DAX, France - As expected Seraphin Du Paon, owned by UAE President Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan emerged the winner of the fourth and final race of the Festival of Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan for Arabian flat horse racing held in Dax, France.
Another strong contender Rahef owned by Sheikh Mansooor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs finished a creditable second.
The four-race-series was staged by the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (ADACH) in association with the Breeding Stables of Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan
Sunday’s Prix Zayed Le Premier – Cheri-Bibi- was the concluding event in the four race series, after Duindigt in Amsterdam, La Taste de Butch in France and Frankfurt In Germany.
It was Seraphin Du Paon’s maiden win, having finished third in Toulose in France in June this year.
Nicolas de Watrigant, tranining manager (in France) for Sheikh Khalifa, received the winner’s trophy from Abdullah Al Qubaisi, director of Communications Department at the ADACH in the presence of Lara Sawaya, Director of the Festival, Jean Louis Gayan Sourgen, President of the Dax Racecourse. Several dignitaries and Arabian horse lovers attended the race’and Frankfurt In Germany.
Meanwhile a special website featuring all these races has been launched to allow all fans and lovers of Arabian horses to watch it on the website:www.sheikhmansoorfestival.com.
“Though the Festival was in its inaugural year it was a great success as it boosted the status of Purebred Arabain horses in Europe and it was great joy for us to see the Arabian horses running in French soil for a second time since the campaign started in July,” said Al Qubaisi.
“We are delighted to see the campaign ended in style after Seraphin Du Paon and Rahef captured the top two placed in the forth and final races in the series,” said Al Qubaisi.
”H H Sheikh Mansoor’s support and encouragement have gone a long way in successfully hosting the series. The equestrian sports are integral part of the country’s rich heritage and culture and these races have been instrumental in achiving many objects of the Festival,” he said.
“The four races have been big successes and especially today’s results were excellent after the creditable 1-2 finish by Seraphin Du Paon and Rahe,” said Sawaya.
“This is the first year of His Highness the Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan for Arabian flat horse racing in Europe. In all the four places, the level of participation by the some of the best horses and the audience can be termed the festival a great success,” added Sawaya.
“It provided the horse-lovers in this part of the world to know more about the Purebred Arabians and witness race exclusively featuring Purebred Arabian horses,” concluded Sawaya.
Reserved for Purebred Arabian horses, 2,100 metres Group II race, resulted in a length and a half victory for the Seraphin Du Paon. He was trained by Robert Litt and brilliantly ridden by P. Sogorb.
The colt was trailing the leader Al Barada until the final bend and accelerated well in the final stretch to secure his maiden win.
“He is a fast improving colt and he has proved he could stand the pace of over 2,200 metres,” said Watrigant.
“Now we are preparing him for the Saint Cloud Breeder’s Cup in Paris to be held in October,” said Watrigant.
Rahef, on the other hand, was slow to start. Trailing the filed until getting into top gear inside the last 100 meters to finish behind Seraphion Du Pa. He was trained by JP Totain and ridden by C. Noro. It was the second time Raheb is settling for a second plalce in the series after the second spot in the Prix Tidjani Zayed the First on July 27.
“He is a great filly and she gave us super work in the week and won for the first time in two starts.
It is widely believed the campaign has a been a great success, as it not only boosted to status of Purebred Arabian horses but also promoted the heritage and culture of the UAE as equestrianism is part of the country’s heritage and culture.
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