Over 100 lady riders for HH Sheikha Fatima Cup on Saturday

HH Sheikh Mansoor Festival announces a series of rides for ladies in 2016

The HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival announced a series for lady endurance riders for 2016 during a press conference on the eve of Saturday’s (November 28) HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Endurance Cup CEN 100 km ride.

Over 100 lady riders are expected to start in Saturday’s ride at the Emirates International Endurance Village in Al Wathba under the directives of HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs.

“The 100-km event is being sponsored by Abu Dhabi Sports Council, HH Sheikh Mansoor Festival, National Feed & Flour Production Company, National Archives and Al Masoud. The top five who finish the ride will be awarded 4WD cars each,” said Adnan Sultan Al Nuaimi, ADEC Director General.

Dr. Abdulla Rayess – National Archive, Mubarak Al Nuaimi – TCA, Ahmed Al Qubaisi – AD Sports Council, Ahmed Al Marzouqi – IFHAR, Nadim Lahad – Emirates Airline, Sheikha Al Shehhi – UAE Women Union, Mounira Al Marzouqi – National Feed and top veterinarian Stefano Daneri addressed the press conference.

In a major boost to lady riders, 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) said the HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Endurance Cup will be a series this year.

“Under the directives of HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, three endurance races will be staged in Europe in 2016 and carry the name of HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Endurance Cup which will become a series and culminate with the final in Abu Dhabi,” she said.

Giving details she said, “A CEIO Endurance Ride in Portugal by the end of April 2016 with a purse of Euros 10,000, will be followed by two more rides carrying the same status and prize money in Italy and France.”

“The French leg will coincide with the World Championship for Young Horses which is again a Festival event with Euros 10,000 prize money,” she confirmed.

“We will be requesting the FEI to introduce a ranking/rating system for the lady riders and horses in the series. Anyway based on the national teams performance (best timing of three of the 5-member team) in the three rides in Europe, the top three teams of riders and horses will be transported to Abu Dhabi to take part in the HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Endurance Cup Final with a cash prize of Euros 20,000,” Ms Sawaya said.

Meanwhile, following the disqualification of the French team, Italian team are here and they will receive Euros 5000 and UAE team will receive Euros 3000 respectively for their performance in this year’s HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Endurance Cup.

“These lady riders are here as the guests of the Festival and the awards ceremony will be held at the HH Sheikh Mansoor Festival stand at the ongoing Sheikh Zayed Heritage Festival,” Ms Sawaya said.

The horse racing fans have been encouraged to attend Saturday’s ride and the Festival will be parting with DH 30,000 in cash, six iPhones 6S and 5 Mini iPads, all through a free raffle draw. “There is also a car to be won as a Grand Prize in the raffle,” 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 and Laboratories Fadia Karam Cosmetics.

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