LA HAGUE - Simmbad, ridden by French jockey Jean-Baptiste Hamel and owned by Prince Khaled bin Sultan Abdul Aziz Al Saud, on Sunday won the Zayed the First Listed Cup, kicking off the Festival of Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Purebred Arabian flat race series being held in Europe as part of the Dutch Derby.
A strong field of 11 runners started in the Zayed the First Listed Cup (Listed) for Purebred Arabians, kick-starting the Festival of Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan Arabian Horse Flat-races in Europe.
Prince Khaled bin Sultan Abdul Aziz Al Saud's 5-year-old Simmbad won the Zayed the First Cup (Listed) for Purebred Arabians from 10 other runners at the Duindigt race course on the Dutch Derby Day.
Simmbad proved too strong for his rivals to win one of the richest races for Purebred Arabians in Holland with French horse Sankado and Dutch challenger Kokkie in second and third place.
The 1900-metre race, held here on behalf of the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (ADACH), in association with the Breeding Stables of HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, drew a huge response from the packed crowds that had come to also watch the Dutch Derby.
Classic Sun from Germany won the 81st Dutch Derby soon after the Zayed the First Listed Cup.
French trainer Jean-Francois Bernard and French jockey Jean-Baptiste Hamel combined to ensure Simmbad made it a start-to-finish effort and were delighted with the horse's form. "He is a great horse and today he did nothing wrong. He was always travelling well and won comfortably," said the winning jockey.
"We will now take him to Longchamp in France for a Group race there. Simmbad has a lot of potential and was making a comeback of sorts," said trainer Jean-Francois Bernard.
Ali Thani Al Suwaidi, UAE Ambassador to The Netherlands, Lara Sawaya, Director of the Festival of Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Arabian Horse Flat-races in Europe, Thalal Al Hashmi of the Abu Dhabi Sports Council and other officials attended the prize distribution.
"This is indeed a great way of celebrating the centenary of Sheikh Zayed the Great, who had a love for horses. The UAE's support for this race will go a long way ion promoting Purebred Arabian horses in the region," said His Excellency Al Suwaidi, speaking to the media after the prize distribution.
"We thank HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs for his support to the race series," Al Suwaidi said.
Mohammad Khalaf Al Mazrouei, Director-General of ADACH in a message said, "Preserving the culture and heritage of the UAE is an important aspect and these races will go a long way in promoting the breed of Arabian horses." "The Dutch Derby Day is one of the biggest racing events here in Duindigt and provided the best start to the Festival of HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Arabian Horse Flat-races in Europe," said Lara Sawaya, Director of the race series.
"The Series now shifts to France and will then stage a race in Frankfurt before the final race of the series in France. Today's large crowd and the historic Duindigt displaying UAE-related banners was a huge success," she said.
Abu Dhabi Sports Council representative Talal Al Hashmi said, "The response of the fans and the officials here has been very encouraging. We are happy that we have taken UAE to the fans here in Holland." The next race in the Festival of Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan Arabian Horse Flat-races in Europe is the Prix Zayed le Premier-Tidjani and will be held in La Teste in the South of France on July 26.
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