Leading the nine-horse field in this Listed race on turf is three-year-old filly Salaamah, owned by Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs. Salaamah will be starting off as the favourite and will be ridden by Charles Nora.
Bred by Sheikh Mansoor, the Damien de Watrigant-trained Salaamah won the Emirates Equestrian Federation International Stakes in Newbury last month and has so far won three of his four starts, beaten just once.
Saher, to be ridden by Philippe Sogorb, is another Sheikh Mansoor-owned horse and is trained by Robert Litt to complete a strong duo from the Wathba Stables.
Adding from Poland is unbeaten in two starts while Belgium will be represented by Kadesch D.A. Four more contenders from Poland are Al Rischa, Boogie Woogie, Jallah and Song Of Joy while Ofira El Samawi will be a strong contender in the Euros 15,000 Listed race. Seven other races will also be held on Sunday at Frankfurt.
The race will be run over 1600 metres and is he fourth in this year’s HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s Global Arabian Flat Racing Festival. The earlier three races have been run in Toulouse in France, Duindigt in The Netherlands and Delaware in the US.
The HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s Global Arabian Flat Racing Festival’s Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Cup race series is being organized by Abu Dhabi Authority of Culture and Heritage (ADACH) in co-ordination with Abu Dhabi Sports Council and Wathba Stud Farm with support from Invest Abu Dhabi, Bonyan International Investment Group (Holding) LLC and Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition 2010.
Abdullah Al Qubaisi, Director of Communications, Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (ADACH) who is here in Frankfurt said, “Most of the officials from the Frankfurt racecourse and the German Arabian racing have said that this year’s Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Cup will be an exciting race.”
“The weather seems to be holding and we are really happy to be here and see the German racing fans come out to support Arabian racing,” Al Qubaisi said.