Emirati jockey Al Suwaidi places in second round of World Ladies Championship

Women's series culminates in Abu Dhabi in November

Anoud Al Suwaidi, atop Coolinda Park Dance With Me, being led in the paddocks at the Caulfield racecourse in Melbourne, Australia, on Saturday. The Emirati jockey was runner-up in the second round of the Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak World Ladies Championship IFAHR. Photo courtesy Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak World Ladies Championship IFAHR
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Emirati jockey Anoud Al Suwaidi finished second on Coolinda Park Kazh on Saturday in only her second race in Round 2 of the Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak World Ladies Championship at the Caulfield racecourse in Melbourne, Australia.

Al Suwaidi finished behind Allison Daniel on Conderosa Millennium Silver over the 1,200-metre distance.

“I didn’t expect this result so early in my career,” Al Suwaidi said. “It was the first start for the horse and he ran green. He was a little hesitant at the gates. However, he settled well ... We covered a lot of ground towards the end and I’m very pleased with the result.”

There are 12 more rounds of the Sheikha Fatima series, which is for female jockeys, culminating in the final meeting in Abu Dhabi in November.

Meanwhile, Sunday’s meeting at the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club concludes four consecutive days of racing in the Emirates. The highlight of the six-race card is the Group 3 Al Ruwais over the sprint distance of 1,000m.

Majed Al Jahouri has three entered, with Thakif, the two-time winner of the prize, the favourite. Thakif will be ridden by Harry Bentley, who rode the chestnut son of Mahabb to victory on both occasions.

“Thakif has a lot of natural speed and clearly relishes the Abu Dhabi 1,000m,” Bentley said. “We have a better draw than last year, and you have to be hopeful that he can make it three years in a row.”

apassela@thenational.ae