Abu Dhabi: The HH Shaikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival appears to be a happy hunting ground for owner Sam Velaquez after his four-year-old colt Es Mi Cielo recorded a second victory in less than a week.

Last week 18-year-old Australian Ben Thompson partnered Es Mi Cielo to a smart victory in the opening race of the Festival’s HH Shaikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Apprentice World Championship race series at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington.

This Sunday, the Renee Lafleur-trained Es Mi Cielo won the Wathba Stud Farm Cup on a busy opening weekend of the 2015 season at Arapahoe Park in Aurora, Colorado.

Ridden by Kelly Bridges for trainer Renee Lafleur Es Mi Cielo dominated the 1,200 metres Wathba Stud Farm Cup to record a 5 1/2-length victory over Rb Rich, ridden by Dennis Collins and Chndakasexpress, the mount of Alfredo Triana, in a time of 1:21.40.

Zells Bells, second behind Es Mi Cielo in Kentucky. could only manage a fourth place for Richard Aquilar in the 10-horse field.

“He’s really starting to mature and come around,” Lafleur said of the 4-year-old gray colt by Burning Sand. “We sent him straight from Kentucky to Colorado to give him some time to settle, and it all worked out.”

Lafleur said Es Mi Cielo will remain in Colorado to contest Arapahoe Park’s COBRA Sprint on June 21, a race Es Mi Cielo’s older brother, Sammy V, won in 2014.

The HH Shaikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival is sustained by the Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority and coordinated by Abu Dhabi Sports Council in cooperation with Emirates Racing Authority, IFAHR, Emirates Arabian Horse Society, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, General Authority of Youth and Sports Welfare.

It’s official partner is the National Archives while Emirates airline is the official carrier.

It is sponsored by Invest AD, Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC), Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), Al Awani General Enterprises, Kabale, Al Wathba Centre, the UAE’s General Women’s Union, the HH Shaikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy, Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition 2015, Dr Nader Saab Switzerland, Al Wathba Centre, Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, Eastern Mangroves Suites-Abu Dhabi by Jannah, Yas Channel, Omeir Travels and Racing Post.