Over 500 from 81 countries to attend 7th edition of World Arabian Horse Racing Conference
26 May 2016, Rome, Italy ~ The focus will once again be on Purebred Arabian racing when the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival stages the 7th edition of the three-day World Arabian Horse Racing Conference (WAHRC) in Rome, Italy, from 26 May 2016. Over 500 guests from 81 countries representing the six continents will participate in the WAHRC which is being held at the Rome Cavalieri Waldorf Astoria Hotel.
A Conference of sharing, social interaction and racing.
The Conference will be followed by the Emirates Race Day at the Capanelle race course during which the Festival will stage three of its main races – the Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Cup (Listed) race, the HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship and the HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Apprentice World Championship.
Details of the Conference and the Emirates Race day along with the draw of horses and jockeys for the ladies and Apprentice races were held on Wednesday with HE Saqr Ahmed Al Raisi, the UAE Ambassador to Italy addressing the press conference along with others. HE Al Saqr Al Raisi welcomed the international audience: “Arabian horse racing is now competing with all major sports and we hope this conference adds to the growth and progress all over the globe.”
IFAHR chief Sami Al Bouenien said the WAHRC is getting bigger and better with experts in all fields present to share their thoughts, knowledge, and expertise. “IFAHR and its member countries have gained immensely in the process and these events are all big steps forward for Arabian racing.”
Dr. Abdulla Elreyes, Director-General of the UAE National Archives Ministry of Presidential Affairs hailed the far-sighted approach of HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and eloquently said: “We are here to support peace and we will support peace not war through Arabian horses.”
Giving details of the Conference, Ms Lara Sawaya, Executive Director of the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival, Chairperson of Int’l Federation of Horse Racing Academies (IFHRA) and Chairperson of Ladies & Apprentice Racing Committees in the International Federation of Arabian Horse Racing Authorities (IFAHR) said the delegates will be hosted at the Vatican Galleries and for the first time the UAE flag will be flying high at the Vatican.
“The Italian officials have been very co-operative and on the opening day night the Lancers of Montebello will host the delegates while on final day of the conference the Pincio Park will be closed to the public to allow the Festival to have a Gala Awards Dinner,” Sawaya said.
Sawaya also announced that the UAE Private Al Aweer Stables owned by Khalid Khalifa Al Nabooda will now join the Festival as partners.
Danilo Di Caprio representing the Capenelli racecourse promised an exciting race day on Sunday when three of the Festival’s races will be run for Purebred Arabian horses.
“We have over 1200 breeders and bloodstock of 21,000 in Italy,” said Francesco Samtoro, Head of Italy’s Arabian Racing for over 20 years. “Since 1990 we have seen the sport of Arabian racing progressing well as we started breeding for racing and we hope to soon catch up with the rest of the world.”
Ladies World Racing Championship
Reigning HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies World Champion Astrid Wullschleger will take the post with the field of ten as she bids to again qualify and to defend the title she won in November 2015 in Abu Dhabi. The 30-year-old Swiss jockey will partner Mirko in Sunday’s race. The other jockeys and the horses they drew are: Australian Cecily Eaton on Tabasco, Denmark’s Rikke Bay Torp on Tiffany, German’s Silvia Pattinson on Tersilia, Irish competitor Lisa O’Neil on Sibillina, Moroccan Bouchra Marmoul on Sole Di Chia, Omani Fatma Al Manji on Quadrieoglio, Poland’s Anna Gil on Tintudi Gallura, South Korea’s Lee Keumjoo on Turriga, and Jessica Marcialis representing host Italy on Monnalisa.
Apprentice World Championship
The riders and runners in the HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Apprentice World Championship race are Argentina’s Lucas Berticelli on Usuym, Australian Jordan Childs on Ultzana, Belgian Zoe Vande Velde on Makbar Du Piboul, Brandon Duchaine of Canada on Unika Dorado, French jockey Adrien Moreau on Urlo Di Chia, Great Britain’s Gemma Tutty on Usini, Italian Gabriele Cannarella on Triade, Moroccan Omar Lakjal on Urugano Di Chia, Oman’s Saif Al Balushi on Unu Di Gallura and South Korean Jeonghee Jeong on Urge De Gallura.
The Conference began with three sessions on the opening day 26 May
The opening subject for discussion on 27 May, the second day of the WAHRC, is Media PR and Communication to be moderated by UK’s Philip Brenan with panel members John Cobb(UK), Jeane-Claude Allies (France), Debbie Burt (UK), Stefanie Corum (US), Yakoob Al Saadi (UAE), Derek Thompson (UK), Mondher Zoueiten (Tunisia) and M Satya Narayan (India).
After the break the session on Women in Racing will be moderated by Pamela Burton (US). Panel members are HE Lulwa Alawadhi (Bahrain), Munira Al Marzuki (UAE), Elizabeth Zindel (Swiss), Laura King (UK), Michelle Morgan (US), Renee-Laure Kauch (FR), Victoria Shaw (Aus) and Lara Sawaya (UAE).
The second day’s final session will be on Rules Conditions & Regulations moderated by Pat Buckley (IRL). The panel members are Graham Walcroft (UK), Ahmad Saeed Almarzouki (UAE), Dr Salah Al Juneibi (UAE), Jirayr Habibian (Armenia), Hicham Debbagh (Morocco), Pam Cordrey (Scan), Dr Paul Gadot (Fr), Neil Abraham (Can), and Michelle Youngdale (US).
The main Conference sponsor, National Feed and Flour Production and Marketing heard a welcome by their marketing representative, Miss Khulud Al Nuaimi, who gave credit to the role of Her Highness Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak for her support in the success of the Festival.
The HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival is sustained by the Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority and coordinated by Abu Dhabi Sports Council, with National Feed and Flour Production and Marketing Co. LLC as associate sponsors, IPIC as Strategic Partner, The National Archives as the official partner and Emirates airline as the official carriers, in cooperation with Emirates Racing Authority, IFAHR, Emirates Arabian Horse Society, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, General Authority of Youth and Sports Welfare and sponsored by Al Aweer Stables, Ayadii LLC, Global United Veterinary Services LLC, Bloom, Petromal, Rise General Trading Co. LLC, Hayatna, Wathba Stallions, Abu Dhabi Falconers Club, Emirates Falconers Club, Mohamed Bin Zayed Falconry and Desert Physiognomy School, Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), Al Awani General Enterprises, Kabale, Omeir Travels, Dr Nader Saab Switzerland, Laboratories Fadia Karam Cosmetics, YAS Channel, Racing Post, Paris Turf, Al Wathba Centre, the UAE’s General Women’s Union, The Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, the HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy, Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition 2016, Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, Eastern Mangroves Suites-Abu Dhabi by Jannah, Anantara Eastern Mangroves Spa and Resort.
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