Al Harmoudi wins Al Wathba Night Ride

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Khaled Abdullah Ahmed Al Harmoudi on Ashraf Sparkling Polaris won the 120-km Al Wathba Night Ride at the Emirates International Endurance Village in Al Wathba, Abu Dhabi on Friday night.

Al Harmoudi finished the 120-km ride in 4 hours 10 minutes and 37 seconds with Dana Mohammed Sharif Al Mutawa on Syferpan Cosmo with Rashed Hamoud Humaid Al Junaibi on Sarah Jones Te finishing third.

A total of 166 riders took part in the 120-km event that was run in four stages of 40km, 40km, 24km and 16kms.

Al Harmoudi and his 12-year-old bay mare Ashraf Sparkling Polaris representing Fazaa Endurance Team finished just two seconds ahead of Dana on Syferpan Cosmo from Seih Assalam Stables.

“I have been taking part for the last six years but this is my first ever win. It was also the first win for my horse and she was in very good shape throughout the race,” said Al Harmoudi, a 22-year-old student from Al Ain.

“The Night Ride was a great success and we had a tremendous starting line-up of 166 horses and riders. The event went off smoothly and the climate was perfect,” said Adnan Sultan Al Nuaimi, Director General of Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club who gave away the trophies and awards along with Ms Lara Sawaya, Director of the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival and Head of Ladies Racing in IFAHR.
“After our successful presence at the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair and the launch of the second edition of the HHSheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival Year Book this week, the Festival’s next stop will be the Hoppegarten race course in Berlin on May 5,” said Ms Sawaya.

The top three riders of tonight’s ride will be flown to Toulouse, France from June 4-10, 2013 where the races of HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival will be held . They will be our guests and apart from watching the racing action they get the chance to attend the Fourth World Arabian Racing Conference,” said Ms Sawaya said.

The HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival is organized by the Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority and co-ordinated by Abu Dhabi Sports Council in association with Emirates Racing Authority, IFAHR and Emirates Arabian Horse Society, supported by General Authority for Youth and Sports Welfare and Fegentri with Emirates airlines as the official carrier and sponsored by Invest AD, Arabtec, Al Rashid Investment, Areej Al Ameerat, Al Awani General Enterprises, Kabale, the UAE’s General Women’s Union, the HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy, Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition 2013, Dr. Nader Saab Switzerland, Wathba Stud Farm and Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club.

Results (top 5) of the 120-km Al Wathba Night Ride:

1. Khaled Abdullah Ahmed Al Harmoudi (Ashraf Sparkling Polaris) 4 hrs 10 mins 37 secs;
2. Dana Mohammed Sharif Al Mutawa (Syferpan Cosmo) 4:10.39;
3. Rashed Hamoud Humaid Al Junaibi (Sarah Jones Te) 4:12.52;
4. Saif Ahmed Al Mazroui (Aldjani Safinat) 4:16.34;
5. Saeed Mohammed Khalifa Al Mehairi (Magic Glenn Galah) 4:16.35.