Fareedhat El Izz and Dan Muscutt win the Emirates Breeders Novice Stakes at Newbury © Debbie Burt
Historic race gains new sponsor and new venue for 2024
Monday 24 June 2024 –
The Arabian Racing Organisation (ARO) today announced the entries for the HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Cup, a Group 2PA to be run over six furlongs at Royal Windsor on Saturday 29 June. With a prize fund £20,000, it will be the first running of the contest under the sponsorship of the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Racing Festival, a long-term supporter of UK Arabian racing.
The race has a great history of confirming some of the world’s top sprinting Arabians when it was run as the Za’abeel International at Newbury, including the two three-time winners, Dahess and Al Mouhannad. However such is the versatility of the Arabian horse that many are able to win over much further too, with the champion Dahess scoring at the highest level over 1m2f and Aziz ASF following up his win with a victory in Qatar’s most prestigious race the HH The Amir Sword over 1m4f.
One entry with a strong connections to the race is recent Newbury winner Fahreedat El Izz, owned and bred by Al Nujaifi Racing. They won the race as the Za’abeel in 2012 with Hilal Al Zaman, a half-brother to her sire Izz Al Khail. Fareedhat El Izz is a recent addition to Newmarket multipurpose trainer James Owen’s string and could line up alongside stablemate Upstart Crow. He was the leading domestic horse in the UK last season winning four races in succession and returned to the winner’s circle at this trip on his seasonal reappearance.
Entries also include leading UK mare Abiyah Athbah, who was third in this race in 2022, having been fourth in 2021. Phil Collington is the most successful trainer in the race winning first with Radames at Newbury for HH Sheikh Hamdan, and then the last three running’s for Athbah Racing. He has two entries this year, the maidens Jameelaty and Mobaasher who have both been placed this season.
Quotes:
Lara Sawaya, Executive Director of the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Racing Festival commented, “The Festival is delighted to support the Arabian Racing Organisation by sponsoring 10 races in the UK this year, of which this is the most prestigious. However, it is just one of many races held under the Festival’s banner around the world, with the highlight of our season being the Group 1PA Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Jewel Crown in Abu Dhabi in December.”
Genny Haynes, ARO Chief Executive Officer said, “We thank the HH Sheikh Mansoor Festival for their continued and generous support of our racing, especially of such an historically important race which we are thrilled to bring to Royal Windsor where we always receive a warm welcome.
“The Festival also supports the popular Wathba Stallions series, which plays a vital role in supporting our grassroots racing, though the HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Cup is their UK their sponsorship highlight. We look forward to receiving declarations on Wednesday 26 June.”
