Another Swedish win in HH Sheikha Fatima World Ladies Championship in Melbourne

Isabella Teh on Djehlbi and Sweden’s Anna Pilroth on Keisha emerged winners in the H.H Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Flat Racing Festival races at Sportingbet Park, Sandown in Melbourne, Australia on Monday, January 26.

While Isabella Teh steered Djehlbi to a smart win in the prestigious Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Cup over 6.5 furlongs (1300 metres), Anna Pilroth on Keisha made it another Swedish win in the HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Championship race series (7 furlongs, 1400 metres) as the two races were staged by NARA Australia and The Melbourne Racing Club to kick-start the 2015 racing season at Sandown.

Djehlbi wins Sheikh Zayed Cup in Melbourne

Djehlbi trained by Michelle Clements for owner Jay Randle, had last year won the Shadwell Arabian Stallions Plate and thus made it a memorable double in races sponsored by the UAE.

Like Djehlbi, Keisha, trained by Jennifer Randle, had last year won the UAE Arabian plate.

Anna Pilroth now becomes the second Swedish lady jockey after Josefin Landgren to win this year in the HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Championship race series, the latter having won the series opener in Oman earlier this month.

Sheikh Hamdan bin Suroor Al Sharqi, representing Invest AD, Adnan Sultan Al Nuaimi, Director General of the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, Mr Ali Moosa and Ms Lara Sawaya, Chairman of the International Federation of Horse Racing Academies (IFHRA), Executive Director of the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival and Chairman of Ladies & Apprentice Racing Committees in the International Federation of Arabian Horse Racing Authorities (IFAHR) gave away the trophies to the winners of the two races.

Sheikh Hamdan bin Suroor Al Sharqi said Invest AD was very proud and privileged to be a partner with the H.H Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Flat Racing Festival. “These races reflect the culture and heritage of the UAE as Purebred Arabian horses are very close to the hearts of UAE citizens,” he said.

“We thank His Highness Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister of the UAE 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 for the success of the Festival’s two premier race series that have now become symbolic of Purebred Arabian racing around the globe,” said Ms Lara Sawaya, said.

“It has been a good series for Swedish lady riders who have won both here and in Oman. The HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Championship races are becoming very competitive and we are looking forward to a great season ahead this year,” she said.

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 The National Archives 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 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 2015, 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