12 March 2015, Manama, Bahrain ~ The Kingdom of Bahrain is set to become the latest country to host a round of the HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival’s HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak World Ladies Championship (IFAHR) when 10 lady jockeys line-up at the starter’s gate at the Rashid Equestrian & HorseRacing Club on Friday, 13 March in the capital city.
The Festival will follow the debut flat race for ladies with the prestigious HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies Endurance Championship at the International Endurance Village on Saturday.
Both events are held under the directives of HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs as part of the HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival. In Manama Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa has completed all arrangements for the two events.
Obeyan heads the weights under Italian lady jockey Jessica Marcialis in the HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak World Ladies Championship (IFAHR) with Korean professional contender Mina Yu taking the reins astride front runner Shuwaiman in the PA Maiden event which will be contested over a mile on the turf course.
Other riders include Danish jockey Sabina Gronback onboard Mlolshan, Eva Herresthal from Germany will partner hot favorite Alhamdanieh, Hungarian jockey Edna Toth astride front runner Eljellabieh, USA’s Eilidh Grant will be on Alkray, Austrian jockey Manuela Slamanig rides Alshuwaimeh with the three other lady jockeys being Lorna Brooke from UK, Azhar Al Wardi from Oman and Blanche De Granvilliers from France.
Rider Details:[gview file=”https://horsereporter.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Bahrain_sheet_small.pdf” save=”1″]
Sheikh Duaij bin Salman Al Khalifa, Chairman of the Endurance Committee at the Bahrain Royal Equestrian & Endurance Federation confirmed that top riders from the Gulf region and elsewhere will make the lineup for the prestigious HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies Endurance Championship pointing out that all arrangements are well in place to ensure the successful staging of the two championships which they are honored to host on their soil for the first time.
“The competition is going to be very tough in the endurance ride while the professional and amateur lady jockeys will go all out to showcase their skills in the flat race,” he said.
Ms Lara Sawaya, Executive Director of the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival, Chairman of the Int’l Federation of Horse Racing Academies (IFHRA) and Chairman of Ladies & Apprentice Racing Committee in the Int’l Federation of Arabian Horse Racing Authorities ( IFAHR) commented: “We would like above all to thank HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan and HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Mother of the Nation, for their strong support and backing for the women sport around the globe without which we would have not been able to stage these two big events in the Kingdom of Bahrain.
“We are truly obliged to Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa and all the members of the equestrian community in this beautiful country for their warm welcome and hospitality and the perfect preparations to host the two international races.
“The staging of the HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak World Ladies Championship for the first time in Bahrain will mark a turning point in the championship itself and we are delighted for this development.”
The HH Sheikh Mansoor 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 The National Archives 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 Awani General Enterprises, Kabale, Al Wathba Centre, the UAE’s General Women’s Union, the HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy, Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition 2015, Dr. Nader Saab Switzerland, Al Wathba Center, Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, Eastern Mangroves Suites-Abu Dhabi by Jannah, Yas Channel, Omeir Travels and Racing Post.
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