Bahrain all set to stage round five of HH Sheikha Fatima ladies race

Mlolshan under Danish lady jockey Sabina Gammelgaard, the winner of last year’s inaugural edition in Bahrain

After the success of last year’s debut in Bahrain, the HH Sheikh Manor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival’s HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship (IFAHR) series is back to the Rashid Equestrian and Horse Racing Club in Manama for another run.

This year’s fifth round of the ladies world championship race is listed for 3.45 pm on Friday, March 18, and the 1400-metre race with a prize fund of BD 15,000 has attracted seven quality runners.

Among them is Mlolshan, the winner of last year’s inaugural edition under Danish lady jockey Sabina Gammelgaard. In Friday’s race the 4-year-old colt will be ridden by Germany’s Laura Giesgen and will be looking to strike again, this time for trainer A Kumaiti.

Also battling to win and book a berth in the grand finale of the HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship (IFAHR) series in Abu Dhabi on November 6 are six other top lady jockeys representing various countries.

The lady jockeys and the horses they are to ride were decided in an open draw and the other six in the fray are Kuheilan Al Adiyat under Alice Mills of Great Britain, Tuwaisaan under Swiss lady rider Celine Webber, Kra Yaan under Norway’s Catherine Fortune, Al Rabda under Denmark’s Rikke Sorensen, Al Shuwaimeh under French jockey Pauline Boisgontier and Al Hamdanieh under Ireland’s Evanna Mccutcheon.

The draw ceremony of the HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship and the prestigious Kings Cup (Group 1) for Purebred Arabian horses to be staged on Friday was held on Tuesday and telecast live via Bahrain Sports Channel for the first time and was attended by Tawfiq Sharaf Al Alawi, director general of the Rashid Equestrian & Racing Club and a number of owners and trainers.

Hussain Qassim, Racing Manager, confirmed that all technical preparations are well in place at the track and the increasing number of races will not adversely affect their efforts as it will add more fun and excitement to the event.

Ms Lara Sawaya, Executive Director of 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 Committees in the International Federation of Arabian Horse Racing Authorities (IFAHR said, “The race in Bahrain is an important event in our calendar and we are happy that lady jockeys in the region will get to watch the other ladies perform in the race.”

“Bahrain like the UAE has a long association with Arabian horses and we are delighted to be back here for the second year running,” she added.

“We have already completed four rounds in this year’s series so far and we expect another round of keen competition as the lady jockeys vie for a berth in the November 6 final in Abu Dhabi,” Ms Sawaya said.

The HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival is sustained by the Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority and coordinated by Abu Dhabi Sports Council, with National Feed and Flour Production and Marketing Co. LLC as associate sponsors, IPIC as Strategic Partner, The  National Archives as the official partner and Emirates airline as the official carriers, in cooperation with Emirates Racing Authority, IFAHR, Emirates Arabian Horse Society, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, General Authority of Youth and Sports Welfare with  and sponsored by Ayadii LLC, Global United Veterinary Services LLC, Bloom, Petromal, Rise General Trading Co. LLC, Hayatna, Wathba Stallions, Abu Dhabi Falconers Club, Emirates Falconers Club,  Mohamed Bin Zayed Falconry and Desert Physiognomy School, Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), Al Awani General Enterprises, Kabale, Omeir Travels, Dr Nader Saab Switzerland, Laboratories Fadia Karam Cosmetics, YAS Channel, Racing Post, Paris Turf,  Al Wathba Centre, the UAE's General Women's Union, The Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, the HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy, Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition 2016, Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, Eastern Mangroves Suites-Abu Dhabi by Jannah, Anantara Eastern Mangroves Spa and Resort.

Source: HH SH Mansoor Global Arabian Flat Racing Festival / Satya Narayan