Oman races kick-start HH Sheikh Mansoor Festival’s 2017
year of activities

HH Sheikha Fatima Ladies & Apprentice events on Friday, Jan 20

The 9th edition of the globe-trotting HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival begins with two races at the Al Rahba racecourse on Friday, January 20 on a day when the Oman Derby will also be run.

The Festival, run under the patronage of HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, will stage  the opening legs of the HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship (IFAHR) series and the HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Apprentice Jockeys World Championship (IFHRA) series.

Ten lady jockeys will line up for the Euros 30,000 HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship (IFAHR) race which will be run over 1600 metres. Leading the pack is local lady jockey Azhar Al Wardi and she will be riding Colbanric. All the lady jockeys are partnered with the Omani-based horses following a draw and that will be making it an even-playing field for all ten aspirants.

The other lady jockeys in the fray are Anne Engels on Burnin Rubber; French lady Julie Henderson on Hector; Germany’s Eva Herresthal on Al Muntaser; Italian Ilaria Saggiomo on Kasib, Ireland’s Helen Mooney on Rabdan; Dutch lady jockey Cindy Kilkenberg on Dheram Al Naif, Sweden’s Malin Holmberg on Shadan, UK’s Jodie Hughes on BF Asareah and former ladies world champion Astrid Wullschleger of Austria on Al Sawab.

In the Euros 20,000 HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Apprentice Jockeys World Championship (IFHRA), which makes its debut in Oman, 12 Apprentice jockeys will kick-start the 2017 series and the Omanis will have a lot to cheer with three of their countrymen in the fray.

Saif Al Balushi, Shakir Al Balushi and Yahya Al Hamdani are the three Omani Apprentice jockeys and the other nine are drawn from around the world.

The jockeys and their horses are: Saif Al Balushi on RW Starry Night; Shakir Al Balushi on Tazeez; and Yahya Al Hamdani on Brigand De Faust, Bahrain’s Sadeq Hameed on Assil Al Shajjaa; Belgium’s Felice Jacobs on Dawlah; Cypriot Marios Demetriou on Dorer Muscat; Denmark’s Ina Toverud on Jihad; French jockey Nicolas Barzalona on Al Ameed; Germany’s Esther Weissmeier on Jayyash; Ireland’s Keith Moriarty on Rafid; Kersley Ramsamy of Mauritius on Jareer and Great Britain’s Katherine Glenister on Glory and Fame MHF.

Ms Noura Al Suweidi, Director of the General Women’s Union said, “We are very happy to see the two flagship races carrying the name of 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 and Childhood and Mother of the World are being held in Oman. Both the race series have blossomed into world class events and we hope the 2017 series’ unearth more talent, particularly lady jockeys.”

Dr. Abdulla Al Rais, Director General of the National Archives, “Glad that the 2017 activities of the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival is set to begin in our neighbouring Oman and we hope, like in the past eight years, this year will also bring huge success to the Festival and to the UAE.”

Mr. Mubarak Al Nuaimi of  Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture  Authority wished the new season of HH Sheikh Mansoor Festival a grand success. “We have been part of this event since its inception and this is a great way of spreading the UAE’s heritage and culture though its traditional sport,” he said.

Mr. Sultan Aouda, Managing Director of National Feed & Flour Production &Marketing Company (LLC) said, “We thank HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan for once again giving us this opportunity to be part of this world-renowned Festival. We will support it and ensure Purebred Arabian horse sport is at the forefront.”

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) thanked the Royal Horse Racing Club and all officials in Oman for staging the opening rounds of the HH Sheikh Mansoor Festival.

“This year we have also added the HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Apprentice Jockeys World Championship (IFHRA) race in the meeting on Friday and it is a great race meeting as far as the Oman racing calendar is concerned. With three Omani Apprentice jockeys and one Lady jockey in the fray, we are delighted that more jockeys are appearing on the scene in the region,” 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
Photo: Morhaf Al Assaf