Oman score Toulouse win with Sylvine Al Maury

Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Cup (Group 3) French Arabian Breeders Challenge Classic

French trainer Jean-Francois Bernard wrapped up the HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival’s Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Cup series in Europe with a superb win in Toulouse, France on Wednesday, October 29.

The Royal Stables of Oman-owned Sylvine Al Maury under Ioritz Mendizibal did very well to pip Meeyur under Roberto-Carlos Montenegro by a short head to win the Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Cup (Group 3) French Arabian Breeders Challenge Classic for three-year-old fillies.

Bernard, who has been a consistent performer in all the different race series organised by the HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival was spot on in Wednesday’s contest as the three-year-old Munjiz filly scored her first career win after two impressive second-placed runs in three starts earlier.

Meeyur finished in second ahead of stablemate Samjida ridden by Francois-Xavier Bertras for a 2-3 finish for trainer P. Sogorb.

Earlier an 11-horse field started the mile’s contest which was the last of the HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival before the season-ending finale in Abu Dhabi on November 9.

Unbeaten Al Fahda, the Qatari raider from Al Shaqab Stables, started as the favourite but failed to find a place as Bernard’s Sylvine Al Maury proved too good for the task.

“With this the action will now shift to Abu Dhabi for the ‘One World, 6 Contents’ event from November 4 to 9 that will host over 800 members of the Purebred Arabian Racing fraternity representing 56 countries in the world capital of Purebred Arabian racing,” said Ms Lara Sawaya, Executive Director of the HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival and Chairman of Ladies Racing Committee in the International Federation of Arabian Horse Racing Authorities (IFAHR) and Chairman of Apprentice Jockeys & Racing in IFAHR.

“On November 4 we will have the Official Draw for the HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak World Championships of both Ladies and Apprentices at the Eastern Mangroves Anantara while the next day the 800 guests from 56 Countries representing 6 Continents will start arriving in Abu Dhabi, The Capital of the World for Arabian Horse Racing,” she said.

"On November 6, a 2-hour camel racing event will be followed by a press conference and will culminate in a grand welcome party at the Al Wathba Heritage Village", Ms Sawaya said.

The 2014 edition of the HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Conference for Education and Training will be held on November 7 and 8.

And on November 9, the final races of the Festival’s the HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship IFAHR series, HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Apprentice World Championship (IFAHR) will be held along with the Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Cup and the Wathba Stud Farm Cup will be held at the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club.

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