Hereford: The Arabian Racing Organisation (ARO) holds the third of four full fixtures for Purebred Arabians at Hereford on Sunday, with all meetings run under the sponsorship of the HH Shaikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Festival. The offer of free entry drew a good crowd to the first two events, which stands for the remaining fixtures, with the first race on Sunday starting at 1pm.
Fifty nine horses have been declared for the seven-race card this Sunday, with the longest race, the 1m 6f (2800 metres) Wathba Stud Farm Cup (0-40) Handicap Stakes attracting the largest field of 14 runners.
Callymay and Vindetta, who head the Arabian Championship with three wins a piece, have both been declared; Callymay in the Wathba Stud Farm Cup (0-60) Handicap Stakes and Vindetta in the Wathba Stallions (0-80) Handicap Stakes. At this stage, Vindetta’s second puts her ahead of Callymay, though all that could change after Sunday.
Amanda Smith, ARO Racing Manager, commented: “We had a great crowd at Hereford for the first two meetings under the HH Shaikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Racing Festival banner and the weather forecast for Sunday promises to be yet another fine day. August is going to be a huge month for the Festival in the UK, as we then have the two Emirates Days at Sandown Park on 19th and 20th. The Her Highness Shaikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship (IFAHR) and the Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Cup (Group 1 PA) are part of two days of racing supported by the Festival.”
She continued: “At the end of the month we return to Hereford for another full fixture on August 28. The Festival is a great supporter of grass roots Arabian racing both in the UK and around the world, as well as the sponsor of the World’s richest Arabian horse race, the Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Cup Jewel Crown (Gr. 1PA), which is worth €1.2 million (Dh4.4 million).”
The HH Shaikh Mansoor 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, with National Feed and Flour Production and Marketing Co. LLC as associate sponsors, IPIC as Strategic Partner, The National Archives as the official partner and Emirates airline as the official carriers, in cooperation with Emirates Racing Authority, IFAHR, Emirates Arabian Horse Society, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, General Authority of Youth and Sports Welfare and sponsored by Al Aweer Stables, Ayadii LLC, Global United Veterinary Services LLC, Bloom, Petromal, Rise General Trading Co. LLC, Hayatna, Wathba Stallions, Abu Dhabi Falconers Club, Emirates Falconers Club, Mohammad Bin Zayed Falconry and Desert Physiognomy School, Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (Adnec), Al Awani General Enterprises, Kabale, Omeir Travels, Dr Nader Saab Switzerland, Laboratories Fadia Karam Cosmetics, YAS Channel, Racing Post, Paris Turf, Al Wathba Centre, the UAE’s General Women’s Union, The Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, the Her Highness Shaikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy, Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition 2016, Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, Eastern Mangroves Suites-Abu Dhabi by Jannah, Anantara Eastern Mangroves Spa and Resort.
