Gutierrez strikes on Elmanara De Carrere

Apprentice jockey Alejandra Gutierrez from Spain confirmed that the Tarbes racecourse here in France was a lucky one for her. The 24-year-old who was last year’s winner of the HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak World Apprentice Championship race here in Tarbes struck once again and this time it was 4-year-old mare Elmanara De Carrere that carried her to the win.

In Sunday’s Prix Fleur D’Avril- HH Sheikha Fatima Apprentice World Apprentice Championship race here, Gutierrez scored a smart win on Elmanara De Carrere as she wove her way into the lead on the home stretch and held on to win the 2300-metre race in 2:36.60.

It was a 1-2 for trainer Eric Dell’Ova as following Gutierrez on Elmanara De Carrere was Engun De Bozouls, also trained by him, under Italian Riccardo Iocopini. Djelilla under Sweden’s Allan Walace finished third in the Euros 20,000 race which is part of the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival.

It was only the third win in the 136 starts by Gutierrez who said, “It was a great effort by my horse.”

“Last year also I won here and then took part in the final in Abu Dhabi and finished 8th on Ifraaj in the big race. Now I am very happy to have qualified again after today’s win. It is such a great race meeting and I will be proud to fly the Spanish flag on the big day in Abu Dhabi later this year. I will be looking to improve on my performance in the final,” said Gutierrez.

Jockeys coach Kai Schirmann and the Festival’s Ismail Mohammed attended the prize distribution.

The HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival 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 carrier, in cooperation with Emirates Racing Authority, IFHRA, IFAHR, Emirates Arabian Horse Society, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Abu Dhabi Youth Council, General Authority for Sports and sponsored by Ayadi LLC, Global United Veterinary Services LLC, Nissan Middleast Al Massood Automobiles, Nirvana Travels and Tourism LLC, Equicare Veterinary Services, Alawal Stud, Cavalos Equine Care & Supplies, SET Sustainable Environmental Technologies, Al Awani General Enterprises, Omeir Travels, Kabale, YAS Channel, Abu Dhabi Falconers Club, Emirates Falconers Club, Mohammed Bin Zayed Falconry and Desert Physiognomy School, 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 and Anantara Hotel.

Source: HH SH Mansoor Festival / Satya Narayan