H.H. Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Flat Racing Festival

Official Website / CALENDAR 2012 / Photos by Morhaf

Celtik romps home in Poland’s first-ever
HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies race

ALBUM

Amerett to wins Sheikh Zayed Cup

After a couple of wet days the Sluzewiec racecourse in the Polish capital Warsaw witnessed some bright weather and the HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Flat Racing Festival’s two featured races dished out some exciting action.

In the Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan – Nagroda Europy - (Group 3) race over 2600, Ameretto, bred by German Dr. Paul Daverio and owned by Manuela Scharfenberg, revived his racing career with a superb win.

After winning five times in Italy, the son of Amer whose siblings have not been accepted to race as a Purebred Arabian in many countries, was left out of action for over 20 months. However the six year old resumed racing this season and came close twice before finally winning Sunday’s feature race under Italian jockey Mauro Manueddu.

AfterDostatok did all the early running, favourite Po ulain Kossack under lady jockeyJadey Pietrasiewicz did threaten on the home stretch. But Manueddu brought Amerretto into the challenge and after that there was only one winner.

“We are glad he is back to winning ways. Now we are hoping he will get an invite to the World Cup in Paris,” said Daverio, who is also the President of the German Arabian Racing body.

But the evening’s biggest cheers were reserved for the 12 lady jockeys who had lined up for the HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship IFAHR race. With the world championship ladies race making its Polish debut there was a large turnout and French-based Swiss jockey Katja Markwalder scored a perfect win on Celtik.

Celtik under Markwalder won by over five lengths from Ganima with another six lengths separating the second-placed horse and Benefis.

“This is a great win and I am happy that now I will get a chance to go to Abu Dhabifor the final race,” said the 31 year-old jockey after Celtik’s win.

“The HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship IFAHR race has opened up great opportunities for amateur lady jockeys,” Markwalder said.

HE Asim Mirza Al Rahmah, the UAE’s Ambassador to Poland along wi th Ms Lara Sawaya, Director of the HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Flat Racing Festival and head of IFAHR ladies racing, FeliksKlimczak, President of the Polish Jockey Club and other officials gave away the trophies.

“The Festival’s two races once again helped to popularize and sprea d Purebred Arabian racing and these events have become very popular here in Poland,” HE AlRahmah said.

“TheSheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Cup has always seen some top quality horses in action while today’s debut of the HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship IFAHR race has thrown up a nother new winner. The lady jockeys proved that they are equal to the task with their improved display,” said Ms. Sawaya.

The HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian 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 and Fegentri with Emirates airlines as the official carrier and sponsored by Invest AD, Al Rashid Investment, Areej Al Ameerat, Mauzan,AlAwani General Enterprises, Kabale, the UAE’s General Women’s Union, the Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy, Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition 2012,Wathba Stud Farm and Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club.

All set for Sheikh Zayed Cup and HH Sheikha Fatima Ladies World Championship races on Sunday
Twin treat in Warsaw for Purebred Arabian horse lovers

All roads in Warsaw will lead to the Sluzewiec race course today (Sunday) when the HH SheikhMansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Flat Racing Festival unveils a twin treat for Purebred Arabian horse lovers in Poland.

Eleven horses led by Poulain Kossack will line up for the Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan –Nagroda Europy- (Group 3) race over 2600 metres while in the first-ever race for lady jockeys the HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship IFAHR race has attracted 12 runners.

Owned and trained by Huub Otermans, Poulain Kossack looks the one to beat in the SheikhZayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan –Nagroda Europy-(Group 3) race with Russian runner Dostatok hoping to gain some revenge.

Poulain Kossackhas enjoyed some great success in the HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al NahyanGlobal Arabian Flat Racing Festival winning the Sheikh Zayed Cup race in Duindigtlast year but only finished 6th in the same race this year. But prior to that the 2009 champion of Holland won a Wathba Cup race and the SheikhZayed Cup race in Berlin this year and will be starting off as the favourite.

Dostatok has won six times here in Poland since arriving from Russia but last year was a poor 8th to Sartejano in the same Sheikh Zayed Cup race here last year.

Meanwhile in the HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship IFAHR race, the UAE’s Shathra Al Hajjaj and Omani duo of Fatma Al Manji and Azher Al Wardi will take on nine other lady jockeys in the first-ever race for lady jockeys to be held here in Poland.

With Euros 20,000 on offer the HH Sheikha FatimaBint Mubarak Ladies World Championship IFAHR race is the richest for lady jockeys and the participants are all excited. “Most of us will be racing on these Purebred Arabian horses for the first time and this makes it more open and even,” said Al Hajaj, whose best is a second place finish in the series.

Abdullah Al Qubaisi from the Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority said, “The Festival has grown in stature with Poland now an important venue for its activities. With the introduction of the HH SheikhaFatima Bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship IFAHR race, Sunday’s Arabian Horse Day meeting is all set to becom e a major event in the racing calendar in Poland,” Al Qubaisi said.

Ms Lara Sawaya, Director of the HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Flat Racing Festival and head of IFAHR ladies racing said, “We are all aware that there are a lot of Purebred Arabian horses in Poland. The Festival’s races give more opportunities for these horses to take part and boost their owners and trainers. This year we already staged a Wathba Stud Far m Cup race here in Poland and with tomorrow’s two big races, the future looks bright for Purebred Arabian racing in this region.”

FeliksKlimczak, President of the Polish Jockey Club said, “We have a lot of women involved in horseback riding but the number of lady jockeys are few. With the HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship IFAHR race making its debut we are confident that those numbers will increase in the near future.”

The HH SheikhMansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Flat Racing Festival is organized to promote purebred Arabians in different parts of the world with the sponsors being the Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority and co-ordinated by Abu DhabiSports Council in association with Emirates Racing Authority, IFAHR and Emirates Arabian Horse Society, supported by General Authority for Youth and Sports and Fegentri with Emirates airlines as the official carrier and sponsored by Invest AD, Al Rashid Investment, Areej Al Ameerat, Mauzan, AlAwani General Enterprises, Kabale, the UAE’s General Women’s Union, the SheikhaFatima bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy, Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition 2012, Wathba Stud Farm and Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club.

Saada Saab Antypas
Press Coordinator