Cindy Klinkenberg wins HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship (IFAHR) race in Caulfield, Australia

26 January 2016, Caulfield, Australia ~ The holiday crowd cheered as Purebred Arabians competed under invited lady jockeys from around the world in the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival on 26 January at the Victoria track.

Despite the presence of two professional jockeys entered in the HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship (IFAHR) race, it was Dutch lass Cindy Klinkenberg on last year’s winner and race favorite Warrawee Naaziq that finished first in a close battle to win the €30,000 (+-$43,500 AUD) event run over a mile’s distance.

Professional jockey, Mina You of Korea on the Anthony Mountney-trained Coolinda Park Winston led for most of the race and looked clear headed for home. That’s when 11-year-old Warrawee Naaziq, trained and owned by Kim Noble, showed his class making his move under Klinkenberg with about two furlongs to go, catching and overtaking the leader with about half a length to spare to score another superb win.

Trainer Mountney’s horses Coolinda Park Winston and Justice For All under German lady jockey Eva Maria Herresthal finished second and third.

The winning time for the 1600-metre race was 1.54.63 and it was the fifth win in 9 starts for Warrawee Naaziq.

The Dutch jockey was thrilled with her win, “I always thought I had a chance as Warrawee Naaziq was the favorite. He responded well in the final stages and I am glad we won.”
Klinkenberg has now qualified to take a shot at the HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship (IFAHR) title race which will be held in November in Abu Dhabi and contested by winners of all the rounds preceding it.

Jake Norton, General Manager of Racing at the Melbourne Racing Club, said, “It is great that HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship (IFAHR) races are being run in Australia. It helps us develop international relations. There are quite a few Arabian horses in Australia and for this race we have them coming from all parts of the country.”

Ms Lara Sawaya, Executive Director of the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival, Chairperson of the International Federation of Horse Racing Academies (IFHRA) and Chairperson of Ladies & Apprentice Racing Committees in the International Federation of Arabian Horse Racing Authorities (IFAHR), gave away the trophies along with other local and UAE Embassy officials.
“We have always enjoyed the hospitality of Australia and to stage our race on one of their prestigious race meetings is good for Purebred Arabian racing as well as the lady jockeys,” she said. “The thrilling finish in today’s race showed that Purebred Arabian horses are great race horses.”

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, in cooperation with Emirates Racing Authority, IFAHR, Emirates Arabian Horse Society, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 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 Ayadi, Bloom, Petromal, Rise General Trading Co. LLC, Hayatna, Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), Al Awani General Enterprises, Kabale, 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, Dr. Nader Saab Switzerland, Al Wathba Center, Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, Eastern Mangroves Suites-Abu Dhabi by Jannah, Yas Channel, Omeir Travels, Racing Post, Paris Turf and Laboratories Fadia Karam Cosmetics.
~ end supplied report