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HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Festival returns to Berlin

Berlin-Germany: The seventh leg of the HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship IFAHR is a re-match between the two top Arabian-bred raiders Phraseur Kossack and Athlete Del Sol at the Hoppergarten Racecourse on Sunday, May 11. The race will be run over a mile and carries a total purse of Euro20.000 plus bonus.

Phraseur Kossack, to be ridden by the Dutch lady jockey Jadey Pietrasuewicz, a home care nurse who has rode 84 winners in 450 starts with her most important being the HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Championship in Australia 2012. “I know he’s a well-bred son of Prince d’Orient and hopefully we will win it together for Holland,” she said.

“He was recently partnered by the French jockey Prod’Home Pauline to win the third round of the HH Shaikha Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship and make it 2 out of 2 at the St. Moritz White Turf and I think he has every chance to repeat on Sunday,” she added.

Meanwhile, Athlete del Sol will be partnered by Mai Beppu, who makes her debut in the competition for Japan. The 27-year-old professional jockey is looking forward to make it a winning start for her country and ride her 480th winner from 5018 starts.

“I have got my licence in 2005 as full-fledged jockey and hopefully I will emulate the Korean lady jockey Keumjoo Lee who rode her first winner on debut at Casablanca last month,” she noted.

Beppu said she didn’t see the horse but she was briefed about his qualities and she believes that he stands a very good chance to take revenge for his earlier defeat to Phraseur Kossack.

Other riders are, Oman’s Fatma al Manji onboard Vly Kossack, Germany’s SILKE BRÜGGEMANN astride Senna OA, Tunisia’s Gabriella Fricano aboard Mirabella del Sol and Lara Le Geay riding Lillij Ann.

The venue will host also the fifth round of the Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Cup with 12 runners have been declared to battle it to the wire in the Euro30.000 (Listed) competition which will be contested over ten furlongs in the right-handed course.

The international (Listed) race is also open for four years and older Purebred Arabian horses WAHO registered and holding IFAHR accepted pedigree.

The two events are staged as part of the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival which 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),  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.

Mohammed Ebrahim Al Mahomoud, Deputy Chairman of the General Authority of Youth and Sports Welfare, secretary general of the Abu Dhabi Sports Council reiterated the support of the authorities to all sports and events which contribute to the promotion and revival of the sports of the fathers and grandfathers and enhance the culture and heritage of the UAE.

Mubarak Hamad Al Muhairi, director general of the Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority said: “The series which are originally introduced to support small breeders and owners has received the cooperation of all parties involved and proceeding from one success to another.”

“Our immediate target at the authority is to set up a long term strategy for varying events, including the Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Cup and the HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship IFAHR, to provide utmost support and backing for Arabian races worldwide,” he concluded.
Noura Al Suwaidi, the Director of the General Women’s Union (GWU), said: “We are delighted to see the UAE women achieving all this level of success thanks to the encouragement and backing of HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Mother of the UAE.

“We are truly obliged to the farsightedness vision and directives of HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs in launching this campaign which is paying dividends and hitting the highest level of success and progress,” she added.

Adnan Sultan Al Nuaimi, director of the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club said: “The farsightedness vision of HH Sheikh Mansoor has paid off and the festival is introducing UAE to the whole world while strengthen its ties and links around the globe.”

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