Al Mazroui was 73th after the first 40kms and then after the second loop of 35kms he was 46th. At that stage Briton Emma Victoria Finnie on Quelea Du Bas Palais was leading from the start. After the end of the third stage of 25kms, Emma was still the leader but Al Mazroui moved into 5th place.

In the final 20kms, the UAE riders surged ahead with Mazroui leading the 1-2-3 finish while Emma finished fourth.

Two other UAE riders Suhail Ali Rashed Ali Al Ghailani and Saeed Ahmad Jaber Al Harbi finished 5th and 6th respectively and all six riders won a 4WD car each for their efforts.

The race was attended by HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice-President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, HH Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, HH Sheikh Nasser Bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Sheikh Jumaa Bin Dalmmok Al Maktoum and Dr. Ahmed Nasser Al Raisi, Chairman of the Emirates Equestrian Federation besides a number of officials and a large crowd.

The race was held under the directives of the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and sponsored by the Abu Dhabi Sports Council and the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Festival.

 HH Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum hailed the strong performance of Ramaah saying that he can even do better.

“We were forced to reconsider our strategy after watching the brilliant performance of the Wathba Stables’ horse Tra Jet when we were five minutes off the pace. I think he deserves to win, but our strategy has worked and Ramaah lived up to our expectations,” he told Dubai Racing Channel.

“Right now we are preparing Ramaah for the big challenges ahead, including the President’s Cup,” he added.

Dr. Ahmed Al Raisi said it was a marvelous race and the riders were fantastic. “I would like above all to thank the wise leadership of the UAE on the 45th anniversary of the National Day. The competition was tough and would like to thank HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum for the splendid win of Ramaah. It was a well-deserved victory. Ramaah is well known as a top performer and whenever he is in he wins,” he said.

The winner thanked His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum for his valuable advices which were behind his success.

“I’m truly delighted to win this prestigious trophy thanks to the strategy of His Highness to look after the welfare of the horse while keeping an eye on the lead group. My horse was in a very good form and shape and was always going well as the race progressed,” he said.

Trainer Ismail Mohammed who looks after the top two horses was over the moon saying that the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum had inspired the team and encouraged them to work hard in order to be always in the lead.

Ms 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 Committees in the International Federation of Arabian Horse Racing Authorities (IFAHR) said the race was strong and competitive and the success of the event is thanks to the directives of Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

“I would like to congratulate the President HH Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice-President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai and HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces on the 45th anniversary of the National Day,” she said.