Top Danish lady jockey Sabina Gammelgaard partnered Mlolshan to glory in the fifth round of the HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship (IFAHR) at the Rashid Equestrian and Horse Racing Club here on Friday evening.
The race was held under the directives of HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, as part of the HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival.
Trained by Alen Smith on behalf of Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the five-year-old son of Kuhelian Umm Zorayr was perfectly poised behind the early speed as the Omani contender Azhar Al Wardi showed the way onboard Kuheila’t Al Adiyat and took the 10-runner field in a nice trip over the right-handed turf track. But, the Danish girl was a little bit interrupted by the loose horse Al Tuwaisah after the British jockey Lorna Brooke was unseated. Gammelgaard on Mlolshan then came wide to race from the centre of the course and prevailed by a comfortable margin on the line.
“My horse is easy to ride and the going was fast that has ultimately boosted my chances,” said the winning jockey later. “It’s great to secure an early spot in the dream lineup in the final of the prestigious trophy,” she added.
The winning trainer A. Amith added: “I believe Sabina gave my horse a super ride and things could not have been bettered.”
“I had told the young lady to come wide in order to race from the best place in the track and she has followed the instructions and that was the best thing to do,” he added.
Meanwhile, Sheikh Mohammed bin Essa Al Khalifa, Noura Al Suwaidi, Adnan Sultan and Ms Lara Sawaya presented the trophies to the winning owner, trainer and jockey.
“We are delighted to stage a very successful event for the first time in Bahrain thanks to the far-sighted vision of the HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and minister of Presidential Affairs and HH Sheikh Fatima bint Mubarak, Mother of the Nation,” said Noura Al Suwaidi later.
“It’s a great opportunity to meet with our brothers in Bahrain and we are truly excited with the warm welcome and hospitality as well as the excellent organisation” she added.
Ms Lara Sawaya, Executive Director of the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival, Chairman of the Int’l Federation of Horse Racing Academies (IFHRA), Chairman of Ladies & Apprentice Racing Committee in the Int’l Federation of Arabian Horse Racing Authorities ( IFAHR) commented: “We are also looking forward to achieve further organizational success in the CEN 90km HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies Endurance Cup scheduled at the Bahrain International Endurance Village on Saturday morning,” she added.
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 The National Archives 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 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 2015, Dr. Nader Saab Switzerland, Al Wathba Center, Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, Eastern Mangroves Suites-Abu Dhabi by Jannah, Yas Channel, Omeir Travels and Racing Post.
