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

Euro bonus battle in Sheikh Zayed Cup race in Poland

Sartejano, the winner of the Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Cup in Berlin last month has to just finish in the top three in Sunday’s Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Cup (Group 3) race in Poland to win the HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Flat Racing Festival’s bonus prize fund of Euros 30,000.

Trained by Dorothy Dorenburg, Sartejano picked up five points for his win in Berlin and is placed two points behind Poulain Kossack, the horse that finished third in Toulouse and second in Berlin and has 7 points. But Poulain Kossack is not running here, leaving Sartejano to finish in the top three and win the Euros 30,000 bonus along with a part of the prize fund for the Group 3 race which has attracted nine runners.

Sartejano will face stiff competition as last year’s winner here at the Sluzewiec race course in Warsaw-Muqatil Al Khalidiah - makes a return since that record-breaking run. The Saudi Arabia raider clocked a record 2:56.3 for the distance of 2600 metres and if fully fit could be the one the beat.

Russian bred Dostatok is a local hero in Sluzewiec and is in the midst of a winning streak of nine races and will gain a lot of support in this most famous Arabian race being held here in the Polish capital.

Celtis, Achilles, Bachi Bouzouk, Kentauer Kossack, Nasch and Nivourgonnatouchthis are the other six runners in this 27 th running of the Nagroda Europy (European Championship) which is being run as the Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Cup making this Group 3 race a prestigious event on the Polish annual racing calendar.

“Poland has always boasted of a rich history of Arabian horses and with some of the best horses running in the race the HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Flat Racing Festival’s Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Cup is all set to be a huge success,” said Abdullah Al Qubaisi, Communication Director of Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (ADACH).

Ms Lara Sawaya, Director of HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Flat Racing Festival, said, “After two interesting and exciting races in Toulouse and Berlin, the three-race battle for the Euro bonus of Dh 30,000 will be decided tomorrow. A classy contest is on the cards in front of a huge crowd and we hope everyone enjoys the event. With the addition of the HH Sheikha Fatma Bint Mubarak Ladies Fegentri Cup next year, Poland will be an important stop for the HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Flat Racing Festival.”

Stephen Bowey, Executive Director (Marketing) of Invest AD said, "Poland has a proud and distinguished history of Arabian horse racing: it is exciting to see the Festival of HH Sheikh Mansoor becoming an influential part of that fine tradition."

Ali Al Mulla, chairman of Areej Al Ameerat said, “The Festival of HH Sheikh Mansoor has created a huge presence in the global racing arena and Poland is no exception.”

Mirna Youness of La Sirene stated that it was a source of great pride to be involved in such a successful event.

The HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Flat Racing Festival is organised by the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (ADACH) and co-ordinated by Abu Dhabi Sports Council in association with Emirates Arabian Horse Society with support from Invest AD, Areej Al Ameerat, La Sirene, the UAE’s General Women’s Union, Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition 2011, Wathba Stud Farm and Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club.