AF Mukhifah steals the show to win Wathba Cup

Owner Khalid Khalifa Al Naboodah and trainer Ernst Oertel combined with four of the 13 runners in the 1,200m conditions race and provided both first and second

AF Mukhifah won the HH Shaikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival's Wathba Stud Farm Cup for Private Owners Only race at the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club racecourse on Sunday.
Owner Khalid Khalifa Al Naboodah and trainer Ernst Oertel combined with four of the 13 runners in the 1,200m conditions race and provided both first and second.
Ridden by Bruno Reis, AF Mukhifah gained the day, chased in vain throughout the final 200m by AF Maher under Antonio Fresu. In third place was Satish Seemar's Extra Hope under Richard Mullen.
For the winner, it was a second career victory on her fifth start and, understandably, Al Naboodah, who also bred both horses, was delighted.
Earlier the meeting was dominated by the Al Asayl Stables, the team of The President, His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler of Abu Dhabi; his trainer Eric Lemartinel and main jockey, Tadgh O'Shea. While Al Asayl horses won half of the six races on Sunday evening, O'Shea went one better with four winners.
Adnan Sultan Al Nuaimi, Director General of Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club and Lara Sawaya along with other sponsors' representatives gave away the trophies to Mr. Al Naboodah and his team.