FRANKFURT — It was a 1-2 finish for Shaikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, in the Shaikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Flat Racing Festival’s Shaikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Cup (Listed) race held at the Frankfurt race course on Sunday.
The three year-old Naseem, ridden by Alexandre Gavilan and trained by D Guillemin, surged ahead to win by a length from Thakif, ridden by Charles Nora and trained by J.P. Totain.
Magua finished half-a-length behind third. The winning time was 1:47.14.
Thakif, also owned by Shaikh Mansour had looked extremely strong until the final few metres of the 1600 race.
“This is the second win for Naseem after the Qatar Cup in June and I knew I was going to win today (Sunday) as my horse is in fine form,” said jockey Gavilan.
Khalid bin Ghalaitah Al Mehairi, Manager of UAE Embassy Office in Bonn, Lara Sawaya, director of Shaikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Flat Racing Festival, Adnan Sultan Al Nuaimi, director general of Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, Stephen Bowey, Executive Director (marketing) of Invest AD and German racing officials participated in the prize distribution.
“Horse racing is a huge passion in Germany as it is in the UAE and thanks to Shaikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s initiative Arab horses have become subject of interest among the breeders and Arab horse racing enthusiasts from all over the world. This was the second of the two races organised in Germany after the Berlin event, last month,” he said.
“Arabian racing is gaining momentum in this part of the world and we are getting lot of calls in our offices from genuine Arabian horse enthusiasts to know more about this breed and other details,” said Al Mehairi.
Abdullah Al Qubaisi, Communication Director, Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (ADACH) said: “Flat racing has a global following and Arabian purebred horses have been consistently successful at prestigious race meeting world over and it is our objective to raise global awareness about their speed and stamina among the true lovers of this sport.”
Lara said it was a thrilling race in which Shaikh Mansour’s Naseem and Thakif secured the top spots in front of a packed grand stand.
Lara outlined the achievements of the series since its inception saying that it had boosted UAE’s reputation worldwide as a leading promoter of Arabian horses.
Lara said preparations are already underway for the 2012 Shaikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Flat Racing Festival and one of the highlight’s will be the Shaikha Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies Fegentri Cup which will take place in Newbury, UK next year with a handsome prize money of £20,000, which is scheduled for May 18 next year.
Stephen Bowey said: “The Festival of Shaikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan is increasingly influential, not only by promoting Arabian racing but also in the horse racing world as a whole. Invest AD is proud to be supporting this Festival”. Ali Al Mulla, chairman of Areej Al Ameerat said: “It is a great pride for us to be part of an event which is being held under the support of Shaikh Mansour. Undoubtedly the Festival is growing from success to greater successes every year,” Mirna Youness of La Sirene noted that the unflinching support from Shaikh Mansour enabled it to become one of the significant sporting event where ever it is held , attracting horse racing enthusiasts.
The Festival is being organised by the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage and co-ordinated by Abu Dhabi Sports Council in association with Emirates Arabian Horse Society with support from Invest AD, Areej Al Ameerat, La Sirene, the UAE’s General Women’s Union, Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition 2011, Wathba Stud Farm and Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club.
