Warrawee Naaziq emerges winner

Victoria - One of the largest bands of racing fans watched the Purebred Arabian horses display their racing skills under lady jockeys drawn from all over the world.

 Australia marked its National Day on January 26 and their Australia Day race meeting was kick-started by the HH Shaikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival's HH Shaikha Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship (IFAHR) race at the Caulfield Racecourse in Victoria.
One of the largest bands of racing fans watched the Purebred Arabian horses display their racing skills under lady jockeys drawn from all over the world.
Despite the presence of two professional jockeys it was Dutch lass Cindy Klinkenberg on last year's winner and race favourite Warrawee Naaziq finishing first in a close battle to win the Euros 30,000 event run over a mile's distance.
It was one of the two professional jockeys, Mina You of Korea on the Anthony Mountney-trained Coolinda Park Winston who led for most part of the race and looked headed for home. But the 11-year-old Warrawee Naaziq, trained and owned by Kim Noble, showed his class when he made his move under Klinkenberg with about two furlongs to go and then caught and overtook the leader with about half a length to spare and score another superb win.
Trainer Mountney's horses Coolinda Park Winston and Justice For All under German lady jockey Eva Maria Herresthal finished second and third.
The winning time for the 1,600m race was 1.54.63 and it was the fifth win in 9 starts for Warrawee Naaziq.
The Dutch jockey was thrilled with her win and said, "I always thought I had a chance as Warrawee Naaziq was the favourite. He responded well in the final stages and I am glad I won."
Klinkenberg has now qualified to take a shot at the Shaikha Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship (IFAHR) title race which will be held in November in Abu Dhabi and contested by winners of all the rounds preceding it.
Jake Norton, General Manager of Racing at the Melbourne Racing Club, said, "It is great that HH Shaikha Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship (IFAHR) races are being run in Australia. It helps us develop international relations."
"There are quite a few Arabian horses in Australia and for this race we have them coming from all parts of the country," he said.