HH Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Cup (Gr1PA) will be run at Sandown Park on 20 August
10 August 2016, UK ~ The Arabian Racing Organization (ARO) has announced the additional entries of Sir Bani Yas and Samima for the HH Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Cup (Gr1PA), to be run at Sandown Park on 20 August. Both horses are Group 1 winners and add further interest to the already classy potential field.
Already a proven class winner, Al Asayl’s Sir Bani Yas won the 2015 Qatar International Stakes (Gr1PA) at Goodwood and was third in this years’ contest. The Royal Cavalry of Oman’s Samima galloped away with the 2015 Prix Dragon (Gr1PA) at Longchamp, beating the world’s top rated Arabian racehorse and this years’ Goodwood winner, Al Mourtajez, in the process.
The star of the 26 entries is Kalino, the winner of the 2015 Jewel Crown (Gr1PA) in Abu Dhabi. With a prize fund of €1.2 million Euros, the Jewel Crown is the world’s richest Arabian horse race and is also sponsored by the HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Festival.
There has been an increase in the prize fund for this Group 1 race by £10,000, bringing the total to £80,000. The Group 1 race for Purebred Arabians will be run over a mile (1600m) at the prestigious Grade One Sandown track and is part of two family-orientated Emirates Days.
On Friday, 19 August, the Esher course will witness the UK stage of the HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship Series, which allows both amateur and professional lady jockeys to compete against each other on Purebred Arabians. All bar one of the remaining Thoroughbred races are also supported by HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Festival.
Amanda Smith, ARO Racing Manager, commented. “This is the first time we have staged the HH Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Cup at Sandown Park and ARO is delighted to receive such a high quality selection of entries. I have no doubt that the increase in prize money has attracted these two top class Arabians at the supplementary stage. It promises to be an exciting race and we look forward to seeing how the final field will shape up, when declarations close on 17 August.”
Smith continued. “It is sure to be the highlight of a very busy month of Arabian racing sponsored by the HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Festival in the UK and we are incredibly grateful to the Festival and Lara Sawaya for their support throughout the season.”
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.
~ end supplied report