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

Trainer Lemartinel sweeps HH Sheikh Mansoor Festival races

French trainer Eric Lemartinel saw his horses win all the three races organized by the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Flat Racing Festival including the UAE’s first-ever ladies race in the HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies IFAHR Cup. It was the opening day of the UAE racing season and six-race meeting including the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Flat Racing Festival’s Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Prestige Cup, the HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies IFAHR Cup and the Wathba Stud farm Cup. Lemartinel’s first win came when Mooser under French jockey Gerald Avranche won the Wathba Stud farm Cup race, a handicap event for Purebred Arabians. Then in the featured Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Prestige Cup, Lemartinel struck again in partnership with Avranche who rode the Ali Haddad-owned Albar Lotois to a great win against some strong rivals.

Gerald Avranche and Albar Lotois

Winning jockey Avranche said, “I was a bit worried that 1600 metres was too short but the horse (Albar Lotois) really improved last season and has hopefully continued to do so. It has been a good night."

After the racing fans were entertained by a group of young Emirati girls and an Omani artiste displayed her skills with ‘sand’ painting, the much-awaited first-ever flat race for amateur ladies was held.

Swedish rider Tina Henriksson on the Lemartinel-trained Naseem Al Reef proved why she is the reigning world champion among amateur lady jockeys when she sailed home to a smooth victory in the HH Sheikh Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies' IFAHR Cup.

Henriksson on Naseem Al Reef gave Lemartinel his third win of the opening night to make it a memorable start for the Frenchman at the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club. "To get the first winner of the season is always a relief so to get three is better than we could have hoped. It is a great start and we have to hope we can continue it," Lemartinel said.

Jazeerat Alsadyaat under Italian rider Elisabetta Marcialis and Najem Al Khalij under Swiss rider Catherine Burri finished second and third behind Eriksson’s Naseem Al Reef. The winning lady jockey said, "It really has been a great night at a great place. We have all had a lot of fun and to ride the winner here in Abu Dhabi is brilliant.”

Noura Khalifa Al Suwaidi, Director of the Emirates General Women’s Association and chairperson of the UAE Women Sport, Ms Lara Sawaya, Director of HH Sheikh Mansoor Festival, Sami Al Bounien – IFAHR chief, Adnan Sultan Al Nuaimi- Director general of ADEC, Mohammad Al Mahmood, general Secretary of Abu Dhabi Sports Council, -khaled al haddad, from Emirates airlines, Nasser Al Zaabi of Al Rashid Investment, Stephen Bowey of Invest AD, Ali Al Mulla of Areej Al Ameerat, Rafia Helal bin Drai of Mauzan, regine salamin ,johana hamad from Kabale attended the prize distribution ceremonies of the three races oraganised under the umbrella of the HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Flat Racing Festival.