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Stage set for HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship IFAHR final in Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi – Top international lady jockeys from around the globe launch their claims in the final leg of the HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship (IFAHR) as Abu Dhabi new season races get underway at the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club here on Sunday evening (November 10, 2013).

The opening event of the Abu Dhabi races in the new season features also the second edition of the HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak EARS Apprentice Jockey Race.

The draw ceremony for both competitions was held on Tuesday at the Ferrari World at the Yas Island in Abu Dhabi as part of the fifth anniversary of the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival which hosts as well the final round of the Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Cup (Prestige) under the slogan of One World Five Continents Abu Dhabi 2013.

Officials of the Emirates Racing Authority have joined hands with Lara Sawaya, director of the HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival, Chairman of Ladies Racing Committee in the International Federation  of Arabian Horse Racing Authorities (IFAHR) in conducting the ceremony which was attended by Nora Al Suwaidi, Director of UAE's General Women's Union, sponsors, newsmen and the riders.

Australian jockey Nikita McLean, who have won the opening leg of the competition in Oman, will partner MH Wafi and will jump from Gate 4,  Mestor will be ridden by the Swiss jockey Sarah Leutwiler, the winner of the second round of the competition at the Huston Racecourse in USA, Manuela Slamanig, Austrian champion jockey of the Moroccan third round will jump on Naseem Al Reef, as the Omani lady jockey Salima Al Taleei, winner of the fourth round in Berlin will mount Karim W’Rsan. The other riders are: Eilidh Grant, Stephanie Hofer, Michala Kucharikova, Jemma Marshall, Caroline Brunaud, Maddalena Szabla, Kim Hyesun, Marie Rollando, Marta Oleksy, Leonie Vethaak.

Nora Al Suwaidi commented: “The support of HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation, Chairwoman of General Women's Union, Chairwoman of Motherhood, Childhood Supreme Council has made all the difference in putting the women sports right on the track.
The Mother of the UAE had shown keen interest in girls' sport and given it priority. She has sponsored this championship to motivate families to support their daughters in acquiring knowledge and practice horse riding. Her Highness supervised an ambitious strategy to promote the UAE ladies and women of the world at large which was a great success that earned her the appreciation and gratitude of international organisations.”

“I would like also to thank HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan for his unlimited support for the festival and availing this women demonstration to show the world the positive indication of the women’s role in the society and I wish the festival all the best,” she concluded.

Lara Sawaya said: “The draw ceremony was conducted in the most advanced and civilized manner at the Ferrari World. This is the most just and fair criterion to make everyone happy and satisfied whether drawn perfectly or widely. Arrangements have been completed to host 14 riders who make the lineup in the final leg of the Mother of the UAE Mundial in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the UAE ladies races. This is in addition to 11 international riders from both sexes who will compete in the second edition of the apprentice jockeys. The slogan of the festival is ‘One World, 5 Continents Abu Dhabi 2013.”

“The HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Conference to develop and promote the skills of the jockeys EARS which carries the name of the “Mother of the UAE’ will be the most important event of its kind and among the crucial events which are hosted by the festival in the presence of 300 guests from 29 countries,” she said.

The HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival is organized by the Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority and co-ordinated 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 Welfare and Fegentri with Emirates airlines as the official carrier and sponsored by Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC), Invest AD,  Arabtec Holding PJSC, Al Rashid Investment, Areej Al Ameerat, 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 2013, Dr. Nader Saab Switzerland, Wathba Stud Farm, Al Wathba Center, Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, Eastern Mangroves Hotel and SPA and Eastern Mangroves Suites-Abu Dhabi by Jannah.

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