Dubai: Inaugural HH Shaikha Fatima Bint Mubarak International Award-winning rider Azhar Al Wardi ended her long wait for success in the HH Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival when delivering a top performance at the Toulouse Hippodrome on Friday.

The 29-year-old Al Wardi, who has not come close to winning a race ever since her fellow Omani amateur Fatma Al Manji triumphed 2012, finally crossed the post first on Shen to win the seventh leg of the HH Shaikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship over 1600 metres.

On the same card, Julien Auge partnered Al Mouwaffak to win the prestigious Group 2 Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Cup, the first leg of Europe’s Arabian Triple Crown.

Both races were held under the vision and directives of Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister of the UAE and Minister of Presidential Affairs.

Shen broke well under Al Wardi and soon won the battle for the lead before holding on courageously when challenged by the French lady jockey Alexandra Rosa close home to prevail by a head.

“I would like to thank Her Highness Shaikha Fatima Bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women’s Union, Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation (FDF) and President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, for, without her support we won’t be able to go racing all over the world,” said a tearful Al Wardi.

“I had finished second in Bahrain and it was a good sign that made me more determined to go one better this time out.

“Thank you Lara Sawaya for all your hard work to bring the lady jockeys from the different parts of the world to compete together. I’m happy to have my mother with me to witness my first success in this prestigious competition.”

Al Mouwaffak was winning for the fourth time, with Ghadanfar Al Khalediah taking the runner-up spot for Jean-Baptiste Eyquem while Amaar, ridden by big-race jockey Olivier Peslier was third. Last year’s winner Sir Bani Yas finished fifth.

The race was attended by the UAE ambassador to France Mohammad Meer Abdullah Al Raeesi, who presented the prizes and trophies to the winners along with Sawaya, Executive Director of the Shaikh Mansoor Festival.

Sawaya congratulated Al Wardi for her courageous ride which earned her a spot in the line-up for the dream finale in Abu Dhabi later in the season.

“It’s a double delight to stage a successful race and see an Arab lady winning it,” Sawaya said.

“We would like to remember also her colleague Fatima Al Manji who has won in Texas in 2012 and we would like to say to her that we have missed you.”

The HH Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival is sustained by the Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority and coordinated by Abu Dhabi Sports Council in cooperation with Emirates Racing Authority, IFAHR, Emirates Arabian Horse Society, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, General Authority of Youth and Sports Welfare with The National Archives as the official partner and Emirates airline as the official carriers and sponsored by Invest AD, Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC), Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), Al Awani General Enterprises, Kabale, Al Wathba Centre, the UAE’s General Women’s Union, the HH Shaikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy, Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition 2015, Dr. Nader Saab Switzerland, Al Wathba Center, Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, Eastern Mangroves Suites-Abu Dhabi by Jannah, Yas Channel, Omeir Travels and Racing Post.