February 15, 2014, St. Moritz ~ The HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival returns to St. Moritz to stage the second running of the Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Listed Cup at the famous White Turf location on Sunday, February 16. Following a week later will be the inaugural running of the HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak World Ladies Championship on Sunday February 23, 2014 at the same venue.

Six Purebred Arabian horses have been declared for their skills on the frozen lake of St. Moritz to compete for the prize money of Euro 35,000 in each event. The Ladie’s race will be run over a mile on the snow/ice track with champion horses making the lineup at the historic venue.

Heading the weights is Alibaba Del Sol, (Kerbella x A I’Aube del Sol) owned by Landeoed Waterland (Holland) and trained by Karin Van den Bos. Benben’Ba, (Barour de Cardonne x Ameralla by Amer) is another front runner for the title. Owned by Mrs. M. Scharfenberg (Germany) and trained by Kim Augenbroe in Holland, Benben’Ba is lightly raced and gained Euro 600 from only six starts.  

Other runners include Gazel, a five-time winner from 18 starts, besides the national Swiss champion Nil Ashal, who has won three of his ten races and was narrowly beaten in last year’s edition. Phraseur Kossack has won six of his 22 starts and earned Euro 55,795 during his career  and rounding out the field, Vizir De Faust is looking for his first win after six outings.

 According to Mohammed Ebrahim Al Mahmoud, Secretary general of the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, “This is besides the preservation of the dynasty of the Purebred Arabians in the Arabian Peninsula and promote it around the globe as well as encouraging the people of the UAE to breed and acquire UAE-Bred horses which have established a strong presence as part of the built up of a wide base of lovers and caretakers.”

Commenting on the returning to St. Moritz, Mubarak Al Nuaimi, Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority said: “Ever since the Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Flat Racing Festival was launched it has grown from strength to strength and this reappearance in St. Moritz is another feather in the Festival’s cap of success.”  

 The race will be featured and seen live  on the Abu Dhabi Sports Channel and can be seen online via  Web TV at www.sheikhmansoorfestival.com.

 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 coordinated by Abu Dhabi Sports Council in association with Emirates Racing Authority, IFAHR and Emirates Arabian Horse Society, supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs , the General Authority of Youth and Sports Welfare with Arabtec Holding PJSC as the Official Partner and Emirates airline as the official carriers and sponsored by Invest AD, Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC),  Al Rashid Investment, 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 2014, Dr. Nader Saab Switzerland, Al Wathba Center, Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, Eastern Mangroves Suites-Abu Dhabi by Jannah, Abu Dhabi Sports Channel and Racing Post.

February 16 Schedule of races at St. Moritz

Time       Type                         Name                                                                          Length          Prize CHF

 ~end