HH Sheikha Fatima Awards and the US Darley Awards for the Arabian racing world together in Hollywood
3 April 2017, Hollywood, California, USA ~ The HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival named yet another star jockey – Chantal Sutherland- as their Ambassadress as the curtain came down on the HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Darley Awards and the 30th Annual US Darley Awards with a Celebration Banquet and annual Stallion Breeding Auction at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons on Sunday, 2 April 2017.
With nearly 1000 wins to her credit, Chanthal, a Canadian model and television personality, rode in Saturday’s $100,000 HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Darley Award Stakes, a Grade 1 event at Santa Anita. She joins the legendary Julie Krone, reigning UAE champion jockey Richard Mullen and Xavier Ziani as the four ambassadors of the Festival.
Making the announcement on a night that was attended by some of the top names in the racing and entertainment world, Ms. Lara Sawaya, Executive Director of HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival, Chairperson of the International Federation of Horse Racing Academies (IFHRA), Chairperson of Ladies & Apprentice Racing Committees said Chanthal will join Julie Krone, Mullen and Ziani in promoting the Festival’s activities from 2017 and beyond.
“We have around 108 races in 86 countries and with Chanthal’s inclusion now there is gender equality among the four.” she said.
“It is an honor and privilege to be part of the HH Sheikh Mansoor Festival,” said the California-based Canadian who has won prestigious races like the Hollywood Gold Cup, the Pacific Classic in Del Mar, the Santa Anita Handicap and a second place finish in the Breeder’s Cup Classic. She also raced in the Dubai World Cup
Interspersed with a variety of dance performances, the feature of the HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Darley Awards Celebration Banquet was the ARC’s annual Stallion Breeding Auction.
Nominations were on offer to top Purebred Arabian stallions including Assy, Mahabb, Mawood II, Mebrouk, Munjiz, No Risk Al Maury, Rathowan, Sir Bani Yas and So Big Is Better.
Top bidding of $23,000 was netted for a breeding to the champion Munjiz (Kesberoy x Unchained Melody) while Mahabb (Tahar De Candelon x Joyzell) went for $17,000. A total of $70,000 was raised. All funds go directly into the Breeders Incentive program of the Arabian Racing Cup (The Cup) and are used 100% for reward payments to breeders of USA horses.
Earlier HE Abdulla Al Subose, UAE Consul General in Los Angeles, HE Mohammed Sultan Saif Al-Suwaidi, UAE Ambassador to the Sultanate of Oman, Abdulla Al Qubaisi representing Abu Dhabi Sports Council, Mubarak Al Nuaimi, Director of International Promotion at Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority, Edward Hamod, General Manager of National Feed and Flour Production and Michelle Morgan, Chief Steward of the Arabian Racing Cup addressed the audience.
HE Al Subose said, “This Festival is in fact a bridge not only between the UAE and the US but also a bridge between the six continents that make it one world“.
All of the winners in Friday night’s HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Darley Awards and the 30th Annual US Darley Awards Ceremony at the Dolby Theater in Hollywood were once again on stage receiving gifts from the Festival while most of the other VIP guests and stars of the entertainment world were also feted on stage.
One of the Arab world’s top TV star Lojaim Omran, Polish pop singer Edyta Gorniak, Syrian TV star Qusai Khouli and UAE’s singer and endurance rider Aryam were some of the names who attended the show.
Entertainment by a Michael Jackson impersonator got the crowd out of their seats and rounded out the non-stop excitement of the Hollywood weekend.
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, 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, 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 2017, Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, Eastern Mangroves Suites-Abu Dhabi by Jannah, Anantara Eastern Mangroves Spa and Resort.
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