Run over 300 metres on the turf course, nine young riders contested this race and the big prize was that the winner would be racing in the championship final in Abu Dhabi, the UAE capital in November.
Fourteen-year-old Charlotte New on her pony Armidale Hitari finished first ahead of Jessica Lawrence on Slippery while Emma De Lautour on MacIntosh was third.
Charlotte hails from the famous Waikato District, an area famous for its horses and riders. “I am so excited and thrilled to be heading to Abu Dhabi in November to represent New Zealand in the final of the series. I am looking forward and will do my best to win there,” she said.
Legendary New Zealand jockey Noel Harris presented the trophy with Chris Watson, New Zealand’s IFHRA representative in attendance during the prize distribution.
“We thank HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister of the UAE and Minister of Presidential Affairs for his generous sponsorship of the race and we also thank HH Sheikha Lateefa’s interest and the importance of her role as the young patron and ambassador for international pony racing,” Watson said.
The HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival is sustained by the Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority and coordinated by Abu Dhabi Sports Council, with National Feed and Flour Production and Marketing Co. LLC as associate sponsors, The National Archives as the official partner and Emirates airline as the official carrier, in cooperation with Emirates Racing Authority, IFHRA, IFAHR, Emirates Arabian Horse Society, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Abu Dhabi Youth Council, General Authority for Sports and sponsored by Ayadi LLC, Global United Veterinary Services LLC, Nissan Middleast Al Massood Automobiles, Nirvana Travels and Tourism LLC, Equicare Veterinary Services, Alawal Stud, Cavalos Equine Care & Supplies, SET Sustainable Environmental Technologies, Al Awani General Enterprises, Omeir Travels, Kabale, YAS Channel, Abu Dhabi Falconers Club, Emirates Falconers Club, Mohammed Bin Zayed Falconry and Desert Physiognomy School, Racing Post, Paris Turf, Al Wathba Centre, the UAE’s General Women’s Union, The Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, the HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy, Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition 2018, Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, Anantara Eastern Mangroves Spa and Resort.
