France Gold, Italy Silver, and UAE lady riders take team Bronze in HH Sheikha Fatima ride
27 September 2015, Verona, Italy ~ The HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival-sponsored Italian Endurance Festival saw UAE’s top endurance horse trainer Ismail Mohammed saddle two additional winners for MRM Stables and that, along with an individual Gold by Saeed Al Mehairi and a team Bronze by the lady riders made for a very successful UAE showing at Verona, Italy on Sunday, 27 September.
100-km HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Endurance CEIO ride
The MRM Stables’ Ismail Mohammed-trained Descarado had already carried Saif Ahmed Al Mazroui to victory in the FEI World Championship for Young Horses on Saturday, and the Dubai-based endurance stable once again swept the honors on Sunday with Saeed Al Mehairi on Za’Amah winning the 100-km HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival Cup and Ireland’s Amy Louis Mcauley on Souletoile de Sommant finishing first in the 100-km HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Endurance CEIO ride.
UAE’s Afra Al Suwaidi, winner of this ride last year, crossed the finish line first on Pacxie de Paute but unfortunately the horse did not clear the final vet check due to metabolic reasons. Mcauley was hot on the pursuit of Al Suwaidi during the final ten kilometers of the 100-km ride after the UAE star led from the start, but Pacxie de Paute’s elimination moved the 21-year-old Irish into first place.
Though Souletoile de Sommant’s success was a winning effort for MRM Stables and Ismail Mohammed, Al Suwaidi’s exit meant that three of the other four UAE lady riders had to finish well. France was too good and they claimed the Gold and €5,000 prize money with Laetita Tocquet on Tsar Du Cruscau (ranked 2), Elisa Simon on Zeina Bint Zaphira (ranked 5) and Cecile Totain on Eaube (ranked 12) wrapping it up.
The UAE’s Shathra Al Hajjaj on Crazy Antar (ranked 15), Nouf Abdul Reda Ali on Caazou (ranked 17) and Alia Al Khafajy on Gallit (ranked 19) rode cautiously to the bronze behind the Italian hosts’ team of Irene Avitabile on Bormane De Piboul (ranked 3), Anastasia Cassoni on Guiditta Di Gallura (ranked 6) and Galia De Gennaro on Darki De Cardonne (ranked 22).
100-km HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival Cup
Later on Sunday, Saeed Al Mehairi on Za’Amah came up with a fiery final stage speed averaging over 31.30kph to overtake hitherto leader Sheikh Mohammed Bin Mubarak Al Khalifa of Bahrain on Kelallie La Cure to win the 100-km HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival Cup. Za’Amah is also trained by Ismail Mohammed at MRM Stables.
“Our horses are in good shape and we are looking forward to the season here and in the UAE. Three winners in three rides over the last two days is encouraging and we hope we continue in a strong fashion,” remarked Ismail Mohammed, the MRM Stables’ trainer.
HE Saqr Nasser Ahmed Al Raisi, the UAE Ambassador to Italy; Dr Abdul Rahim Al Awadhi from the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Aref Alawani, General Secretary of Abu Dhabi Sports Council (ADSC); Dr. Abdulla Elreyes, Director-General of the UAE National Archives Ministry of Presidential Affairs; Adnan Sultan Al Nuaimi, Director General of the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club; Sultan Zakaria Aouda representing the National Feed and Flour Production and Marketing Co. LLC; Khalid Al Hammadi of GAYSC; Ahmad Al Qubaisi of ADSC; Mussalam Al Amri of Al Jazira 1 & 2 Stables; and 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) attended the two races and then participated in the prize distribution ceremonies.
Sawaya said that the team riders of France, Italy and Spain (4th team finish) would all be invited to the 3-9 November One World, 6 Continents finale of the Festival, in Abu Dhabi. Encouraged by the success of the HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Endurance CEIO ride over the last two years, Ms Lara Sawaya also said that from next year the event will be a larger one. “The HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Endurance Cup will be a three-ride series and will be held in three different countries.”
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 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, National Feed and Flour Production and Marketing Co. LLC, Bloom, Petromal, Rise General Trading Co. LLC, Hayatna, 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 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 and Laboratories Fadia Karam Cosmetics.
Report by Satya
Results of the 100-km HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Endurance CEIO ride (top three teams)
France (total time of best three of five riders)-13 hrs 39 mins 27 secs
Laetita Tocquet on Tsar Du Cruscau (ranked 2) 4:02.49
Elisa Simon on Zeina Bint Zaphira (ranked 5) 4:22.56
Cecile Totain on Eaube (ranked 12)5:13.42
Camille Mahieu on Loustik Du Loup (ranked 13) 5:13.47
Audrey Mahieu on Teaugo D’Arros (ranked 14) 5:13.48
Italy (14 hrs 50mins 38 secs)
Irene Avitabile on Bormane De Piboul (ranked 3) 4:22.50
Anastasia Cassoni on Guiditta Di Gallura (ranked 6) 4:38.37
Galia De Gennaro on Darki De Cardonne (ranked 22) 5:49.11
UAE (16 hrs 25mins 20 secs)
Shathra Al Hajjaj on Crazy Antar (ranked 15) 5:20.15
Nouf Abdul Reda Ali on Caazou (ranked 17) 5:27.52
Alia Al Khafajy on Gallit (ranked 19) 5:37.13
Results of the 100-km HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival Cup
Saeed Al Mehairi –UAE-(Za’Amah) 3hrs 57 mins 07 secs
Sheikh Mohammed Bin Mubarak Al Khalifa -Bahrain- (Kelallie La Cure) 3:58.45
Fahad Al Khatri –Bahrain- (WH Picos Shazam) 4:01.33
~ ends