18, 2013, Hippodrome Wellington (Ostend)~The HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival adds a new chapter to the historic Wellington racetrack in Ostend, Belgium as it unveils its Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Cup on Monday, August 19, 2013.
The HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival, had last year staged the Wathba Stud Farm Cup race in Belgium and with over 12,000 fans watching the Purebred Arabian equine stars in action, have this time around put up a Euros 20,000 prize money for the four-year-olds that will be starting off in Monday’s 1800-metre race.
A strong field of 11 runners have entered for this feature race and trainer Miss Sandrine V. Tarrou will be looking to win her second race organised by the HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival. Miss Tarrou had saddled last year’s winner Bigg N’Rich in the Wathba Stud Farm Cup race and in Sunday’s Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Cup she saddles a favourite for UAE owner Saeed Naser Al Romaithi.
Voyou de Faust, the Miss Tarrou runner under jockey Roberto-Carlos Montenegro is fresh from a win over 2100 metres and finished ahead of Athlete Del Sol, Lillij Ann and Gazel T, all four back in the fray for Sunday’s race.
Pentagon, Chimco D.A, Nil Ashal, No Problem Al Maury, Shaker, Voltan D.A and Vulkain D’Albret are the other runners that will be battling for a slice of the Euros 20,000 on offer at the Ostend racetrack.
Race Card Details: http://wp.me/p26iCL-20e
The President of the Arabian Horse Racing Club of Belgium (AHRCB) Nelly Philippot-Hermanne said, “The Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Cup is one of the three most important races for this year and with the Grandstand now completed at Ostend Racetrack we are looking forward to a great race on Sunday.”
Commenting on the Belgian leg of the HH Sheikh Mansoor Festival, HE Mubarak Al Muhairi, Director General, Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority said, “The fact that we have now decided to stage theSheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Cup is in itself a reflection of our backing to the Belgian Arabian racing.”
Ms Lara Sawaya, Director of HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival and Head of International Federation of Arabian Horse Racing Authorities (IFAHR) Ladies said, “Last year’s Wathba Stud Farm Cup race was such a huge success and this year with the quality of entries, we are sure to have another exciting race on Sunday.”
The HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival is organized by the Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority and co-ordinated by Abu Dhabi Sports Council in association with Emirates Racing Authority, IFAHR and Emirates Arabian Horse Society, supported by General Authority for Youth and Sports Welfare and Fegentri with Emirates airlines as the official carrier and sponsored by Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC), Invest AD, Arabtec Holding PJSC, Al Rashid Investment, Areej Al Ameerat, Al Awani General Enterprises, Kabale, Al Wathba Centre, the UAE’s General Women’s Union, the HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy, Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition 2013, Dr. Nader Saab Switzerland, Wathba Stud Farm, Al Wathba Center, Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, Eastern Mangroves Hotel and SPA and Eastern Mangroves Suites-Abu Dhabi by Jannah.
Photo Caption:
1. Bigg N Rich(Falina Des Fabries x Viraac by Virgule Al Maury) owned by Athbah Stud, the winning horse of the 2012 HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival’s Wathba Stud Farm Cup race at the Ghlin Racecourse in Belgium.