Abdullah Ghanim Al Marri on Quran El Ulm came up with a superb finish to win the HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival sponsored Festival Mondial d’Endurance HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies Cup 120-km ride in Compiegne, France on Sunday.
Completing a 1-2 triumph for the UAE was Sheikh Abdullah bin Faisal Al Qassimi on Laiza De Jalima while French duo Marine Saignie on Qrafiq La Majorie and Ludovic Saroul on Magdan Solal were third and fourth before another UAE rider Ahmed Dahi Salem Al Mehairbi on Talik Ben Melfik finished fifth.
The HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies Cup, was run in four stages of 37kms, 33.1kms, 30.3kms and 20.1 kms and a total of 121 riders started.
It was yet another dominant display by the UAE riders with Saif Ahmed Al Mazroui on Jager FPA, who won the 160km ride on Friday, leading the field into the final stage of 20kms and looked headed for his second win in three days. At that stage Al Marri was 4th and with Quran Al Ulm, winner of a 160-km ride here in a good condition, the 18-year-old UAE star forged ahead to post an easy win.
Al Marri completed the 120-km distance in 5 hrs 6 minutes and 05 seconds while Sheikh Faisal finished in 5:08.22 with the French riders timed at 5:10.11 and 5:24.48 respectively.
Al Marri, who has the rare distinction of winning the HH Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum Cup 160-km twice in 2013 and again this year, said it was a challenging ride. “The competition was just like in a world championship and the course is also a tough one. But the UAE riders proved we are second to none and I am very happy with this win.”
HH Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister anblued Ruler of Dubai and His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Crown Prince attended the final’s day’s action in the HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival sponsored Festival Mondial d’Endurance in Compiegne on Sunday. Sheikh Mohammad and Sheikh Hamdan congratulated the UAE riders after their victory.
Ms Lara Sawaya, Executive Director of the HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival and Chairman of Ladies Racing at the International Federation of Arabian Horse Racing Authorities (IFAHR) said, “The UAE riders once again proved their superiority at the international level.”
SUPPORT FOR ENDURANCE RIDES
“The Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival will be sponsoring the World Junior and Young Riders Championship to be held in October 2015 in Chile. The Festival will also be sponsoring two endurance rides in Fontainebleau in France in March and October next year ,” said Ms Sawaya.
The HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival is organised by the Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority and coordinated by Abu Dhabi Sports Council in association with Emirates Racing Authority, IFAHR and Emirates Arabian Horse Society, supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs , the General Authority of Youth and Sports Welfare with Arabtec Holding PJSC as the Official Partner and Emirates airline as the official carriers and sponsored by Invest AD, Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC), Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), Al Rashid Investment, Al Awani General Enterprises, Kabale, Al Wathba Centre, the UAE’s General Women’s Union, the HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy, Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition 2014, Dr. Nader Saab Switzerland, Al Wathba Center, Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, Eastern Mangroves Suites-Abu Dhabi by Jannah, Abu Dhabi Sports Channel and Racing Post.
The result:
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Abdullah Ghanim Al Marri (Quran El Ulm) 05:06.05;
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Sheikh Abdullah bin Faisal Al Qassimi (Laiza De Jalima) 05:08.22;
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Marine Saignie (Qrafiq La Majorie) 5:10.11;
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Ludovic Saroul (Magdan Solal)5:24.48
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Ahmed Dahi Salem Al Mehairbi (Talik Ben Melfik) 5:41.20.
