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

Official Website / CALENDAR 2012 / Photos by Morhaf

Josco Du Cayrou wins HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Flat Racing Festival’s Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Cup race in Toulouse

Josco Du Cayrou finished ahead Ghalib, owned by HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, to emerge winner of the Group 2 Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Cup race in the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Flat Racing Festival in Toulouse, France on Friday.

Josco Du Cayrou, ridden by Jean-Francois Eyquem, won the 2000-metre race in the colours of the Oman s Royal Cavalry and beat Ghalib by two lengths. Both Josco Du Cayrou and Ghalib are trained by Jean-Francois Bernard and the two four-year-old colts have been bred at the Al Wathba Stud Farm in France owned by Sheikh Mansoor.

Dutch owner-trainer Diana Dorenberg s Sartejano finished third in the 8-horse field which contested a total prize money of Euros 20,000.

Hamad Al Zaabi, First Secretary at the UAE Embassy in France, Ms Lara Sawaya, Director of the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Flat Racing Festival and Head of IFAHR Ladies Racing, Adnan Sultan Al Nuaimi, Director General of Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, Ali Moosa Khamiri, Director General of the Dubai Equestrian Club and Khalid Abdullah Al Hussein, Director of Sports Affairs, the General Authority for Youth Welfare and Sports and Abdul Rahim Al Hashemi of Emirates airline attended the prize giving ceremony.

“Thanks to HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, the UAE culture and heritage has received a huge boost through this racing series. WE are happy that Toulouse was once again selected as a venue to stage this prestigious race”, said Hamad Al Zaabi, the UAE envoy.

“Once again racing fans here in Toulouse, where there is a high standard of Arabian racing, witnessed an exciting race”, 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.

“It was a high quality field that took part in this race and we are delighted with the success that the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Flat Racing Festival has achieved here in France and around the world”, she said.

The H.H 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 Arabian Horse Society and IFAHR, 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, Al Awani 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.

Saada Saab Antypas
press coordinator