Mirna under Rosie Jessop, both horses owned by Yas, won their respective races in front of a large band of fans at the Wellington racecourse.
The Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Cup Group 3 race run over 1,800 metres and carrying a prize fund of Euros 35,000 had attracted a small field but it turned out into an exciting contest. Richard Mullen, who is also one of the jockey Ambassadors
Naziq is a great horse, put in a lot of effort in the final stages and helped stay ahead Richard Mullen, Jockey
for the HH Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Racing Festival, steered Naziq, a 5-year-old mare to a great win in the Group 3 event.
Mullen on the Elizabeth JF Bernard-trained Naziq was challenged by the Alban de Mieulle-trained First Division General under Jean-Baptiste Hamel but the latter was strong enough to win by 1.25 lengths in a time of 2:12.57. Al Mounteze Monlau under Roberto-Carlos Montenegro ran into third place.
Mullen heaped praise on Naziq, a mare sired by Mahabb and also bred at the breeding operations of HH Sheikh Mansour for Monday’s win. “Naziq is a great horse, put in a lot of effort in the final stages and helped stay ahead,” said the champion jockey of the UAE.
Trainer Elizabeth Jean-Francois Bernard said, “Naziq is back to the form that he had been in previously which had helped her win Qatar Arabian Trophy des Juments, a Group 1 race held last year in Chantilly France.”
The second success for Yas and for HH Sheikh Mansour came when another Mahabb mare, 5-year-old Mirna finally tasted victory and this time in the Ostend leg of the HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship (IFAHR) race.
Mirna, which had come second in last year’s HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Apprentice World Championship (IFAHR) race at the Tarbes racecourse in, Pau, France, was given a superb ride by one of the two professional lady jockeys in the 10-horse field.
The UK’s Rosie Jessop seemed to finally bring out the best from the Mahabb mare, trained by Didier Guillemin, to make it a memorable day for HH Sheikh Mansoor.
Lou Raynal under Germany’s Monique Lubcke and Mulhim under Hungarian Polet Nagy finished second and third respectively behind Mirna. It was the first win for Mirna in 8 starts and the win helped the 28-year-old Jessop win her 69th win in 544 starts. The winner completed the 1000-metre distance in 1:05.17.
Jessop said she was elated with the victory.“I have to give full credit to my horse Mirna for that. She was the best today. I am looking forward to the Abu Dhabi final,” said Jessop.