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Salima Al Taleei excels as Poulain Kossack
defends Shaikh Zayed title

Top Omani lady jockey Salima Al Taleei partnered Mirabella del Sol to glory in the fourth round of the HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship IFAHR while Poulain Kossack has successfully defended his crown in the third round of the Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Cup series (Listed) for Purebred Arabians at the Hoppegarten Racecourse in Berlin, Germany on Sunday, May 5.

However, the Abu Dhabi-based professional lady jockey has stolen the limelight on her debut in the world’s richest women horse race which carries Euro 20.000 in prize-money reserved for the winners of the prestigious event. Mirabella del Sol raced against the fences to attack the leading pair in the concluding stages of the trip and covered the mile distance in 1:49:80 seconds as he prevailed by three quarters of a length on the line. Lillij Ann looked like a winner with less than 50 yards remaining before being piped by the courageous Omani lady in the shadow of the post and relegated to second.

Meanwhile, Al Taleei has joined the elite lady riders who will line up for the final of the championship when the races return to the capital of the women races at the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club in November.

“I’m truly delighted to make it a winning start in this outstanding event and let’s hope for the better in the future,” a jubilant winner said later.

In the meantime, defending champion Poulain Kossack under J Bojko, who have won this race last year and a winner of the 2010 North European Derby did everything right to complete a treble after the brilliant performer cruised to a comfortable win in Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Cup.

The six-year-old son of Naugatin sprinted to a narrow victory over fighting Ameretto, ridden by M. Manuedda with Sartejano, under F.

Minarik walking away with the third-place honours.

UAE ambassador to Federal Republic of Germany Jumaa Mubarak Al Junaibi alongside 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, Khaled Baomer, Omani ambassador to Germany, Ebrahim Mahmoud Ahmed Abdulla, Bahraini ambassador to Germany, Ali Mosa, director general of the Dubai Equestrian Club, Saif Al Awani, chairman of Al Awani Group of Companies presented the prizes and trophies to the winners.

According to Al Junaibi, the victory of the Omani lady jockey Salima Al Taleei in the fourth round of the HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship is something great and delightful.

“I would like to thank HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs for his continued support and backing of the festival,” he said.

“The bilateral relationships between UAE and Germany at all political, economical and cultural levels have witnessed great progress since the early seventies which reflect the distinguished place occupied by the UAE in the hearts and minds of the German authorities, thanks to the wise policy that has been laid down by late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan,” he added.

“I would like also to thank HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation, President of the General Women's Union – Chairwoman of Motherhood and Childhood Supreme Council for her initiative to encourage and support women sport,” he said. 
The same opinion was echoed by Brigadier (staff) Essa Rashid Al Ali, UAE military attaché to Germany.

Sawaya noted that she has expected Al Taleei to win the race and to become the fourth winners who have booked their spots in the final.

“I’m also delighted to welcome the Hungarian lady jockey. The championship is making ground year after year and all the lady jockeys from around the globe are most welcome to show up,” she said.

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.

Malmo hosts Wathba Cup

The Wathba Cup Stud series move to the Malmo Racecourse in Sweden on Tuesday. 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.

Source: HH SH Mansoor Global Arabian Flat Racing Festival
Photo: Morhaf Al Assaf