racing_news/

Winter Racing Challenge Proves Huge Success In Dubai 19/01/07

The inaugural 2006-07 Winter Racing Challenge (WRC) proved a huge success this season, with the three winning horses all set to make a big impact on the 2007 Dubai International Racing Carnival.

The new initiative encompassed all racemeetings held at Nad Al Sheba Racecourse from November 9, 2006 until January 11, 2007.

Horses accumulated points each time they ran in 1200, 1600 or 2000-metre races, with the top earners going through to the three finals - each worth AED 150,000 - staged seven days ago.

Dubai Racing Club Chief Executive Officer, Frank Gabriel Jr, said: "The Winter Racing Challenge has really captured the imagination and being very well received.

"It gives the season real narrative, as we now have three parts to the season - the Winter Racing Challenge, the Dubai International Racing Carnival, and, of course the Dubai World Cup fixture."

Dynamic Saint, in particular, looked to be a horse with a big future after winning the 2000-metre WRC final under Richard Mullen.

Sheikh Rashid bin Mohammed Al Maktoum's progressive four-year-old has now made it three wins from four starts and big things are expected from him in the Dubai International Racing Carnival, which starts today.

Trainer Doug Watson said: "He is a real favourite of mine, and hasn't stopped improving. We'll just keep stepping him up the ladder and see where we end up with him."

Sheikh Saeed bin Mohammed Al Maktoum's Quorum landed the 1600-metre WRC final in the hands of Royston Ffrench.

It was the four-year-old's third win of the season for trainer Musabah Al Muhairi, who looks to have a potential Carnival winner on his hands.

The 1200-metre WRC final was won by an old timer in Key Of Destiny, but despite his advancing years, he looks to have gained a second wind.

The Mike De Kock-trained eight-year-old could play a part in the top sprints this season following his nose-success under Weichong Marwing.

The Dubai Racing Club also acknowledges the leading owner, trainer and jockey over the nine weeks of the Winter Racing Challenge with a custom-designed trophy, which will be presented this evening.

The Zabeel/Millennium Stables operation took the honours with Sheikh Rashid bin Mohammed Al Maktoum winning the owners' award.

His retained jockey Ted Durcan took the jockeys' accolade, while Satish Seemar landed the trainers' honour.

Seemar said: "It is a great honour to win the first ever Winter Racing Challenge award, and it's been a wonderful team effort."

Winter Racing Challenge Final 1,200m
Winner: KEY OF DESTINY (SAF)
Owners: Messrs N R Loudon, C S Haynes, MF De Kock, O V Leibrandt, Mr/s H JH
Wolfaardt, A Singh, B Kantor, Mrs H Haynes, late Mrs M P Malherbe,
Wilgerbosdrift (Pty) Ltd (Nom: Mrs M Slack) & Dr J & Mrs A McVeigh
Trainer: Mike de Kock
Jockey: Weichong Marwing

Winter Racing Challenge Final 1,600m
Winner: QUORUM (GER)
Owners: H E Sheikh Saeed bin Mohammed Al Maktoum
Trainer: Musabah Al Muhairi
Jockey: Royston Ffrench

Winter Racing Challenge Final 2,000m
Winner: DYNAMIC SAINT (USA)
Owners: H E Sheikh Rashid bin Mohammed Al Maktoum
Trainer: Doug Watson
Jockey: Richard Mullen

Winter Racing Challenge Leading Owner
H E SHEIKH RASHID BIN MOHAMMED AL MAKTOUM
Winter Racing Challenge Leading Trainer
SATISH SEEMAR
Winter Racing Challenge Leading Jockey
TED DURCAN