Casablanca, Morocco: Emirati lady jockey Bint Al Swiaidi bemoaned the ‘kickback’ for thwarting her chances in the fifth round of the HH Shaikha Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship (IFAHR) which was won by top South Korean lady jockey Keumjoo Lee.
Al Swiaidi partnered Ahdab Bouz to finish sixth in the race held at the Hippodrome De Casablanca-Anfa and said: “It was a good effort under the circumstances as it was a difficult situation due to the heavy kickback of the dirt track.
“At one stage I had to close my eyes and drive blindly after having used my glasses.”
“The trainer told me to race in the centre of the field and Ahdab Bouz will pick up nicely at the home straight. Unfortunately, the heavy traffic forced me to drop back to the rear of the field.
“This was not the plan for him, but it happened. Things began to improve in the final stages, but it was too late to catch up,” she added.
Meanwhile Lee clinched her 30th career win abord Kanzaman to deny leading German professional jockey, Tamara Hofer, who finished three quarters of a length back in second place on board the favourite Saqr II.
Moroccan debutant Bouchra Marmoul, riding astride Azaq Bouznika, came with a late run to take third place on the line.
Strategy
“I followed the instructions of the trainer who told me to track the leading pair and put my mount into the clear to hit the front at the home turn. And the strategy did work,” said Lee.
“This is my first appearance in this great competition. I’m truly indebted to HH Shaikha Fatima Bint Mubarak for bringing girls from around the globe to compete at this beautiful venue.”
Hofer, who took second, admitted that she was beaten by the better horse.
“The trainer told me to hold my mount and he will do all the work in the straight, but the winner was too good,” she added.
Morocco’s Marmoul was over the moon after she got up to take third close home.
“The pace was too fast and my horse didn’t start as good as I have expected him to do. He was a little bit reluctant and slow moving and I had to ride him patiently. But, with the progress of the race he began to pick up and showed good desire to improve,” said the jubilant 22-year-old.
“I think it was a very tough race. It’s good news to impress on debut and I’m really happy to see all this big crowd standing behind me and cheering me all the way.”
