SALIMA CROWNED LADY JOCKEY CHAMPION /
Omani rider guides Kareem W’Rsan home in Shaikha Fatima World Championship
abu dhabi — Top Omani professional lady jockey Salima Al Taleei brought Kareem W’Rsan home to become the lady champion jockey of the world in the final of the HH Shaikha Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship (IFAHR) at the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club here on Sunday night.
“It’s unbelievable,” said an excited young lady said later. “I didn’t think that my horse will beat top Arabian performers like Fryvolous and Ghalib, but it happened,” she added.
“I’m delighted to win it for Oman. I have won in Berlin for the UAE and it’s great to win again for a lady trainer Jaci Wickham,” she added.
Kareem W’Rsan was slow at the start, but he showed signs of improvement with the progress of the race and took the shortcut in the hometurn to beat early leader Ghalib and held on very strongly when attacked by Fryvolous in the concluding stages of the race.
Al Taleei said she’s looking forward to renew rivalry against the lady jockeys of the world next season in order to defend her title.
The first edition of the championship was won last year by the French lady jockey Delphine Dubois astride AF Sanadek for trainer Eric Lemartinel.
Sahib Du Clos wins
Sahib Du Clos, Wayne Smith in the saddle, returned to his best to win the final leg of the 1600m Shaikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Cup, Purebred Arabians Prestige race which saw 12 top horses going to post.
The seven-year-old by Kerbella broke well and raced keenly against the fences before he produced a high speed to kick away from the pack in the straight and stormed home unchallenged.
“I couldn’t believe when I looked around and did see anyone behind. This horse is back to his best form,” said the winning jockey Wayne Smith.
Trained by Saifaldin Deeb on be- half of its owner Faisal Al Rahmani, Sahib Du Clos was a multi Group-1 winner in 2011 and 2012. He has claimed the National Day Cup for Purebred Arabians Group-1 at the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club here in 2011 and went on to win the first and second rounds of the Al Maktoum Challenge, both Group-1 events, at Meydan in 2012. But, he has disappointed since then before he showed good signs of improvement when finished respectable second to Musharab in the Emirates Championship (Purebred Arabians) Group-1 last March.
Early in the evening, South African jockey Collen Thabana was crowned the world’s champion apprentice jockey after the teenager partnered Manan to victory in the HH Shaikha Fatima bint Mubarak EARS Apprentice Jockeys Race, the fourth race on the card.
“My horse was very slow at the start and I had to ride him patiently,” said an excited young jockey later. “It’s my first time to ride an Arabian horse and trainer Eric Lemartinel told me after the exercise ride on Saturday morning that I have a very good chance to win,” he added.
Manan came with a late ride to pip the Ernst Oertel duo in the concluding stages of the race and prevailed by a short head on the line.
When asked about the difference between the Thoroughbreds and Arabians, Thabana said there’s no comparison between the two.
“The jockey needs to do much work with the Arabian horse and keep pushing while the Thoroughbreds respond keenly when asked the question,” he noted.
Meanwhile, the 19-year- old from Johannesburg was equally excited with the place and promised to come back to take another ride in UAE.
“It’s a lovely country and the races in Abu Dhabi are very exciting. I hope to have another chance to come back very soon,” he said.
“I have been riding in South Africa for the last three years and have 20 winners from 429 rides. There are two years remaining to complete my South Africa Apprentice training school and for this reason, the number of winners will not make me lose my allowance,” he noted.
This race was won last year by the Omani apprentice Mu’nis Al Siyabi aboard Richy Blessed for trainer Ernst Oertel.
Elsewhere, Tadhg o’Shea rode his first winner of the evening in the 1400m Purebred Arabians UAE Bred Maiden aboard debutant Molahen Alham for trainer Ernst Oertel in the silks of His Highness the President Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The second race, the only Thoroughbreds Handicap on the card contested over a mile and was won by Maath Gool, trained by Doug Watson and ridden by Tadhg O’Shea. Mooser worked his way through under Gerald Avranche to win the third race, a 1400m Purebred Arabians Handicap for trainer Eric Lemartinel.