Shiekh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Arabian Cup Gr 3
7/22/2010

article by Stephanie J. Corum

As part of the prestigious Global Arabian Flat Racing Festival, presented by the Abu Dhabi Culture & Heritage, the Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Arabian Cup Open S. (G3) was contested for the first time at Delaware Park. The race was even televised live in Abu Dhabi. It gave a much larger audience the chance to see the reining queen of Arabian racing, Sand Witchh. Even though the 4-year-old filly was going up against a field of older, experience stakes horses, she was still made the overwhelming favorite along with her entry mates Cromwell and Robotic. The Guy Neivens-owned filly did not disappoint her fans.

She came out of post position 8 in the field of 9 and settled into a stalking third. Grilla, who broke alertly, saved ground while setting the pace with Frysk Me Now, owned by Dianne Waldron, close behind. After a half mile, Grilla still had a 2 ½ length lead over Frysk Me Now. Sand Witchh had edged closer in third and it was 5 lengths back to the rest of the field. With 3 furlongs remaining, jockey Billy Hollick sent Sand Witchh to the lead with a 2-wide bid. Frysk Me Now stayed in contention, but Grilla tired from his early effort. Ranging up from the back of the pack was Sandi Mihaloff’s Full Of Fiesta. Through deep stretch, Sand Witchh maintained her advantage and stretched her lead to 4 lengths over Frysk Me Now. Full Of Fiesta was not able to make up enough ground but did manage third. Tiki Barber, Sey Spottsproof, Cromwell, Annswer To Prayer, Robotic and Grilla completed the field. The winning time for the 1 1/16 miles was 1:56.30.

Tracy Nunley trains Sand Witchh, who is 2-for-2 this year and 7-for-7 lifetime, which includes 5 stakes victories. The beautiful chestnut filly’s share of the $40,000 purse brings her lifetime earnings to just over $93,000. Bred by Dianne Waldron, Sand Witchh is a daughter of Burning Sand, who had been the leading Arabian racing sire in the United States since 2006. Her dam is Tornade Du Loup, a mare Waldron bought and imported from France. She raced in Waldron’s silks and was a grade 1 stakes winner who earned over $100,000. Her first foal is Ashton Rose (by Doran SBFAR), a multiple graded stakes-placed winner, and Sand Witchh is her second foal. She also has a 3-year-old colt by Burning Sand named Sand Flea, who was sold and exported along with his dam.

The Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Arabian Cup Open S. (G3) was well received and may be back in 2011, and there is also the possibility of an additional race in Texas.