HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Darley Awards Stakes (Grade 1) on Saturday in Santa Anita Park, California

Paddy’s Day leads strong field of runners

Most of the top Purebred Arabians currently racing in the US have lined up for the inaugural edition of the HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Darley Awards Stakes, a Grade 1 race to be held at the Santa Anita Park on Saturday, April 2.

Organised by the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival, the Grade 1 race will be run over 1600 distance with a total prize fund of US$ 100,000 on offer for the Purebred Arabian Stakes event.

RB Brilliant under R Guce, Thess Is Awesome under T Wales, Paddy’s Day under Kelsi Purcell, Easter Man under E.A Maldonado, Jewell AA under A. Quinonez, Dream Pearl under H Herrerra, Royal Richess under K. Swan, RB Rich under E. McNeil, Quick And Rich under J. Campbell, Nouveau Rich under T. Conner and F Sixteen under Carol  Cedeno are the horses and jockey who will be starting in this race which is being held on the sidelines of the US Darley Awards and the HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Darley (International) Awards.

Starting as the favourite is Paddy’s Day, winner of the Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Cup Triple Jewel series last year. Paddy’s Day had made a perfect start in his defense of that title with a superb win in the Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Cup – Amethyst Jewel, a Grade 1 race at the Sam Houston Race Park in Texas on March 5 this year.

Kelsi Purcell got the five-year-old Burning Sand son to finish ahead of the Randy Nunley’s F Sixteen (Carol Cedeno up) with the  Jerenesto Torrez-trained Easter Man third and all three are back in the fray with Jewell AA and Royal Richess also in with a chance in this quality-filled pack of runners.

The California Horse Racing Board had on February 25 approved a proposal from Santa Anita Park to stage the race. The HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival will contribute $100,000 to the Permanently Disabled Jockeys' Fund apart from the race prize fund of US $ 100,000.

Ms Lara Sawaya, Executive Director of HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival, Chairperson of the International Federation of Horse Racing Academies (IFHRA), Chairperson of Ladies & Apprentice Racing Committees in the International Federation of Arabian Horse Racing Authorities (IFAHR) said, “It is a great achievement for us to be staging the Stakes race here in Santa Anita Park.”

Commenting on the various additions on the sidelines of the races, Ms Sawaya said, “Fans attending Santa Anita Park on April 2 will be eligible to receive prizes rewarded for the ‘Best Fashion’ and ‘Best Hat’ contest.  Prizes will include the winner’s choice (in each category) of a ROLEX watch courtesy of HH Sheikh Mansoor Festival (estimated retail value $9,500), a trip to Rome for the winner and a guest to the World Arabian Horse Racing Conference in Italy from May 24-30, 2016, or a CHOPARD necklace (estimated retail value $6,000).”

A total of six prizes will be given away to the top three contestants in each category (best overall fashion and best hat.)  A panel of judges will select the winners.

There will also be three all-inclusive trip giveaways to Abu Dhabi!  Fans in attendance at Santa Anita Park on April 2 will receive a free raffle ticket as they enter the gates and a draw will be held in the Winner’s Circle throughout the day.

“The Santa Anita Park Infield will include Family Fun Day activities for the kids including pony rides face painting, bounce-houses plus, free temporary tattoos as well as free popcorn and cotton candy.  There will also be a special falconry exhibition with other cultural displays,” a racecourse official 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 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