Abu Dhabi The HH Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival will host two classy Purebred Arabian races at Pleasanton racecourse in California today (Sunday).

The first is the Emerald Green leg, which is part of the Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Cup series and the second the HH Shaikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship.

An additional bonus of $150,000 (Dh550,818) is at stake in the Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan al Nahyan Cup carries which saw Burning Fleet win the $45,000 Amethyst Jewel race at Sam Houston in March.

Notable runners includ RB Moose (Pablo Flores), Ayers (Jesus Velazquez) Fastandfurious (Hugo Herrera), By Golly Its Hot (C.S Lopez), My Kaliber (Cristobal), Sand Victor (Pedro Flores), Es Mi Cielo (Erick Lopez) and Twice Rich (Barrington Harvey).

Lady jockeys in the Shaikha Fatima Cup are vying to clinch a berth in the November 8 championship finale in Abu Dhabi.

The riders include Rikke Torp (Dixie), Lucia Bautista (Aimee Oakley), Michala Kucharikova (One Hot Chic), Eva Herresthal (Golly Zands), Zsanett Toronyi (Blazing Wings), Hannah Watson (RB Cantata), Sandee Martin (Sand On Fire), Celina Weber (My Vaz Is Hot), Liz Lalor (Vaz Djets On) and and Margaux Collomb (Top Thess).

RB Cantata has won both her starts this year but the horse that is likely to garner the most support is Ms Dixie, who is looking for a 19th victory in 42 starts.

“This second leg of the newly-introduced Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Cup Triple Jewel is being staged at a most exciting time here in Pleasanton. A record crowd is expected and the horses invited are based on their earnings and this has resulted in a classy field,” said Lara Sawaya, Executive Director of the Shaikh Mansoor Festival,

“With just a couple of spots left in the HH Shaikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship finale to be held in Abu Dhabi on November 8, Sunday’s ladies race will see some intense competition. All in all the racing fans are in for a treat in the two Arabian races.”

Tom Doutrich, Racing Secretary for the California Authority of Racing Fairs, added: “We thank the HH Shaikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival for coming back to Pleasanton.

“We are expected record crowds as July 5 is the final day of the Fair and Arabian racing has been very popular here.”