News From Sheikh Mansoor Festivel

Duindigt Racecourse was crowded and visitors thoroughly enjoyed the mix of Arabian Purebred racing, English thoroughbred racing and harnessed racing.

Ten horses lined up for the 1800m race and immediately after the start Shivan OA took the lead, closely followed by Derham. The larger part of the field stayed together for most of the time, always led by Shivan OA, with Derham and Rodin in close pursuit.

In the final curve, Shivan OA and Rodin were a few strides ahead of the others, but the advantage was not enough to claim victory, as the 5year old Dutch bred Petruschka (Parador x Blitter's Plonja), trained by Diana Dorenberg, strongly came forward to the rail and took the lead on the inside, skilfully ridden by German jockey Murfuni.Shivan OA (Dahess x Sadjella) did not given in easily though and fought for what he is worth; gaining ground again, but in the end he had to give in to the though chestnut mare. Mahfuz D.A, owned and trained by Belgium Mr Deckers, claimed the third place.

The spectators, although not all of them involved in flat racing, loved the athletic and versatile Arabian Purebreds and encouraged the participants all the way to the finish.

After Sartejano's impressive victory in Denmark, with yet another win, Diana Dorenberg is clearly in the winning mood.

In the Netherlands, the initiative from the HH Sheikha Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival to support the grass root racing is really appreciated by the racing community and it attracts many competitors from the neighbouring countries.

The Dutch Arabian Racing Committte and the Dutch Breeders and Owners would like to thank the Hh Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival for its continuing support of Arabian racing in the Netherlands.

- Hanneke Rosman-Brand , Posted on 16 August 2016