Abu Dhabi A quality field of eight runners will bring the curtain down on the American and European leg of the Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s Global Arabian Flat Racing Festival when they line-up for today’s Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Cup (Group 2) race at the Craon racecourse in France.
Today’s 20,000-euro Prix Cheri Bibi race over 11 furlongs will see Musharab, a three-year-old Njewman colt owned by Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, start as favourite.
Musharab, who smartloy won on debut but then finished second and third to Dubai Heros, the last run in a Group 1 race over a mile, later scored his second win when winning in Dax over seven furlongs.
Musharab’s main contender is likely to be the Jean Francois-Bernard’s Kiss De Ghyazal. The three-year-old filly won her debut race over 9.5 furlongs and this extended distance of 11 furlongs could be to her liking as she bids to re,ain unbeaten in two starts.
Belgium’s Omni D.A comes in with a last-start win and the fans at Craon are expected to see a fitting finale to the Festival being organised by the Abu Dhabi Authority of Culture and Heritage (ADACH) in co-ordination with Abu Dhabi Sports Council (ADSC) and Wathba Stud Farm with sponsorship from Invest AD, Bonyan International Investment Group (Holding) LLC and Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition 2010.
Abdullah Al Qubaisi, Director of Communications, ADACH, in a statement said, “The race series has returned to France having kick started the event in Toulouse on April 23”. “The race is expected to be a competitive one as it has attracted a quality field. This festival underlines the keenness of the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage in supporting traditional sports including horse racing,” he added.
Encouraging
Lara Sawaya, Director of the Global Arabian Flat Racing Festival, said, “It is encouraging to see high quality Arabian race horses competing here and the interest they are generating in the international horse racing community.”
Horse racing fans have a chance of winning cash awards by participating in the Pick & Vote competition via www.sheikhmansoorfestival.com website,” concluded Sawaya.
Talal Al Hashmi of ADSC said “The official support of Abu Dhabi Sports Council for the Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s Global Arabian Flat Racing Festival’s Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Cup is consistent with the strategic priorities of the Council to support international events and the promotion of Abu Dhabi in the world of racing especially horse racing.”
