Ostend, Belgium: Sheimah Qardabiyah, ridden by Spanish amateur lady jockey Lucia Gelabert Bautista, bagged the 12th round of the HH Shaikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship (IFAHR) at Ostend racecourse on Monday.

The four-year-old French-bred daughter of Dahess broke well to lead the field in the 1,000-metre sprint and held on courageously when challenged close home by hot favourite Phraseur Kossack to record an impressive victory. The race was held as part of the HH Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival and carried a total purse of €30,000 (Dh147,000).

“It’s a pleasure to become the first Spanish jockey to win the world’s premier ladies race,” said a jubilant 23-yerar-old remedial teacher.

“The trainer Pia Holom told me that though her filly was not among the top three front runners for the trophy, she was still hopeful that she could go very close.

“I was here accidently. I met by chance Susana Santesson, secretary general of the Fegentri in Spain and from there I was nominated for the race though my country is not an IFAHR active member,” Bautistra said.

“But to book a dream spot in the grand finale in the capital of the Arabian races in Abu Dhabi on debut is a great achievement! I have been nominated for the 13th round in Warsaw, but after qualifying, they will definitely replace me.”

Holom thanked the organisers of the Shaikh Mansour Festival and said that without its support the Purebred Arabian racing industry as a whole would have stopped functioning.

“My filly was very keen but fast improving. Though she ran green last season she sealed her first win from three starts. Bau gave her a great ride and she was suited by the going and trip,” Holom noted.

Meanwhile, top Dutch lady jockey Jadey Pietrasiewicz came from nowhere to bring Athlete Del Sol home in great style in the Listed €35,000 Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Cup at the same venue.

Jadey launched her bid from the first gate and raced against the fences before she has put her mount into top gear to pip Poulain Kossack (Andreas Helfinbein) in the dying strides of the 1800m event. “I was over the moon,” said Dutch trainer Karin R Van Den Boss.

“Athlete Del Sol is a tough performer which requires tough handling and with Jadey in the saddle, the choice would have not been bettered.”

“I didn’t count on his poor run when finished out of the frame behind Vulcain du Clos over course and distance last time out. He was widely drawn and from stall 13 you need a miracle to improve in Ostend.”

The UAE ambassador to Belgium Sulaiman Hamid Al Mazroui and head of the UAE mission to NATO, ambassador Mohammad Ali Al Naqbi attended the races which attracted a big crowd of racegoers to the beautiful venue.

Lara Sawaya, executive director of the Shaikh Mansour Racing Festival and chairman of IFAHR Ladies Racing Committee, said: “We are excited to welcome onboard the leading Indian professional lady jockey Rupa Narpat Singh in the next round of the HH Shaikha Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship IFAHR at Sluzeiwic racecourse in Poland on Sunday.”