RIYADH, 24 February 2004 — Top favorite Aelaam (Kingdom’s Key), longshot Alwaadee, Wathnaan and Haqwah came out winners in the featured races of the Equestrian Club 25th race meeting of the season at the King Abdul Aziz racecourse in Janadriyah here.
Aelaam, ridden by jockey L. Morales, stormed in front near the far turn and won by three lengths over Dayaaar in the fifth race, a contest for non-winners that drew a field of 21 starters. Aelaam, owned by Saud bin Saad Mutlaq Sons, covered the 2,000-meter distance in two minutes and 4.70 seconds.
Marconi Middle East sponsored the fifth race with a total purse of SR70,000, as well as the sixth where it awarded a Ford car as the top prize. The race was won by Alwaadee with Ahmed Al Shaya on top. One of the leading Saudi jockeys, 23-year old Al Shaya, stole some of the thunder when he rode five winners. Ten races were on card including the Ministry of Petroleum & Minerals Cup and Al Imam Mohd. Bin Saud Islamic Cup, the seventh and eighth races respectively won by Wathnaan and Haqwah.
On hand to award the prizes in the Marconi-sponsored races was the company’s chairman John Devaney who was accompanied by Geoffrey Doy, CEO sales and marketing, and Maher A. Salhab, Marconi Middle East manager. “This is an excellent opportunity to show our appreciation for the good relationship with Saudi Arabia and successful business as well,” Doy said, adding this is the ninth straight year his company sponsored horse races in the Kingdom.
Meanwhile, Rashed Alzenedy, managing director of Equestrian Club, said to attract racegoers they are giving away weekly prizes of SR 45,000 in the pick the winners contest. Contest coupon will be given with every purchase of Al Sibaq, the weekly racing magazine.
