Ladies race in Oman kick-starts HH Sheikh Mansoor Festival’s 2016 activities

Ten in fray for Friday’s HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak event

Muscat, Oman - The Al Rahba Racecourse in Muscat, Oman will host the first race in the HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship (IFAHR) series on Friday, January 15 and kick-start the activities of the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival for 2016.

The Festival is held under the directives of HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs.

Ms Lara Sawaya, Executive Director of the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival, Chairperson of the International Federation of Horse Racing Academies (IFHRA) and Chairperson of Ladies & Apprentice Racing Committees in the International Federation of Arabian Horse Racing Authorities (IFAHR) made the announcement during a joint press conference with the Oman racing authorities at the Hormuz Hotel in Muscat here on Wednesday.

The draw for the ten entries in the HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship (IFAHR) race was held with HE Hamad Sultan Saif Al Suwaidi- UAE Ambassador to Oman, Ms Lara Sawaya, Muneera Al Marzouqi-Commercial Manager of the National Feed and Flour Production Company, Brigadier Abdul Raziq Al Shahurzi, Commander of the Oman Royal Cavalry and other officials in attendance.

Meanwhile, the stand of HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival at the fifth edition of the International Exhibition of Horses, Camels and Heritage displayed the sequence of events hosted by the Festival since its inauguration in 2009 besides other traditional and heritage collections at the exhibitions centre in the Omani capital Muscat.

The UAE ambassador said: “Sports in general receives the support of the wise leadership and the Festival usually kicks off its events from Muscat and tours the world.

Ms Sawaya said: “Under the directives of HH Sheikh Mansoor, horses from Oman or owned by Omani owners and training anywhere in the world will be invited for the Euro1.2m Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Crown Jewel (Group 1) in Abu Dhabi subject to the clearance of the racing authorities in the UAE.

“The first catalog about the stallions of the Wathba Stud Farm has been released including Munjiz and Mahaab. The home of the Wathba Stallions will be at the Eastern Mangroves Hotel in Abu Dhabi, Ms Sawaya stated.

“The contact numbers are published in the catalog while all inquiries will be responded to in four languages,” she said.

The HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival has chalked out an impressive programme of events in 2016 with tentatively 81 countries around the globe are likely to stage 106 events in the calendar year.

“All apprentice jockeys who are involved in the Festival’s races shall comply with the weights stipulated by the world governing body of racing provided that the respective Jockey Clubs must nominate the most deserving apprentices for the Festival’s races,” 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 in cooperation with Emirates Racing Authority, IFAHR, Emirates Arabian Horse Society, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 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, National Feed and Flour Production and Marketing Co. LLC, Bloom, Petromal, Rise General Trading Co. LLC, Hayatna, 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 Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, 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, Yas Channel, Omeir Travels, Racing Post Paris Turf and Laboratories Fadia Karam Cosmetics.

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