Berlin- A quality field of six horses has been declared to make the lineup for the third round of the Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Cup series (Listed) for Purebred Arabians while a competitive field of eight runners will battle it to the wire in the 1600m HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship IFAHR as both events are set to kick off at the Hoppegarten Racecourse on Sunday.
The series are held under the directives of HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan as part of the fifth edition of the HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Flat Racing Festival which is organized by the Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority and coordinated by Abu Dhabi Sports Council in association with Emirates Racing Authority, IFAHR and Emirates Arabian Horse Society, supported by General Authority for Youth and Sports and Fegentri with Emirates airlines as the official carrier and sponsored by Invest AD, Al Rashid Investment, Areej Al Ameerat, Mauzan, Al Awani General Enterprises, Kabale, the UAE’s General Women’s Union, the Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy, Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition 2012,Wathba Stud Farm and Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club.
Top Omani lady jockey Salma Al Taleei carries the Arab lady jockeys hopes in the competition and the prize-money of Euro 25.000 reserved for the winners in the world’s richest women horse race. The brilliant rider makes her Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship debut aboard Mirabella del Sol and must be looking forward to make it into the final of the competition when the series return to Abu Dhabi in November.
Al Taleei enters the race with five wins under her belt which she has achieved as a professional jockey in Abu Dhabi and Australia and has every chance to cross the finish line ahead of the other lady riders in today’s challenge. Meanwhile, Phraseur Kossack, ridden by the Turkish lady jockey C. Buesa is the immediate danger should the Dutch-bred manage to return to his best. Among the other runners who are making the field comes Lillij Ann (A. de Bortoli), Serouda Du Breuil (C. Burri), Kalibr (A. Bihari), Ghilali (B. Weber) and Malissia (S. Ahern). In the meantime, the international Listed race, the Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Cup, like the preceding event, is open for four years and older Purebred Arabian horses WAHO registered and holding IFAHR accepted pedigree and contested over 2000 metres in the right handed course.
Defending champion Poulain Kossack, J Bojko up, who have won this race last year and the winner of the 2010 North European Derby heads a quality field of six contenders going to post for the Euro20.000 prize-money. The brilliant performer cruised to a comfortable win in the opening edition of the series at the Duingit racecourse at his home soil in The Hague in June 2012 before he claimed a double last year.
The six-year-old son of Naugatin made virtually all in the hands and heels of the lady jockey Jadey Peitrasiewicz and did everything right to smash his opponents in great style. The French-bred Ameretto, ridden by M. Manuedda, Sartejano, under F. Minarik, Fanal El Samawi, E. Hardouin in the saddle, Kazbek, ridden by W. Panov and the mount of R. Piechulek complete the small field.
According to Lara Sawaya, Lara Sawaya, Director of HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival, Head of International Federation of Arabian Horse Racing Authorities ( IFAHR) Ladies Racing said they are delighted to have a new participant lady rider from Hungary and there’s still sufficient room to see other ladies coming in from all other parts of the world. “We have two UAE lady jockeys training under the supervision of Majid Al Jahouri and they will join the series very soon,” she added. Adnan Al Nuaimi, director general of the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club said, “This race in Berlin is very important and a great milestone for the HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Flat Racing Festival. Stephen Bowey, Executive Director of Invest AD, “This Festival is rapidly gaining ground around the world and we are happy to be supporting the move to spread Arabian racing.” Saif Al Awani, Chairman of Al Awani Companies Representation Group of Companies and one of the sponsors of the international series said, “We thank HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs for giving us this opportunity to be part of this highly successful endeavor.” “Being part of this Festival which supports the UAE Culture and Heritage gives us great pride,” he added.
