Abdulla Ghanim Al Marri riding EO Rakassah Anik won the YAS for Private Owners (UAE) 100-km Endurance Ride on Saturday, December 12, 2015 at the Emirates International Endurance Village, Al Wathba, Abu Dhabi.
Rakassah Anik is a 9-year-old grey mare owned by UAE’s Hamdan Saeed Jaber and Abdulla Jaber took 3 hours 42 minutes and 20 second to complete the 100-km ride.
French rider Maeva Valentin, who is in great form once again got on to the podium riding the Mubarak Al Arti-owned Trasy SC and just five second behind the winner.
Another foreign rider, Sabrina Magali Mendiz from Argentina rode Baraka Nyura to third place.
The UAE’s Jasem Mohammed Al Hammadi on Cal Roya Mac Queen and lady rider Nesreen Khasro Ali Khaled on Peumo took the next two places to finish in the top five.
HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs attended the ride along with other Sheikhs and VIPs. The ride’s major sponsor was National Feed And Flour Production And Marketing Co. LLC. A total of 71 riders on horses owned by UAE nationals took part in the ride and 25 completed.
Ms Lara Sawaya, Executive Director of the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival, Chairperson of the International Federation of Horse Racing Academies (IFHRA) and Chairperson of Ladies & Apprentice Racing Committees in the International Federation of Arabian Horse Racing Authorities (IFAHR)along with Mr Adnan Sultan Al Nuaimi, Director General of ADEC and other representatives of the sponsors gave away the prizes including cars to the winners.
The HH 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, in cooperation with Emirates Racing Authority, IFAHR, Emirates Arabian Horse Society, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, General Authority of Youth and Sports Welfare with The National Archives as the official partner and Emirates airline as the official carriers and sponsored by Invest AD, Bloom, Petromal, Rise General Trading Co. LLC, Hayatna, Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), Al Awani General Enterprises, Kabale, Al Wathba Centre, the UAE’s General Women’s Union, The Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, the HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy, Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition 2015, Dr. Nader Saab Switzerland, Al Wathba Center, Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, Eastern Mangroves Suites-Abu Dhabi by Jannah, Yas Channel, Omeir Travels, Racing Post, Paris Turf and Laboratories Fadia Karam Cosmetics.
The Top Five in the 100-km ride
1. Abdulla Ghanim Al Marri –UAE-(EO Rakassah Anik) 03:42:20
2. Maeva Valentin –FRA- (Trasy SC) 03:42:
3. Sabrina Magali Mendiz-ARG- (Baraka Nyura) 03:45:20
4. Jasem Mohammed Al Hammadi-UAE- (Cal Rayo Mac Queen) 03:45:24
5. Nesreen Khasro Ali Khaled –COM- (Peumo) 03:46:03