Inaugural race of H.H. Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Apprentice World Championship in Sacramento, USA

HH Sheikh Mansoor Festival breaks new ground

The HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival adds another glorious chapter to its success story as it unveils yet another flat race series involving Purebred Arabian horses– the H.H. Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Apprentice World Championship (IFAHR) with the first race in Sacramento, California (USA) on Saturday, July 19.

This is the fourth world series that the HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival has launched since 2009, the others being the Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan series, H.H. Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak World Ladies Championship (IFAHR) series, the Wathba Stud Farm Cup series and now this exclusive series for Apprentice jockeys.

After conducting the draw in Sacramento yesterday, Ms Lara Sawaya, Executive Director of HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival  and Chairman of Ladies Racing at the International Federation of Arabian Horse Racing Authorities (IFAHR), said, “We thank His Highness Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs and Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women's Union, Supreme President of the Family Development Foundation (FDF) and Head of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood and Mother of the world for this wise initiative.”

“We will be having a total of five races in this H.H. Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Apprentice World Championship (IFAHR) starting here in Sacramento. The other races will be held in Newbury, UK on August 3, Baden-Baden in Germany on September 7, and Tarbes in France on October 12 with the finale of this series on November 9 in Abu Dhabi,” Ms Sawaya said.

“This series is to encourage the promising young jockeys, usher in a new generation of jockeys and ensure the future is strong as they go on to become professionals,” she said.

The UAE’s Ahmed Al Subosi, who has shown a lot of promise and is part of the all-conquering Godolphin Stables, will be riding on Saturday along with apprentice jockeys from nine other countries. They include Gemma Tutty from Great Britain, Corrine Andros from Canada, Aase Marie Brown from Sweden, Patrick Gibson from Germany, Gianni Siaffa from France, Joshua Cartwright from Australia, Laura Barry from Ireland, Gianluca Sanna from Italy and Laura Carson from the host country USA.

Italian Sanna, a 20-year-old Apprentice with one win from four rides drew the favourite Sammy V and the recent record-breaking performer could be the one to beat in the 10-horse field in the 6-furlong race with a total prize fund of US$ 27,000 up for grabs.

The UAE’s Al Subosi will be on local hope Le Jest A Flash.

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.

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