Artex tops in HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship (IFAHR) race
HH Sheikh Tahnoon’s Lady Wish wins Zayed Cup in Toulouse

Lady Wish owned by Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy National Security Advisor came up with a brilliant finish under jockey Ioritz Mendizabal to win the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival’s Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Cup (Listed) race at the Hippodrome de Toulouse in France on Sunday, June 9.

Lady Wish (number 5)

Later in the Festival’s HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship (IFAHR) race Artex ridden by Caroline Brunaud finished ahead of the 15 other lady jockeys to win this prestigious race at the same venue.

The two races were held to wrap up what has been a tremendous week for Purebred Arabian racing in Toulouse as the Festival’s three-day conference on World Arabian Horse Racing concluded on Saturday and Sunday’s races were witnessed by a large crown including quite a few UAE envoys to European countries, top connections and officials concerned with Arabian racing despite a rainy day.

Seven horses started in the Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Cup which has gained a Listed status and with a prize fund of Euros 20,000 on offer some of the best three-year-olds in France were in the fray.

Burj Khalifa under Christophe Soumillon started as the favourite and along with Shar’ed under David Morrison moved cautiously on the track which was soft at places, thanks to the falling rain. Francois-Xavier Bertras then moved ahead on Major but Lady Wish, which was kept in the rear for most part of the race, then answered Mendizabal’s call to win the sixth race of the year in the Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Cup series.

The winning margin was a Neck while the winning time for Lady Wish in the 8-furlong race was 1:51.46. Syrianah under Roberto Cartier finished third.

With a record 16 lady jockeys starting in the HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship (IFAHR) race, the start was a bit sluggish in tricky conditions. With Euros 20,000 on offer it was the richest race for lady jockeys and soon a keen contest ensued as the group of riders approached the home stretch.
Artex

Just when it looked like Iraqi filly Labwah under Ingrid Grard would be the winner, Caroline Brunaud pressed the button and Artex did well to take over and win by a length. Forgehill Cartier, ridden by Alexandria ran third in the 8-furlong race in which only lady jockeys with five or more wins were allowed to participate.

Matar Al Yabhouni received the winning Cup on behalf of Sheikh Tahnoon from HE Mohammad Meer El Raessi, the UAE Ambassador to France. HE Mubarak Al Muhairi, Director General, Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority, HE Abdul Rahman Ghanim Al Mutaiwee, UAE Ambassador to the United Kingdom; HE Juma Mubarak Al Junaibi, UAE Ambassador to Germany; HE Asim Mirza Al Rahma, the UAE Ambassador to the Republic of Poland and H.E. Sulaiman Hamed Al Mazroui, UAE Ambassador to Belgium and Ms Lara Sawaya, Director of HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival and Head of International Federation of Arabian Horse Racing Authorities (IFAHR) Ladies along with other UAE and French officials took part in the prize distribution ceremonies of the two races.

“We thank His Highness Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs and Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women's Union, Supreme President of the Family Development Foundation (FDF) and Head of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood for organizing these events here in France and this will be another boost to the strong ties the UAE enjoys with France,” HE Mohammad Meer El Raessi, the UAE Ambassador to France said.

“The passion that was evident at the World Arabian Horse Racing Conference here in Toulouse and the success of the two races encourages and keeps us motivated to continue on this path. The Festival will continue to strive and maintain this high standard and reputation that it has earned over the past five years,” said Ms Lara Sawaya, Director of the Festival.

The HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival is organized by the Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority and co-ordinated by Abu Dhabi Sports Council in association with Emirates Racing Authority, IFAHR and Emirates Arabian Horse Society, supported by General Authority for Youth and Sports Welfare and Fegentri with Emirates airlines as the official carrier and sponsored by Invest AD Arabtec Holding PJSC, Al Rashid Investment, Areej Al Ameerat, Al Awani General Enterprises, Kabale, Al Wathba Centre, the UAE's General Women's Union, the HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy, Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition 2013, Dr. Nader Saab Switzerland, Wathba Stud Farm, Al Wathba Center, Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, Eastern Mangroves Hotel and SPA and Eastern Mangroves Suites-Abu Dhabi by Jannah, Galleries Lafayette and Toulouse Airport.