Al Subosi carries UAE hopes

Lara Sawaya and other officials at the draw ceremony. — Supplied photo

The Shaikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival adds another glorious chapter to its success story as it unveils yet another flat race series involving Purebred Arabian horses — the HH Shaikha Fatima bint Mubarak Apprentice World Championship (IFAHR) with the first race in Sacramento, California (USA) on Saturday.

This is the fourth world series that the Shaikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival has launched since 2009, the others being the Shaikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan series, Shaikha Fatima Bint Mubarak World Ladies Championship (IFAHR) series, the Wathba Stud Farm Cup series and now this exclusive series for Apprentice jockeys.

After conducting the draw in Sacramento yesterday, Lara Sawaya, executive director of Shaikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival and Chairman of Ladies Racing at the International Federation of Arabian Horse Racing Authorities (IFAHR), said, “We thank Shaikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, and 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 for this wise initiative.”

“We will be having a total of five races in this Shaikha Fatima bint Mubarak Apprentice World Championship (IFAHR) starting here in Sacramento the Capital of California. The other races will be held in Newbury, UK on August 3, Baden-Baden in Germany on September 7, and Tarbes in France on October 12 with the finale of this series on November 9 in Abu Dhabi,” Sawaya said.

“This series is to encourage the promising young jockeys, usher in a new generation of jockeys and ensure the future is strong as they go on to become professionals,” she said.

The UAE’s Ahmed Al Subosi, who has shown a lot of promise and is part of the all-conquering Godolphin Stables, will be riding on Saturday along with apprentice jockeys from nine other countries. They include Gemma Tutty from Great Britain, Corrine Andros from Canada, Aase Marie Brown from Sweden, Patrick Gibson from Germany, Gianni Siaffa from France, Joshua Cartwright from Australia, Laura Barry from Ireland, Gianluca Sanna from Italy and Laura Carson from the host country USA.

Italian Sanna, a 20-year-old apprentice with one win from four rides, drew the favourite Sammy V and the recent record-breaking performer could be the one to beat.

The UAE’s Al Subosi will be on local hope Le Jest A Flash in the 10-horse field in the 6-furlong race with a total prize fund of $27,000 up for grabs.