 |
|
| Superadmin |
 |
Eleven lengths. That is the margin that Nadia Du Loup put on her rivals in her crushing victory at the biggest meet for the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club season.
The 3YO trained by Sulaiman Al Ghunaimi showed what she was capable of with her largest win yet with Antonio Fresu onboard.
The HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Racing Festival Cup run over 1600m attracted 16 runners, although it was all about the Nadia Du Loup, one of three fillies in the field.
Her hoop got her out well from the gates to sit at the front of the pack.
Shooting away at the top of the straight to a six-length lead she went even further in command putting it to bed with a performance that her rivals simply could not match.
Like a grey bullet, Fresu let his mount down perfectly letting her take control and stun spectators in the conditional race set for 3YOs.
The win made it Fresu’s 12th and the trainer’s first for the season so far.
The race following the win was even sweeter following the need for a judge’s photo after a contest that came to the smallest of margins.
French master trainer Jean de Roualle took out the HH Sheikha Fatima bin Mubarak Cup with the Munjiz-sired Dareen.
Having not raced since March this year the five-year-old mare looked fresh and fit in the run with jockey Dane O’Neill doing everything right throughout the trip.
She sat third before moving up out four deep and led 300m out just holding on for the Yas Racing team following a challenge late from Bshara with Richard Mullen on board.
The photo finish was tight, but the homebred mare did what was needed in her debut on turf and third career start.
“I am very pleased with that, especially the first time on turf and after a long break. She is a nice young mare,” de Roualle said.
This was O’Neill’s eighth win for the season as he edges closer to 70 starts for 22/23 and trainer de Roualle’s fifth success for the season.
By Rowan Anderson