Sir Bani Yas heads classy field in Saturday’s Sheikh Zayed Cup (Group 1) at Sandown Park

With a prize purse of £80,000, the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival’s Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Cup (Group 1) race is the biggest purse out of any race on Saturday’s card at the Sandown Park race course in the United Kingdom.

The race is part of the Emirates day, and all of the races over Friday and Saturday hold the name of Abu Dhabi or of a UAE-based sponsor and is following on from last year's inaugural fixture staged by the Festival.

Two Group 1 winners are part of the quality field in the 1800-metre contest which kick starts Saturday’s action followed by thoroughbred races supported by the Festival’s sponsors.

Leading the pack is Sir Bani Yas, owned by the President of the UAE, HH Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Trained by Elizabeth Bernard, Sir Bani Yas comes into this race after a gritty third place run behind Al Mourtajez in the Qatar International Stakes at Goodwood last month, a race which he had won last year.

Another Group 1 winner in the fray is the Beverly Deutrom-trained Lahoob - winner of this race last year at Lingfield Park. HE Sheikh Nasser Al Hashar’s grey had previously won a Listed event over a mile at the Curragh.

Also among the eight declarations include two runners owned by Dubai Deputy Ruler and Minister of Finance HH Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum. His homebred filly Aghsaan has progressed well this season, winning the Group 3 ARO Cup at this trip and was runner up in a Group 1 event over further, so the return to a mile should play to her strengths. Awzaan is the other Sheikh Hamdan-owned runner under Adam Kirby.

Also in the line-up are Amaar under John Fahy, Furry under Frederik Tylicki, Jaldi Karo under Timmy Murphy, Alcea Rosea under Miss Joanna Masor.

“The Omeir Travel Agency Nursery race over 7 furlongs, the TCA Abu Dhabi Solario Stakes (Group 3), The National Feed & Flour Production Handicap, the Global United veterinary Services Handicap, the Yas TV Handicap and the Abu Dhabi Sports Council Handicap  along with one more Group 3 race will all be held along with the HH Sheikh Mansoor Festival’s Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Cup (Group 1) race on Saturday,” said 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), Chairperson of Ladies & Apprentice Racing Committees in the International Federation of Arabian Horse Racing Authorities (IFAHR).

Ms Sawaya, who is in London after Thursday’s Festival-supported Endurance ride in Begium, said, “The two days of racing here in Sandown feature the Festival’s two premier races for Purebred Arabian horses while all our sponsors are also here chipping in with the other races. It is one big two-day event for the UAE and some exciting races are on the cards.”

ARO Racing Manager Amanda Smith was delighted saying. “The HH Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Cup promises to be a very exciting Group 1 contest.  I am thrilled that Sir Bani Yas is travelling over from France to compete in the race.  He is a very classy horse and will be a worthy competitor for some of the top UK-trained horses.  Following the Ladies race on Friday, this event is the pinnacle of a fantastic month for the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Festival. We are incredibly grateful to the Festival and to Executive Director Lara Sawaya for their ongoing support of UK Arabian racing.” 

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 Al Aweer Stables, 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