Qemazi led a sweep by UAE riders taking the top three spots
Mohd Ali Ateeq Al Qemzi
14 January 2016, Abu Dhabi, UAE ~ UAE rider Mohammed Ali Ateeq Al Qemazi astride 14-year-old Woodbourne Star Flash won the FEI CEI** 120 Km Endurance Al Reef Cup for the in-form Al Reef Al-Ain Stables in the Saturday, 14 January, race at the Emirates International Endurance Village in Al Wathba.
Saeed Sultan Shames Al Maamari, riding 13-year-old Anglo-Arab gelding Shaddad was one second behind in second place and behind them came compatriot Abdulla Ghanim Al Marri aboard 11-year-old Anglo-Arab gelding Tom Jones.
Indian rider Prem Singh Madan Singh, crossed the finish line fourth on his Cross-Bred Grey Gelding HC VIP and the top four drove away with brand new 4WD cars courtesy of the Emirates International Endurance Village. The sunrise start saw 183 riders head to the desert tracks.
Awards -FEI President, Ingmar de Vos Center left with officials
The winner Mohammed Al Qemazi on Woodbourne Star Flash covered the distance in 4 hours, 14 minutes and 22 seconds at an average speed of 28.30km/hr.
The race was held under the directives of the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan as part of the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Racing Festival. Dr. Ahmed Nasser Al Raisi, Chairman of the Emirates Equestrian Federation (EEF) accompanied by the FEI President Ingmar De Vos and his deputy Sheikh Khaled Bin Abdulla Al Khalifa, Adnan Sultan Al Nuaimi, director general of the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, Ms. Lara Sawaya, Executive Director, HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival, Chairman of the Int’l Federation of Horse Racing Academies (IFHRA), Chairman of Ladies & Apprentice Racing Committees in the International Federation of Arabian Horse Racing Authorities (IFAHR), Dr. Abdulla Alraisi, General Manager of the National Archive Centre and the representatives of the sponsors presented the prizes and trophies for the winners.
EEF chief Al Raisi praised the organization of the event and the large number of participants as well as the commitment of the riders to the rules and regulations of the FEI. The FEI President, Ingmar De Vos, toured the venue and congratulated the UAE on the facilities and the venue.
Ms. Sawaya reiterated that the Festival’s support for the Arabian horse breeders and owners is endless and mentioned a new racing Championship for Al Ain and Abu Dhabi.
“A new competition bringing together the Wathba Stud Farm Cup races in Al Ain and Abu Dhabi gets underway with a total prize-money of Dh 150.000. The top three points-earning horses in the championship will be sent by the festival to Morocco to take part in the Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Cup during the upcoming World Arabian Horse Racing Conference from 1-7 May 2017,” she said.