Abu Dhabi: Racing action in the capital kicks off with the highlight being the Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Cup, a Prestige race which brings the curtain coming down on the hugely successful Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Racing Festival.
The Dh120,000 race for Purebred Arabians has attracted 13 runners but the duel is likely to be between the Doug Watson-trained Kandar du Falgas and Eric Lemartinel’s Shadiyda.
Three other maiden races, the first of the 15 Wathba Cup races for private owners and a thoroughbred race complete the six-race meeting which will also see a grand function to mark the end of the Shaikh Mansour Festival for which a group of trainers and jockeys have been flown in.
Mohammad Khalaf Al Mazroui, Adviser for Culture and Heritage at the Court of the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and the Director General of the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (ADACH) said, “The visit of the trainers and jockeys to the UAE will be a big boost to the sport of Purebred Arabian racing.

Culture and heritage

“For us in the UAE Arabian horse racing is part of our culture and heritage and we are very happy with the success of the festival series over the last two years.”
“Among the invited trainers are Jean-Francois Bernard, Jean Pierre Totain, Robert Litt and Damien De Watrigant. The jockeys who have come are Jean Bernard Eyquem, Jean Baptiste Hamel, Jimmy Martin, Roberto Carlos Montenegro, David Morisson, Charles Nora, Philippe Sogorb and Fabrice Veron,” said Lara Sawaya, Director of the Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Racing Festival.
“After Sunday’s Shaikh Zayed Cup race we will honour the Al Khalidiah Stables based in Saudi Arabia after their horse, Muqatil Al Khalidiah, won the three-race series held in France, Holland and Poland,” she said.
Marcial Boisselli, Racing Manager in Europe for Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, who is part of the visiting group along with AFAC’s (French Federation) Izeta Sulemanjin said, “This visit has thrilled the trainers and jockeys, many of whom are coming here for the first time.
“On Friday they met Shaikh Mansour at the Wathba Stables and the visitors also experienced the facilities for Purebred Arabian racing.
“They enjoyed the time spent at the falcon farm of Shaikh Mansour.”