Sand Tiki Special wins HH The President of the UAE Prize in Delaware

Sand Tiki Special, owned by Arnold Bardin and Gail Bardin, won the $175,000 UAE Equestrian Racing Federation Stakes at the Delaware Racecourse, Wilmington, Philadelphia, US, run on Sunday, September 12, 2004, after the favourite DA Adios was disqualified by the stewards for interference.

A Adios, owned by K R W Racing's Stables and ridden by Clyde Martin, was disqualified and placed second by the stewards for interfering with Sand Tiki Special, ridden by Juan Umana, at the top of the stretch. After finishing second, Sand Tiki Special was placed first. Heart Commander, ridden by Luis Castillo and owned by Mandolynn Hill Farm.

DA Adios, who finished second in last year's inaugural running of this richest Purebred Arabian race sponsored by The UAE Equestrian and Racing Federation had to rest content with second place again. After taking the lead, the horse, ridden by Clyde Martin, veered to the right and interfered with Sand Tiki's running and later Sand Tiki Special filed an objection.

Da Adios, the 4-to-5 favourite, covered the mile and a quarter in 2:18.32 over a fast main track. Sand Tiki Special, a three-year-old son of Burning Sand raised his career mark to two wins from three outings with earnings of $126,000. Previously, the Florida-bred horse, trained by Arnold Bardin won the $35,000 Alec Courtelis Stakes at Delaware Park on September 6. The loss was the first for DA Adios in nearly a year. The last time the 6-year-old son of Wiking lost was in this race last year when he ran second beaten by half-length. The New York-bred horse, trained by Lynn Ashby, had won his last four attempts.

A record number of 14 pure-bred Arabian horses competed in this $175,000 coveted prize, run over a distance of 2000 meters. Other horses in the event included Final Answer, Foggy Note, Noble House, S.W. Zell, Djenius, Ontarios HF, Doc Toothman, Aim South, Dynamite III, No Show Jones and Tri Traveller. The UAE Federation Stakes was part of the 10-race meeting.

Hussein Mohammed Hussein, Secretary General of the UAE Equestrian and Racing Federation, attended the race and gave away the trophies to the winning connections. Commenting on the race. He said: "For the second successive year the UAE-sponsored race attracted some of the best Purebred Arabian horses in the US and the race itself was a top quality event. Once again a large crowd of fans at the Delaware Park turned up to witness a fantastic event," he said.

Earlier before leaving the UAE to participate in this prestigious event, Hussein Mohammed Hussein had stated that the Pure-bred Arabian horses have occupied a pride of place in the international racing scene. "This extraordinary progress of the pure-bred horse racing, particularly in the international arena, is mainly due to the keen initiatives and directives of the UAE President, His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan (May God Preserve Him)".

He further added: "Constant guidance and support also came from Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan and His Excellency Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, Chairman of the UAE Racing Federation, who paved the way for the success of the Pure-bred Arabian horses," he added.

The UAE Equestrian and Racing Federation has been organizing races for the pure-bred Arabian horses for several years now, primarily to enhance the status of these horses not only in the UAE but also all over the globe. The Federation's unstinted support to these races has taken the pure-bred Arabians to new heights.

This year the UAE Equestrian and Racing Federation started the racing season for The President of the United Arab Emirates Prize for Pure-bred Arabian horses in Europe and North America with the inaugural race being held at the Newmarket racecourse in Great Britain on July 6, 2004. These races were followed by races at Deauville, (France August 11, 2004,) and Brussels (August 1, 2004). After completing the races in the US, the Federation is sponsoring races again in Newmarket (September 21, 2004) and for the first time the races will move to Morocco (November 21, 2004).

The results of UAE Equestrian and Racing Federation Stakes at Delaware: The HH President of the UAE Prize race, 2000 m, 3-years-old and upwards,
US$ 175,000:

1. Sand Tiki Special (Arnold R Bardin) Juan Umana;

2. DA Adios (Lynn Ashby ) Clyde W Martin;

3. Heart Commander (Ronald D Martino) Robert Roller

Time: 2:18:32