Dubai: The HH Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival travels to the south of France to host an exciting leg in the popular Fleur D’Avril — HH Shaikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Apprentice World Championship (EARS).

Eleven young apprentice riders, including the UAE’s Ahmad Al Subose, will be seen in action in the 1,500m contest at Tarbes racecourse where they will battle for a purse of €15,000 (Dh69,754).

Top Arabian handler Jean-Francois Bernard saddles five hopefuls but a pair of Arabians owned by Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister of the UAE and Minister of Presidential Affairs, are likely to attract a lot of attention.

Thaaniya and Bibisheena, both bred by Shaikh Mansour at the Al Wathba Stud Farm in Normandy, France, appear to have genuine claims of making their mark in an event for four year olds and over who have never won a Group 2 contest.

Thaaniya, a full sister to Dubai Kahayla Classic (G1) winner Rabah de Carrere, has won once and placed twice in three starts. The five-year-old will be ridden by Turkish apprentice Vedat Kizmaz who is the most successful of the 11 jockeys with 83 wins from 986 starts.

Bibisheena, who is trained by Jean Pierre Totain in France, has also visited the winner’s enclosure and will ridden by Swedish jockey Fanny Olsson.

Commenting on the chances of Bibisheena and Thanniya, Martial Boisseuil, the racing manager of Shaikh Mansour’s Stables in Normandy said: “They are both progressive horses. We have to see how they fare in the 1,500-metre distance.

“This is a very open race and there is no clear favourite which makes it an exciting contest.”

Al Subose takes the ride on the Al Shaqab Racing-owned AJS Rudainah while the Philip Sogorb-trained Syrianah, a winner of three races and prize money €26.644 looks to have the best credentials.

Bernard also saddled Burkan Al Khalediah, Haydar Al Khalediah, Ainhoa Madjanis and AJS Mohanad and AJS Rudainah.

Noura Al Suwaidi, secretary-general of the UAE General Women’s Union and chairman of the UAE Women’s Sports Committee said: “Thanks to the vision of 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, this series took shape.

“We are delighted that there are quite a few lady jockeys taking part in this race in Tarbes and that is also our aim to promote lady jockeys as well as Apprentice jockeys.”

Lara Sawaya, executive director of the Shaikh Mansour Festival and chairman of Ladies Racing Committee in the International Federation of Arabian Horse Racing Authorities (IFAHR) and chairman of Apprentice Jockeys & Racing in IFAHR, added: “This is the third leg of the HH Shaikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Apprentice World Championship (IFAHR) race series introduced this year following Sacramento in the US and Newbury in the UK.

“The fourth race will be in Duindigt, the Netherlands, and all the four winners will join Ahmad Al Subose of the UAE and nine others to be named later for the final of the championship in Abu Dhabi on November 9.”