Strong field for Turf contest in Toulouse, France

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

A strong field of 11 horses have lined up for the HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival’s Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Cup (Group 3) French Arabian Breeders Challenge Classic which will be run on Tuesday, October 29 at the Toulouse race course in France.

The contest is open only to 3-year-old fillies and starting favourite is Al Fahda the Qatari raider from Al Shaqab Stables. Unbeaten in two starts this year, the T. Fourcy-trained filly will be ridden by Vincent Cheminaud.

Samjida is another unbeaten filly in two starts and will be challenging for a slice of the Euros 45,000 prize money.

Omani raider Sylvine Al Maury has impressed in three starts with two second-placed runs and is expected to be in the final frame along with Munjiz filly Mindza. Mindza won her first three starts but failed in her next three and is expected to bounce back.

Da’Areen, owned by HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs is part of the 11-horse field for the 1600-metre race which has a prize fund of  Euros 45,000 and is the last of the big races by the Festival before the action shifts to Abu Dhabi next month.

Trained by Charles Gourdain and to be ridden by David Morisson, Da’Areen will be looking to go one better than the last three second-place finish runs.

Other runners include Jean-Francois Bernard-trained Al Karama Monlau, a Dormane filly with a win under her belt, Meeyur, Etifaq, Petitelaika and Bahia Du Paon.

This is the final race of the HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival after which over 800 members of the Purebred Arabian racing fraternity will assemble in Abu Dhabi for the November 6-9, ‘One World, 6 Continents’ finale.

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 Classic.

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