Moonee Valley Hosts Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nayhan’s Global Arabian Horse Festival Races

Under the kind patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nayhan’s Global Arabian Flat Racing Festival, two races for purebred Arabian horses were run last Friday at Moonee Valley. There was a big crowd there as Black Caviar was running in the Essendon Mazda Australia Stakes that night to score her 17th consecutive win.

The first race was the HH Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Cup over 2040metres and was contested by 7 horses, three of which were ridden by female jockeys flown from Ireland, Switzerland and Oman. These young ladies were part of a contingent of top amateur lady riders who were in Australia to compete in the next race the Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies IFAHR Cup over 1600metres. It was definitely a day for the ladies as the first race was won in tightly fought finish by local trainer, owner and jockey Kim Noble of Lancefield on her gelding Warrawee Naaziq. Naaziq’s breeder Pat Ryan was there with a fan club to cheer him home. Her Highness Sheikha Fatima is the Chair of the UAE General Women’s Union, promoting all things to do with women, especially sport and would have been proud to see the lady jockeys from France, Germany, UAE, Norway, Great Britain and Oman and the Netherlands competing in Australia for the first time. Jadey Pietrasiewicz from Holland won by a convincing 6 lengths on Ridgecrest Shy Guy. ( See the NARA website for full race results www.naraaustralia.com and go to the IFAHR (International Federation of Arabian Horse Racing) link for information on Susanna M. Santesson, President of the European Association of Racing Schools and General Secretary of Fegentri, International Federation of Amateur Riders www.europeanracingschools.eu)

At this Saturdays race meeting at Caulfield (Second Shadwell Mile main race) there will be feature Arabian Horse race where Jadey, last Friday’s winning Dutch jockey will be riding again to cap off a Melbourne double.

Victoria Shaw, Australia’s only female race caller was invited to be guest caller for last Friday night’s Arabian races where her involvement added to the female presence. It was Victoria’s first call at Moonee Valley and based the racegoers favourable feedback on her race calls she will no doubt feature at other City race tracks in the near future. The John Elliott film crew were there on the night where several interviews with Victoria, jockeys and key organisers were recorded which can be viewed from the video below.