The H.H. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival’s newly-launched H.H. Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Apprentice World Championship (IFAHR) series will work off its second race in Newbury, United Kingdom on 3 August.
A strong field of 10 horses will be starting in the 10-furlong (2000 metres) race for approved Apprentice jockeys with a prize fund of ? 10,500.
The ten horses and jockeys in the fray are Karar under French jockey Gianni Siaffa, Noble Athlete under Great Britain’s Jack Gilligan, Vindetta under Germany’s Alexandra Vilmar, Katwalk under American jockey Laura Carson, Gelliwen under Irish jockey Robert Fitzpatrick, Senor Dublcheck under Hungarian Zsuzsa Tima, Wikkara under Omani jockey Yahya Al Hamdani, Yakshi under South African Donovan Dillon, Shuwaiman Al Kebir under Swedish jockey Fanny Olsson and Amyzing Zayin under U.A.E. apprentice Ahmed Al Subose.
Omani Yahya Al Hamdani makes his debut while the U.A.E.’s top apprentice jockey Ahmed Al Subose took part in the inaugural race in Sacramento along with Frenchman Gianni Siaffa and US jockey Laura Carson. Carson finished fourth to Italian Gianluca Sanna who stormed home on Sammy V to kick-start the series.
Noora Al Suwaidi, Secretary General, U.A.E. General Women's Union and Chairman of the U.A.E. Women's Sports Committee said, "We thank His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, U.A.E.’s 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 and Mother of the world for this new series which aims to develop the apprentice jockeys into future professionals." Lara Sawaya, Executive Director of H.H. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival and Chairman of Ladies Racing at the International Federation of Arabian Horse Racing Authorities (IFAHR), said, "The H.H. Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Apprentice World Championship (IFAHR) got off to a great start in Sacramento on July 19 with a record-breaking race won by Italian Sanna on Sammy V. We are now looking forward to the second leg here in Newbury and a strong field of horses will line up for the Apprentice jockeys." "After the Newbury race we will have two more races in the series in Baden-Baden in Germany on September 7 and in Tarbes in France on October 12 with the finale in Abu Dhabi on November 9," Ms. Saywa added.
The H.H. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival is organised by the Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority and coordinated by Abu Dhabi Sports Council in association with Emirates Racing Authority, IFAHR and Emirates Arabian Horse Society, supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs , the General Authority of Youth and Sports Welfare with Arabtec Holding PJSC as the Official Partner and Emirates airline as the official carriers and sponsored by Invest AD, Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC), Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), Al Rashid Investment, Al Awani General Enterprises, Kabale, Al Wathba Centre, the U.A.E.'s General Women's Union, the HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy, Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition 2014, Dr. Nader Saab Switzerland, Al Wathba Center, Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, Eastern Mangroves Suites-Abu Dhabi by Jannah, Abu Dhabi Sports Channel and Racing Post.

Source: WAM