Races leading up to Group 1 €1.2 million Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Jewel Crown- IPIC.

Al Mourtajez (2016 Qatar Qatar Arabian World Cup)
Photo: Juhaim

13 November 2016, Abu Dhabi, UAE ~ The two finals of the HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship (IFAHR) and the HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Apprentice World Championship (IFAHR) precede the world’s richest race for Purebred Arabians and will be hotly contested by those who have qualified throughout the year.

2016 HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak World Championships (IFAHR)

The 2016 campaign in the HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship (IFAHR) began in January with the first race held in Oman and after 14 races held on 6 Continents the following will be the lady jockeys who will be in the challenge for the 2016 crown: Nanako Fujita (JAPAN), Joanna Wyrzyk (POLAND), Alice Mills (GREAT BRITAIN), Monique Lubcke (GERMANY), Cindy Klinkenberg (THE NETHERLANDS), Anna Van Den Troost (BELGIUM), Sara Vermeersch (BELGIUM), Silja Storen (NORWAY), Malin Holmberg (SWEDEN), Yasmine Nilsson (SWEDEN), Astrid Wullschleger (SWITZERLAND), Catherine Walton (GREAT BRITAIN), Nora Looby (IRELAND), Ingrid Grard (FRANCE) and Manuela Slamanig (AUSTRIA).

Defending Champion Astrid Wullschleger (2015 photo)

While 2015 winner and defending champion Astrid Wullschleger of Switzerland will be on the Eric Lemartinel-trained RB Burning Ash it will be his stablemate RB Dixie Burning, a 6-year-old mare under Great Britain’s Catherine Walton with perhaps the better chance after winning her last race here just a week ago.

But the fancied one is the Ernst Oertel-trained AF La’Asae, a 4-year-old colt unbeaten in two starts. Though he makes his first run of the season, AF La’Asae under Polish rider Joanna Wyrzyck, could be the one to beat. Stablemate AF Al Hazer under Japan’s Nanako Fujita and another Lemartinel runner Sheikh Down to be ridden by French rider Ingrid Grard has a chance to end up in the final frame.

2016 HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Apprentice World Championship (IFAHR)

In the 2016 HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Apprentice World Championship (IFAHR) series, six races were held in six different countries and the winners of these races have been joined by 7 others to swell the start to 13 in the 1600-metre contest worth Dh 150,000.

The Apprentice jockeys in this contest are: Esther Weissmeier (Germany), Evin Roman Martinez (Puerto Rico), Emilie Goudman (Belgium), Yahya Al Hamdani (Oman), Christakes Panteli (Cyprus), Ahmed Maki (Bahrain), Dailey Milan (Brazil), Corey Mongan (USA), Jeonghee Jeong (South Korea), Milly Naseb (Jordan), Dylan Dunn (Australia), Daniel Scipioni (Italy) and Kersley Ramsamy (Mauritius).

The Eric Lemartinel-trained Deyaar is the top-rated filly in the field and will be ridden by Brazilian Dailey Milan. The French trainer has four other runners in the fray but with the horses paired with the jockeys through an open draw, it could be anybody’s day as they aim to become the World Champion Apprentice jockey of 2016.

Three other races – UAE Martyrs’ Cup; UAE Martyrs’ Trophy and the Wathba Stud Farm Cup , the latter open only to Private Owners complete the card in Sunday’s meeting leading up to the Group 1 €1.2 million Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Jewel Crown- IPIC.

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