A brilliant effort in the final loop helped Argentina’s Milena Mendez and her 11-year-old Moreno to land the 100-km Sheikha Fatma bint Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Ladies Endurance Cup at the Emirates International Endurance Village in Al Wathba, Abu Dhabi on Friday.
UAE’s Nouf Abdul Reda Ali, astride 11-year-old Quid Du Barthas from the MRM Stables was only two seconds behind in second place as the other Argentinean contender Martina Spelanzon, riding eight-year-old Fangio Font Noire for Al Reef Stables was seven minutes back in third place.
Polish rider Kamila Kart and the Egyptian lady Noura Abdulla took the next two spots in the top five and all of them drove away with a 4WD car each. Mendez was 18 seconds behind the UAE’s Ali when they set out on the final 20-km loop and the Argentine pressed her horse to clock an average of over 33kmph on that loop and that was enough to ensure her victory by a narrow two seconds.
The winner covered the distance in three hours, 18 minutes and 40 seconds at an average speed of 30.20 kmph.
The 21-year-old Argentinean youngster said in a post-race chat that she has been working for the Al Ain Stables during the last two years.
“This is my first win in my ten years career. My horse is a true champion. The race was tough particularly in the first and final loops and the dust added more difficulties to our job,” she said.
The winning trainer Abdulla Hasan Al Hammadi added: “She’s a brilliant girl who gave the mount a great ride. Milena is very honest and always listens and follows the instructions.”
The ride was held under the directives of HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan as part of the HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival and was split into three stages of 40 kms, 40 kms and 20 kms and it attracted 103 riders.
The race was attended by Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy National Security Advisor and Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs.
Sheikha Fatma bint Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Sheikh Mohammed bin Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Sheikh Hamdan bin Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan gave away the prizes and trophies for the winners. The crowning ceremony was also attended by Adnan Sultan Al Nuaimi, director general of the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club and Lara Sawaya, Executive Director of the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival, Chairman of the Int’l Federation of Horse Racing Academies (IFHRA) and Chairman of Ladies & Apprentice Racing Committee in the Int’l Federation of Arabian Horse Racing Authorities (IFAHR).
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 The National Archives 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 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 2015, Dr. Nader Saab Switzerland, Al Wathba Center, Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, Eastern Mangroves Suites-Abu Dhabi by Jannah, Abu Dhabi Sports Channel, Omeir Travels and Racing Post.
Results (Top five)of the Sheikha Fatma Bint Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Ladies Endurance Cup, CEN 100 Km Endurance Ride, Friday 27th February 2015:
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Milena Mendez –Argentina- (Moreno) 03hrs 18mins 40 secsl;
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Nouf Abdul Reda Ali-UAE- (Quid Du Barthas) 3:18:42:
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Martina Spelanzon-Argentina-(Fangio Font Noire) 03:25:12;
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Kamila Kart-Poland- (Othentik Du Fausset) 03:30:33
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Noura Abdulla Ahmed Mahmoud-UAE- (Azim SU)03:31:25:
