ABU DHABI // Alban de Mieulle and Olivier Peslier, the French trainer and jockey, combined to win the world’s richest race for Purebred Arabians for Qatar last night at the capital’s racecourse.
Peslier, on-board Kalino, led as they approached the home stretch of the Group 1 race and then held off the late challenge from French raider Sahabba for a short head verdict in the inaugural running of the €1.2 million (Dh4.7m) Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Jewel Crown.
“It is great win. This is like a French team but the horse is from Qatar,” said the winning jockey Peslier. “I’m so happy to come and win here tonight. We have seen all the best jockeys and horses as well as apprentice jockeys here tonight, and to win the feature race feels great.
“The horse was very brave. He was tiring at the end but found just enough and this is a great result for Qatar, Alban and the whole team.”
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Kalino arrived in Abu Dhabi after a disappointing campaign in Europe where he was unplaced in all four starts, but his handler did not lose faith in the six-year-old chestnut son of Kaolino.
“We knew he had the ability to win races at this level but for some strange reason he didn’t live up to that potential,” De Mieulle said. “We booked Olivier because we have regularly engaged his services and won a lot of races with him. Tonight he was told to keep his horse close with the leaders and he rode a perfect race.”
The six-race card also featured both the finals of the Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies’ (IFAHR) World Championship, which was won by Swiss jockey Astrid Wullschleger on Najam Alemarat, trained by Eric Lamartinel for President Sheikh Khalifa’s Al Asayl Stables.
Wullschleger booked her ticket to ride in the final after winning her home leg in Switzerland on ice.
“This was the first time to win out of the country, so this win is really very special for me,” she said. “I feel on top of the world. This is my biggest career win, and it means a lot to me and shall remember my visit to Abu Dhabi for a long, long time. Now I go back to race on the ice.”
Sandee Martin on stablemate Molahen El Alhan set the early pace over the 1,600m trip and was joined by Rebecca Smith on Hazoom as they approached the home stretch.
Wullschleger came with a challenge on the six-year-old chestnut gelded son of Dormane to win by one-and-a-quarter length.
“It was a strongly run race and I just settled my horse behind the early pace and when asked for a run he responded well to carry me first over the line,” said the winning jockey.
Australia’s Ben Thompson took the Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Apprentice (IFAHR) Championship on-board AK Adour for Emirati trainer Ahmed Al Mehairbi.
Thomspon, 18, was riding his 66th career win and was riding only his second Purebred Arabian race, having won in Kentucky to qualify for the Abu Dhabi final.
“This win is huge for me,” he said. “I hope to continue on my long journey and it is strange too because I never got on to a horse until I was 15. So much has happened over this short time.”
Fernando Jara, the 2007 Dubai World Cup-winning jockey, celebrated his new partnership with the UAE Champion Trainer Musabah Al Muhairi with a winner on his first ride.
“It is nice to be back to a place I love. He has some nice horses and I’m looking ahead for my time in the UAE,” said the US-based Panamanian, who won the world’s richest race on-board Invasor.
apassela@thenational.ae
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