Ameretto wins Shaikh Zayed Cup to retain European Triple Crown

Ameretto on way to wining the Shaikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Cup. - Supplied photo

Ameretto proved his class as one of the top Purebred Arabian horses racing in Europe winning the Polish leg of the Shaikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival's Group 3 Shaikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Cup and with it the European Triple Crown for the fourth year in a row.
Ameretto, nine-year-old son of Amer was beaten to second spot by Lahoob in Duindigt, and had to win on Sunday to claim the European Triple Crown and the bonus of Euros 50,000. The first leg winner Al Mouwaffak in Toulouse and Lahoob were not running in this final leg and Ameretto's task was cut out.
With Italian Mauro Maneuddu on board, Ameretto showed what a great champion he is as he came up with his traditional run to win at the Sluzewiec Racetrack here in Sluzewiec on Sunday.    
Ussam de Carrere, ridden by V. Popov took second place while Alladyn under S. Mazur, finished third. Ameretto covered the 2,600 metres distance in three minutes.
"Ameretto is a wonderful horse. He was always going well and responded keenly when I asked him the question in the home straight," said Maneuddu.
Winning trainer Gunter Richter said "Last year we decided to retire him to stud, but he continued to win and the connections felt he should stay in competition."
In the festival's second race of the day, Canadian apprentice jockey Brandon Duchaine brought Kasir Al Khalediah home in the sixth round of the Shaikha Fatima bint Mubarak Apprentice World Championship.
The 23-year-old Canadian apprentice jockey said he was over the moon after securing a berth in a dream final of the Shaikha Fatima bint Mubarak Apprentice Championship in Abu Dhabi.
"I think I owe it to a lucky draw which made me the ride on such a high class horse," he said.
The winner covered the mile's distance in 1:50:22 seconds to win by four lengths. English rider Sophie Killoran finished second onboard Sirego and behind them came Fucksuss under the South African apprentice Collen Storey.