Final chance for jockeys to book ticket for Abu Dhabi showdown on November 13

HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Apprentice World Championship race in France

Tarbes, France - A dozen top Purebred Arabian horses under Apprentice jockeys from around the world will face-off on Sunday in what will be their last chance to win and qualify for the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival’s HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Apprentice World Championship (IFAHR) race at the Tarbes racecourse in France, on October 16.

The Euros 20,000 contest over a distance of 1500 metres is being held under the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs with support from Her Highness Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak, Mother of the UAE, Chairperson of the General Women’s Union, Supreme Chairperson of the Family Development Foundation and Chairwoman of the Supreme Council for Motherhood.

Thabit under Kersley Ramsamy from Mauritius and Mirna under Robin Weber from Germany are the two runners owned by HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs. Thabit is the top weight and Ramsay, who has 28 wins from 357 starts will fancy his chances.

Meanwhile Al Shaqab Racing from Qatar is strongly represented with four runners. AJS Rudainah under Ireland’s Andrew Breslin, Majida under Christakis Panteli from Cyprus, Gjobat Bahar under Oman’s Yahya Bin Juma Al Hamdani and Al Jassasiya under Jordanian Milly Naseb will be hoping to give the Qatar stables success.

Other runners and their jockeys are: Nafeth Al Khalediah under Moroccan Tibari el Maymouny, Bien A Lagrimodie under French jockey Jordan Plateaux, Vedette De Lagrimondi under Great Britain’s Jordan Uys, Rihan under Danish rider Francis Waweru, Argonaute under Anaelle Mekouche and Beur Star under Quentin Houdoin.

“We are expecting a keen tussle among the Apprentice jockeys as they try and win a berth in the November 13 final of the HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Apprentice World Championship (IFAHR) to be held in Abu Dhabi,” 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).

“So far we have already seen five Apprentices jockeys from Bahrain, Italy, South Korea, Belgium and Puerto Rico book their births in the finale,” she added.

“We thank all the owners and trainers who support this series by providing their horses and this has been a great encouragement and experience for the Apprentice jockeys,” 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, 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