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Stage set for Arabian Flat Racing

The stage is set for the fifth round of the Shaikh Mansour bin Zayed Global Arabian Flat Racing Festival at the Warsaw Racecourse in Poland on Saturday.

Saudi contender Muqatil Al Khalidah has been installed front runner to land Shaikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan -Nagroda Europy - G3 PA (category A) after the withdrawal of the Shaikh Mansour representative Raked.

Meanwhile, the organisers held an international news conference at the racecourse on Thursday to brief the Media of the most recent developments and preparations for the festival.

The Press conference was attended by the UAE Charge D’Affairs in Poland Motaz Al Fahim, Abdullah Al Qubaisi, Communications Manager of the Abu Dhabi Culture and Heritage, Lara Sawaya, director of the Shaikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Flat Racing Festival, the director of the Warsaw Racecourse, the chairman of the Jockey Club and the Communications Manager of the Abu Dhabi Investment Company.

The racing officials in Poland said they are obliged to the initiative by selecting Poland as one of the main stopovers of the series.

At the beginning of the conference, the speakers paid tribute to late Shaikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan in whose name the festival is organised.

Meanwhile, the management of the racecourse praised the efforts of Shaikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan to promote the Arabian horse in Europe and the United States by saying that this noble creature deserves all respect.

“Arabian races in Poland date back to 1985. We are truly obliged to Shaikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister of the UAE and Minister of Presidential Affairs, and would like to welcome the delegation of the UAE to Poland and wish them all the best during their short stay in Warsaw,” the racecourse manager said.

“The move once again underlines the importance of the Arabian horse in the lives of the Arabs as envisaged by late Shaikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan,” said Abdullah Al Qubaisi, communications manager of the Abu Dhabi Culture and Heritage.

“We are honoured to announce the launching of the fifth round of the series (Group-3) for the first time at the Warsaw Racecourse which has attracted the cream of the Arabian horses in Europe and the Middle East,” he said.

“We are truly honoured to implement the directives of Shaikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Frankfurt, the first venue which witnessed the launching of the initiative to promote Arabian races in Germany,” he concluded.

The Shaikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Flat Race Festival manager Lara Sawaya said the top Arabian horses around the world will vie for honours in the fifth round, which is the riches among the series.

“We are expecting a very tough competition in the final round triple championship.

“The organisers have provided Euro20,000 bonus for the fifth round which is also the final round of the triple championship.

“In the event that one of the front runners, the trophy would be presented by the UAE ambassador to Poland Asim Mirza Al Rahama,” she confirmed.

“I would like to thank the management of the Warsaw Racecourse and the Jockey Club as well as the media for their strong support for the festival.

“I would like also to invite the members of the public to take part in the special competition ‘select & win’ to walk away with a very good prize-money which has been allocated for the lucky fans. Just visit (www.sheikhmansoorfestival.com) and get all the relevant information to the unique competition to be a winner. The organising committee has allocated Dh100,000 to be won by the right punters,” she concluded.

The representative of the Abu Dhabi Investment Company said they are delighted to be associated with the festival that constitutes part of the UAE history and culture.

“Abu Dhabi Investment Company is pleased to be part of this event in Poland which deepens the cultural ties between UAE and the rest of the world at all levels,” he said.