Duindigt, The Netherlands: Qatar raider Majeed, under Gaetan Faucon, won the Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Cup (Group 3) race in a thrilling finish while Ziyadd, owned by Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister of the UAE and Minister of Presidential Affairs, emerged as the new European Triple Crown winner.
In one of the most hotly contested races held under the umbrella of the HH Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival, Majeed prevailed in a close finish over Sir Bani Yas, under Julien Auger at the Duindigt racecourse in The Netherlands on Sunday.
The two grey Arabians battled stride for stride in the final 50 metres before Majeed forged ahead to win the 1900-metre race and carry away a major slice of the Euros 35,000 on offer in the Group 3 contest.
Lightning Bolt, under Richard Mullen, finished third despite the jockey filing a protest for intervention by the winner but the Stewards ruled the race was fair and Majeed and Sir Bani Yas stayed first and second.
Ziyadd, under Pierantonio Convertino, seemed to have left it late but did well to finish in the top half and collect the five points, which helped the four-year-old to emerge as the new European Triple Crown champion. Trained by Antoine Watrigant for owner Shaikh Mansour, Ziyadd had won the previous leg in Rome and had also finished fourth to Muraaqib in the first leg in Toulouse to finish with 18 points, while Sir Bani Yas and Lightning Bolt ended up with 13 points each.
The HH Shaikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship race over 1800 metres was also run on Sunday and Norway’s Silja Storen on L’Eau du Tigre showed her class in the final stages to finish ahead of Fajr Qardabiyah, under Carol Bartley from Great Britain while Janine Smith from Canada on Raya C ran into third place.
Storen has now qualified to race in the HH Shaikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship finale on November 6 and the Norwegian from Oslo said she was delighted with the win. “Thanks to Shaikh Mansour and the Festival for providing us with these opportunities to race,” she said.
Praising her horse L’Eau du Tigre, Storen said, “What an amazing horse. Got a super race on the inside, going third. When I got an opening on the inside I told her to go and she cruised home. I had to look back several times to ensure I was safe. Loveliest ride!”
Apart from the two premier races of the Festival, the Wathba Stud Farm Cup II, which caters to the grass roots level, was also held on Sunday. James D.A, ridden by Belgian Anna van den Troost, won the 1800-metre race with Rodin under Anthony Deau and Saqlawia, under Julien Auger finishing second and third respectively.
