Saif Ahmed al Mazroui rides Splendacrest Adage to win
7 January 2015, Abu Dhabi ~ Saif Ahmed Al Mazrou on the Australian-bred Splendacrest Adage from MRM Stables staved off a double challenge to win the Saturday 7 January HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival’s endurance ride at the Emirates International Endurance Village in Al Wathba, Abu Dhabi in the time of 04hrs 17mins 01secs at an average speed of 28.01 kmph.
Al Marri partnered AS Emponchado to second with Salim Said Al Owais on Terminator Te in third behind Al Mazroui on the part-Arabian Splendacrest Adage after a grueling 120-km contest.
Sheikh Hamed Dalmook Juma Al Maktoum on Carawan finished fourth, as the UAE riders dominated, while in 5th and 6th place were the first finish for foreign riders, Maeva Valentin on Dahoman XI from France and Argentina’s Catalina Bastons on HM Guerrero.
The first six riders were all awarded a 4WD vehicle each for topping the 120-km Emirates Championship which attracted 93 entries for the 4-stage ride of 40kms, 40kms, 20kms and 20kms.
Friday, 6 January CEN 120km
For Abdulla Ghanim Al Marri it was his second time to finish second, as the F3 Stables rider finished just a whisker behind the winner on Friday behind Ghanim Saed Salim Aliwaisi on Castlebar Gigolo in the Sheikh Rashid bin Hamdan Al Maktoum Challenge Festival 120-km CEN endurance ride. In that contest, Al Marri rode Rubis Du Chatel to second place with Sh Hasher bin Mohd Thani Al Maktoum on Robs Roy finishing third.
HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, HH Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy National Security Advisor and HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs attended the ride.
Ms Lara Sawaya, Executive Director of the HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival, Chairman of the International 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 HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival enters a busy phase now as tomorrow on the snow course in St Moritz in Switzerland nine horses will battle it out for the Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Listed Cup. We also have the meeting of the International Federation of Horse Racing Academies (IFHRA) in Abu Dhabi and next week we have the prestigious HH The President’s Cup 160-km endurance championship here in Al Wathba.”
Results (top six) of Emirates Championship, CEN 120 Km Endurance Ride on Saturday 7th February 2015:
Saif Ahmed Al Mazroui (Splendacrest Adage) 04hrs 17mins 01secs
Abdulla Ghanim Al Marri (A S Emponchado) 04:17:02
Salim Said Al Owais (Terminator Te) 04:17:03
Sheikh Hamed Dalmook Juma Al Maktoum (Carawan) 04:19:02
Maeva Valentin-France (Dahoman XI) 04:22:25.
Catalina Bastons-Argentina (HM Guerrero) 04:25:40
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 and Racing Post.
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1. Photo caption: Saif Ahmed Al Mazroui (Splendacrest Adage) centre winning the ride from No 53 Abdulla Ghanim Al Marri (A S Emponchado) and No 70 Salim Said Al Owais (Terminator Te)
Photo by Morhaf El Assaf