Bratislava, Slovakia The HH Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival will cross a new frontier in its worldwide patronage of equestrian sports when lends its support to the FEI World Endurance Championship for Young Horses 2014 at Samorin, Slovakia on Saturday.

A competitive field of 48 rides, including five hopefuls from the UAE, will compete for top honours in the 120km ride for seven-year-old horses.

The UAE challenge is spearheaded by Al Ain’s Afra Khalifa Al Suwaidi, who Led the UAE ladies endurance team to a double gold medal winning success in the Her Highness Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Endurance Cup in Verona, Italy in July. Afra will partner the Hassan Rakhan Al Mansoori-owned gelding Ainhoa Tidjor, a horse which helped her qualify for the Slovakia ride.

World Endurance champion trainer Ismail Mohammad has entered a four-strong field of horses with Sheikh Hamed Dalmook Al Maktoum, likely to partner the highly-regarded Normandy.

Mansoor Saeed Mohammed Al Faresi with team up with Tiswan Fageole while Mohammed Saeed Mohammed Al Faresi rides Caramel Do Silva.
Saeed Mohammed Saeed Al Khayari competes the UAE quintet aboard the UAE-bred gelding Ostro Di Chai.The Emirati rides will come up against strong riders representing Argentina, Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Spain, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Russia, Slovakia and Sweden.

France is well represented with a potential 11-strong field while hosts Slovakia have entered four horses. Adnan Sultan Al Nuaimi,Director General of the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, thanks His Highness Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, for his continues support of endurance and Purebred Arabian racing.

“His Highness, through his support of events like the FEI World Endurance Championship for Young Horses has helped the sport to reach a higher level,both in terms of participation and importance.“Endurance, in particular, is flourishing and getting more noticed in Europe and around the world thanks to the support of the Sheikh Mansour Festival which has worked together with the local authorities in Slovakia to put on a top class competition. We wish all the competitors the best of luck on Saturday.”

Mubarak Rashed Al Nuaimi, Director of Promotion & Overseas Offices, Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture, also paid tribute to His Highness Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and the HH Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival.“By supporting both endurance and Arabian Racing His Highness Sheikh Mansour has given equestrian sport a significant boost,” he said. “It is a great idea to promote Arabian racing worldwide and to encourage new owners, trainers and riders to compete against each other on a regular basis.

“The Sheikh Mansour Festival offers all enthusiasts of Arabian horses with the chance to be involved in something significant that is happening in the sport. As a result the calendar is full of exciting events in over 50 countries. This can only be good for the growth of Arabian racing around the world.”
Mubarak Rashed Al Nuaimi, Director of Promotion & Overseas Offices, Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture, said he was proud to be involved with the HH Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival and part of its efforts to raise the profile of Arabian racing globally.

“Saturday’s ride is a new page in the history and evolution of Purebred Arabian racing and endurance,” he said. “In a short time His Highness Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed, have helped change the face of equestrian events around the world. “Today, the sport is enjoying a remarkable growth and we believe that by next season the HH Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival will host something like 99 events in 56 countries.”The HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival is organised 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 the Ministry of Foreign Affairs , the General Authority of Youth and Sports Welfare with Arabtec Holding PJSC as the Official Partner and Emirates airline as the official carriers and sponsored by Invest AD, Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC), Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), Al Rashid Investment, Al Awani General Enterprises, Kabale, Al Wathba Centre, the UAE’s General Women’s Union, the HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy, Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition 2014, Dr. Nader Saab
Switzerland, Al Wathba Center, Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club,Eastern Mangroves Suites-Abu Dhabi by Jannah, Abu Dhabi Sports Channel and Racing Post.

At A Glance

What: FEI World Championship for Young Horses 2014
When: Saturday, September 26, 2014
Where: Samorin Slovakia
Type of competition: CEI 4*

Classification: 7-year-olds only

Distance: 120km