Abu Dhabi: French trainer Jean-Francois Bernard wrapped up the Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Cup series in Europe with a superb win on Wednesday.
The Royal Stables of Oman-owned Sylvine Al Maury, under Ioritz Mendizibal, pipped Meeyur under Roberto-Carlos Montenegro by a short head to win the French Arabian Breeders Challenge Classic for three-year-old fillies.
Bernard, who has been a consistent performer in all the race series organised by the HH Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival, saw the three-year-old Munjiz filly scored her first career win after two impressive second-placed runs in three previous starts.
Meeyur finished second ahead of stablemate Samjida, ridden by Francois-Xavier Bertras, for a 2-3 finish for trainer P. Sogorb.
An 11-horse field started the mile contest, which was the Festival’s last race before the season-ending finale in Abu Dhabi on November 9.
Unbeaten Al Fahda, the Qatari raider from Al Shaqab Stables, started as the favourite but failed to find a place, as Sylvine Al Maury proved too good.
“With this the action will now shift to Abu Dhabi for the ‘One World, 6 Continents’ event from November 4 to 9 that will host over 800 members of the Purebred Arabian racing fraternity representing 56 countries in the world capital of Purebred Arabian racing,” said Lara Sawaya, Executive Director of the Festival, Chairman of the Ladies Racing Committee in the International Federation of Arabian Horse Racing Authorities (IFAHR) and Chairman of Apprentice Jockeys & Racing in IFAHR.
“On November 4 we will have the official draw for the HH Shaikha Fatima Bint Mubarak World Championships of both Ladies and Apprentices at the Eastern Mangroves Anantara, while the next day the guests will start arriving in Abu Dhabi.”
On November 6, a two-hour camel racing event will be followed by a press conference and the day will culminate in a grand welcome party at the Al Wathba Heritage Village, she added.
The 2014 edition of the HH Shaikha Fatima bint Mubarak Conference for Education and Training will be held on November 7 and 8.
November 9 will see the final races of the Festival’s season held at Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club.
