Al Mounteze Monlau (left), under Elione Chaves, gallops towards the finish line during the race.

Sweden Al Mounteze Monlau under Elione Chaves won the Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Listed Cup while Ulrika Holmquist brought smiles to the large band of home fans at the Gardet Park in Stockholm when she won the Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship on Thursday.

The two races along with Sheikha Lateefa Bint Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan International Pony championship race were part of the  Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival and were held on June 6 in Stockholm as Sweden marked its National Day.

Al Mounteze Monlau under Elione Chaves, outperformed last year’s winner Macallan in the prestigious Sheikh Zayed Cup. The six-year-old is trained by Camilla Nilsson in Markaryd.

Al Mounteze Monlau got a perfect start and could relatively easily take care of the lead in the entrance to the curve. The leader was followed by pre-race favorite Macallan (N Stott) and Cleopathre (Tapia Dalbark).

The positions remained unchanged until the end of the last turn when Macallan attacked and put pressure on the leader. For a short while it looked like the favorite would score for the third straight year in the prestigious race. But nicely backed by Elione Chaves’ counter, Al Mounteze Monlau stayed ahead and salvaged victory by a head.

In the ladies race, the home crowd cheered all the way for Holmquist who ensured that  Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies IFAHR Cup became a home win for female jockeys from all over Europe. Holmquist sent the Polish-born Eastway to the forefront and stayed there to win well.

The Annelie Kristina Eriksson -trained Eastway, which made its first start since November 2017, took the lead quite easily before the two stallions Toutatix (Racheal Kneller) and Jaldi Karo (Sophie Ralston). The eight-year-old then had to decide at his own pace over the 2 750 meters.

Jaldi Karo made a brave attempt to challenge the leader but Ulrika had a token saved in the reins and when she asked Eastway for the extra effort, the horse obliged to win by a short length.

If these two fine races weren’t enough the Festival had another qualifier for a final during the end of season festivities in Abu Dhabi. In the  Sheikha Lateefa Bint Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan International Pony championship race Stina Landh was eager to defend her title. Others wanted a crack, too, and Alva Malmström just got the better of Stina Landh in an exciting finish to become the Swedish representative in Abu Dhabi 2019.

Ms Lara Sawaya, Executive Director of the  Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival, Chairperson of the International Federation of Horse Racing Academies (IFHRA), Chairperson of Ladies & Apprentice Racing Committees in the International Federation of Arabian Horse Racing Authorities (IFAHR) along with Swedish official Mats Genberg and other VIPs took part in the prize distribution.

The  Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival is sustained by the Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority and coordinated by Abu Dhabi Sports Council, with National Feed and Flour Production and Marketing Co. LLC as associate sponsors, The National Archives as the official partner and Emirates airline as the official carriers, in cooperation with Emirates Racing Authority, IFAHR, Emirates Arabian Horse Society, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, General Authority of Youth and Sports Welfare and sponsored by Ayadi LLC, Global United Veterinary Services LLC, Wathba Stallions, Abu Dhabi Falconers Club, Emirates Falconers Club, Mohamed Bin Zayed Falconry and Desert Physiognomy School, Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), Al Awani General Enterprises, Kabale, Omeir Travels, Laboratories Fadia Karam Cosmetics, YAS Channel, Racing Post, Paris Turf, Al Wathba Centre, the UAE’s General Women’s Union, The Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, the  Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy, Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition , Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, Eastern Mangroves Suites-Abu Dhabi by Jannah, Anantara Eastern Mangroves Spa and Resort.