Extra Hope wins Al Ain horse racing opener

The H.H. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival’s Wathba Stallions Cup For Private Owners Only heralded the 2017-18 racing season in Al Ain with 12 runners vying for AED80,000 on offer at the Al Ain Race Course on Friday, November 24, 2017.

Extra Hope, owned by Ali Haddad, scored his first win on UAE soil in six starts, to open the action here in Al Ain. The Ernst Oertel-trained AF Mukhifah under Tadhg O’Shea finished second and Baynah under Connor Beasley was third.

The 1000 metre handicap was turned into a procession by the Satish Seemar-trained Extra Hope. Ridden by Richard Mullen, the six-year-old mare was soon in front and put the race to bed just after halfway when scooting clear of her 11 toiling rivals.

It was her first UAE victory, on her sixth attempt and second career success having won a 1700m maiden, at Delaware Park in her native USA, in October 2015.

Mullen said, "I am over the moon to ride a winner for Ali who has been a great supporter of UAE racing for very many years but has not enjoyed much luck recently. He is always smiling though and is an absolute pleasure to ride for.

"It is also good to see our horses hitting form after a winner at Meydan last night and now this one. Hopefully there are plenty more to follow."

The H.H. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival is sustained by the Department of Culture and Tourism- Abu Dhabi and coordinated by Abu Dhabi Sports Council in cooperation with Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation along with others.