World's richest Pure Arabian race in Abu Dhabi on November 8

November’s Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Cup in capital to become world’s richest
Purebred Arabian race

Under the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister of the UAE and Minister of Presidential Affairs the HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival will stage the world’s richest race for Purebred Arabian horses in Abu Dhabi on November 8, 2015.

Details of HH Sheikh Mansoor’s directives were announced at a press conference at the Hormuz Hotel in Muscat, Oman by Ms Lara Sawaya Executive Director of the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival, Chairman of the Int'l Federation of Horse Racing Academies (IFHRA), Chairman of Ladies & Apprentice Racing Committee in the Int'l Federation of Arabian Horse Racing Authorities (IFAHR).

“Under the directives of HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Group 1 National Day Cup will now be run as part of the HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival‘s "One World, 6 Continents, Abu Dhabi The Capital " on November 8 renamed as the Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Jewel Crown (The National Day Cup) Group 1. The race will carry a total prize fund of Euros 1.2 million and will be run over 1600 metres,” said Ms Sawaya.

“The 1.2 million Euros prize money for the race makes the Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Jewel Crown (The National Day Cup) Group 1race the richest ever for a Purebred Arabian race in the world,” she said.

“One month prior to the race, HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan will give his directives on how the prize money for the race will be split among the participants,” she added.

The "One World, 6 Continents, Abu Dhabi The Capital” extravaganza on November 8 will bring the curtain down on the activities of the HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival and is one of the most awaited racing days for the Purebred Arabian racing fraternity.

Stage set for the opener of HH Sheikha Fatima championship

Ten lady jockeys representing Oman, Europe, USA and Australia will be part of the opening round in the 2015 HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship and will be held on Friday, the final day of the ongoing International Horse, Camel & Heritage Exhibition at the Flaij racecourse here in Muscat.

Speaking to newsmen at the Hormuz Grand Hotel, HE Murshid Al Romaithi, representing the UAE embassy in Muscat said: “The staging of the HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship in Muscat as part of the HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Flat Arabian Flat Horse Racing Festival is very crucial for the development of the equine sport to preserve the heritage and culture of the grandfathers and underlines the values of the national identity.

“I would like to thank HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation, Chairwoman of General Women's Union, Chairwoman of Motherhood, and Childhood Supreme Council for her unlimited support for the women sport and the UAE girls to make their presence felt within the UAE and abroad,” he said.

Meanwhile, the fourth edition of the Horse, Camel and Heritage Fair was officially inaugurated at the Oman International Exhibition Centre on Tuesday night. The three-day fair contained a number of functions with active participation from a number of governmental, local and private sector units in the Sultanate, as well as from the GCC, Arab, Asian, and European countries, besides the USA.

A stunning collection of eye-catching photographs, books, CDs and pamphlets of the HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Darley Awards Oscar, HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Cup and other activities of the festival were on display at the neatly organised and decorated stand of the HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival in the heart of the Sultanate’s premier exhibition.

The opening ceremony was attended by HE Noura Al Suwaidi, director of the UAE General Women’s Union and chairwoman of the Executive Council of the Women Sports Committee and Ms Lara Sawaya who welcomed the patron of the Fair during his visit to the stand.

“The HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship is of great importance for boosting women sport worldwide and I would like to thank HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan for his unprecedented support and backing of the UAE women,” she said.

Ms Sawaya later inaugurated the draw ceremony of the HH Sheikh Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship opening race. She noted that Dr. Jamal Al Hoot, member of the scientific research team of the Liverpool John Moores University will supervise the professional and amateur lady jockeys nutrition and he will meet with them later in this regard.  

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