Melbourne: Isabella The on Djehlbi and Sweden’s Anna Pilroth on Keisha emerged winners in the HH Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Flat Racing Festival races at Sportingbet Park, Sandown in Melbourne on Monday.
While The steered Djehlbi to a smart win in the prestigious Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Cup over 6.5 furlongs (1300 metres), Pilroth on Keisha made it another Swedish win in the HH Shaikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Championship race series (7 furlongs, 1400 metres) as the two races were staged by NARA Australia and The Melbourne Racing Club to kick-start the 2015 racing season at Sandown.
Djehlbi, trained by Michelle Clements for owner Jay Randle, had last year won the Shadwell Arabian Stallions Plate and thus made it a memorable double in races sponsored by the UAE.
Like Djehlbi, Keisha, trained by Jennifer Randle, had last year won the UAE Arabian plate. Pilroth now becomes the second Swedish lady jockey after Josefin Landgren to win this year in the HH Shaikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Championship race series, the latter having won the series opener in Oman earlier this month.
Shaikh Hamdan Bin Surour Al Sharqi, representing Invest AD, Adnan Sultan Al Nuaimi, Director General of the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, Ali Moosa and Lara Sawaya, Chairman of the International Federation of Horse Racing Academies (IFHRA), Executive Director of the HH Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival and Chairman of Ladies & Apprentice Racing Committees in the International Federation of Arabian Horse Racing Authorities (IFAHR) gave away the trophies to the winners of the two races.
Shaikh Hamdan Bin Suroor Al Sharqi said Invest AD was very proud and privileged to be a partner with the HH Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Flat Racing Festival. “These races reflect the culture and heritage of the UAE as Purebred Arabian horses are very close to the hearts of UAE citizens,” he said.
“We thank Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister of the UAE and Minister of Presidential Affairs and Her Highness Shaikha Fatima Bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women’s Union, Supreme President of the Family Development Foundation (FDF) and Head of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood for the success of the Festival’s two premier race series that have now become symbolic of Purebred Arabian racing around the globe,” said Sawaya.
“It has been a good series for Swedish lady riders who have won both here and in Oman. The HH Shaikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Championship races are becoming very competitive and we are looking forward to a great season ahead this year,” she said.
