Abu Dhabi: The Purebred Arabian Horse Racing fraternity assembled in Abu Dhabi for the finals of the HH Shaikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival events were treated to a sneak peek of the Shaikh Zayed Heritage Festival, which will be held over 20 days from November 20.

Lara Sawaya, the Festival’s Executive Director and Chairman of IFAHR’s Ladies Racing Committee and Chairman of IFAHR’s Apprentice Jockeys and Racing, confirmed the Triple Crown series in Europe and Triple Pearl series in America, which will support the Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Cup series.

Sawaya also announced that the HH Shaikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Apprentice World Championship (IFAHR) series will now stage nine races in 2015.

As part of the Festival’s aim to support other horse-related sports, Sawaya revealed that the Italian Endurance Festival will come under the umbrella of the HH Shaikh Mansoor Festival next year.

Meanwhile, two-day HH Shaikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Conference for Education and Training began on Thursday and will continue until Saturday.

Sawaya said, “We are all inspired by our father, the late Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan. Arabian horse races in the UAE date back to 100 years when Shaikh Zayed Bin Khalifa brought Rabdan to ink the intro of a fascinating story through which we are sailing right now.

“All-time greats Alanudd and Maha set the best example of the quality of breeding that has characterised the industry by that time. They are the grandmothers of the stallions that dominate the breeding world at the stud farms of Shaikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs in France and elsewhere,” she said.

“Shaikh Mansoor is carrying on the vision and initiative of the late Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan that has paved the way for the successful efforts that have been staged to promote this noble creature around the globe.

“Inspired by the brilliant initiative of late Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, Shaikh Mansoor initiated the Festival, which has developed from its humble beginnings with four races in 2009 into a major global umbrella with 90 races that has brought the whole world under one roof. And it is because of this we are here under the slogan of One World, 6 Continents in Abu Dhabi The Capital of Arabian Racing.”

Sawaya has also thanked all those who have contributed to the success of the festival.

“Regarding the jockeys, specially-made helmets will be distributed free to all jockeys who have arrived in the UAE courtesy of the festival,” she said. “They will also be provided with credit cards for the apprentice jockeys to buy their requirements as they visit the markets for shopping. The girls are invited to return to Abu Dhabi and attend the HH Shaikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Endurance Race for Arab countries.”

The two-day HH Shaikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Conference for Education and Training continues on Saturday before the grand finals of the Festival’s flat races on Sunday.