400 th winner for Festival Ambassador Mullen in style 74 <strong>Arabian</strong> <strong>Horse</strong> Intl
Racing at Al Ain on Friday, January 19, 2018, was highlighted by Round 2 of the Al Ain Marathon Series, a 3200m handicap for which seven went post and proved to be a career landmark 400th UAE winner for reigning champion jockey Richard Mullen. Victory appeared less than likely on the back straight when Mullen was forced to get serious with his mount, Shamikh Al Wathba, trained on the Al Ain track by Jean de Roualle for Yas <strong>Horse</strong> Racing Management, but he responded well. Exiting the home turn, when last year’s winner, Balad Al Reef, drifted wide towards the outside rail, Mullen’s mount suddenly loomed as the main danger to Bayan who had taken up the running, fully 1400m out, from Shivan Oa. Once Mullen asked for a determined effort, they swept to the front and stayed on well, eventually posting a comfortable victory. De Roualle said: “We were very hopeful coming here because we thought this kind of marathon trip would really suit him and it has. That was only the horse’s seventh start and we hope he has more to offer over these staying distances.” On the landmark 400, Mullen added: “It is amazing and I could not be more proud; never did I think when I first came to the UAE that I would be achieving landmarks like this. I have been very lucky with great support from top people throughout my time here. Now I just need to put my head down and try to get to 500!” Richard Mullen, Xavier Ziani and Julie Krone are the Ambassadors of the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global <strong>Arabian</strong> <strong>Horse</strong> Flat Racing Festival which is sustained by the Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority and coordinated by Abu Dhabi Sports Council, with National Feed and Flour Production and Marketing Co. LLC as associate sponsors, The National Archives as the official partner and Emirates airline as the official carriers, Al Massood Automobiles and Nissan Middleast as official car partners, in cooperation with Emirates Racing Authority, IFAHR, Emirates <strong>Arabian</strong> <strong>Horse</strong> Society, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, General Authority for Sports and sponsored by Ayadi LLC, Global United Veterinary Services LLC, Wathba Stallions, Abu Dhabi Falconers Club, Emirates Falconers Club, Mohamed Bin Zayed Falconry and Desert Physiognomy School, Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), Al Awani General Enterprises, Kabale, Omeir Travels, Laboratories Fadia Karam Cosmetics, YAS Channel, Racing Post, Paris Turf, Al Wathba Centre, the UAE’s General Women’s Union, The Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, the HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy, Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition 2018, Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, Eastern Mangroves Suites-Abu Dhabi by Jannah, Anantara Eastern Mangroves Spa and Resort. Sourse: Emirates Racing Authority Photos: Andrew Watkins and Cidinha Franzão <strong>Arabian</strong> <strong>Horse</strong> Intl 75
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