Reigning world champion Wullschleger in fray in Morocco leg on Friday

Last year's race winning jockey Justin Mercier of France (2015)

HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship (IFAHR) race series

The HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival’s HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship (IFAHR) race series winner of 2015, Astrid Wullschleger of Switzerland will be seen in action in Friday’s Morocco leg of the 2016 series, May 6.

Wullschleger was drawn to ride Rajasthan in the 1900 metre contest which will be run at the Casablanca-Anfa Racecourse in the ladies championship race, with the winner qualifying for the final in November in Abu Dhabi.

Wullschleger is one the three professional lady jockeys in the race, the other two being Australia’s Linda Meech on Djourman BS and Canada’s Corinne Andros on Ayman Thabet.

The home crowd will have a lot to cheer as Bouchra Marmoul will be looking to win and qualify. Last year the Moroccan had scored a stunning win in Poland and qualified for the final where she finished seventh to Wullschleger. Marmoul will be racing on Maysan Maamora.

Another rider to watch will be Oman’s Azher Al Wardi who also won a race in the 2015 series. Al Wardi was disappointed when her horse became a late withdrawal here in Morocco last year and this year she has been drawn to ride Cherguy.

Ireland’s Aine Dagg will be on the fancied Ksarah while the other lady riders and their horses are Austria’s Hana Jurankova on Said Dam, Denmark’s Pia Gram on Chadid, French rider Ingrid Grard on Charmsper and Germany’s Michelle Blumenauer.

The race will be run on the dirt surface and is being held under the directives of HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs as part of the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival.

“Morocco has been a popular stop for the HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship (IFAHR) race series. Both Omani rider Azher Al Wardi and Moroccan Bouchra Marmoul’s victories in the ladies championship last year were proud moments for the Festival,” said Ms Lara Sawaya, Executive Director of the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival, Chairperson of the Int'l Federation of Horse Racing Academies (IFHRA) and Chairperson of Ladies & Apprentice Racing Committees in the International Federation of Arabian Horse Racing Authorities (IFAHR), who arrived here after the Festival’s endurance rides held in Bábolna in Hungary over the weekend.

Last year's race winning jockey Justin Mercier of France with Lara Sawaya

“This year again we have a quality field and we expect the race to produce some exciting moments at this popular racing centre for Purebred Arabian horses,” she added.

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  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
Photo: Morhaf Al Assaf