Ten in fray for Friday’s HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak race
13 January 2016, Muscat, Oman ~ The Al Rahba Racecourse in Muscat, Oman, will host the first race in the HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship (IFAHR) series on Friday, 15 January, opening the season on the activities of the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival for 2016.
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) made the announcement during a joint press conference with the Oman racing authorities at the Hormuz Hotel in Muscat.
The draw for the ten entries in the HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship (IFAHR) race was held with HE Hamad Sultan Saif Al Suwaidi- UAE Ambassador to Oman, Ms Lara Sawaya, Muneera Al Marzouqi-Commercial Manager of the National Feed and Flour Production Company, Brigadier Abdul Raziq Al Shahurzi, Commander of the Oman Royal Cavalry and other officials.
Presence at Oman’s International Heritage Exhibition
Meanwhile, the stand of HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival at the fifth edition of the International Exhibition of Horses, Camels and Heritage displayed the sequence of events hosted by the Festival since its inauguration in 2009 besides other traditional and heritage collections at the exhibitions centre in the Omani capital Muscat.
UAE ambassador Al Suwaidi said: “Sports in general receives the support of the wise leadership and the Festival usually kicks off its events from Muscat and tours the world.”
Ms Sawaya invited Oman to participate in the 2016 €1.2M Crown Jewel with these words: “Under the directives of HH Sheikh Mansoor, horses from Oman or owned by Omani owners and training anywhere in the world will be invited for the Euro1.2m Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Crown Jewel (Group 1) in Abu Dhabi subject to the clearance of the racing authorities in the UAE.”
Sawaya continued, “The first catalog about the stallions of the Wathba Stud Farm has been released including Munjiz and Mahaab. The home of the Wathba Stallions will be at the Eastern Mangroves Hotel in Abu Dhabi. The contact numbers are published in the catalog while all inquiries will be responded to in four languages.”
The Festival is held under the directives of HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs.
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 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 press release