UAE riders sweep top three spots

Mazroui and Ramaah

3 November 2016, Abu Dhabi, UAE ~ The UAE’s Saif Ahmed Al Mazroui, astride 11-year-old Anglo- Arabian Ramaah, made a great rally in the final two stages to win the CEN 120km National Day Cup Endurance Ride for the MRM Stables at the Emirates International Endurance Village at Al Wathba here on Saturday.

Al Mazroui covered the distance in 4 hours, 18 minutes and 32 seconds at average speed of 27.89 km/hour and crossed the finish-line two minutes and one second in front of compatriot and stable companion Saeed Sultan Shames Al Maamari aboard Shaddad in the 1-2 finish for the in-form yard. Khalifa Ali Khalfan Al Jahouri was eight seconds behind in third place, riding Tra Jet to complete a 1-2-3 sweep for the UAE as the country celebrates the 45th anniversary of the National Day.

The Course

Running in 73rd place after the first 40kms, Al Mazroui moved to 46th after the second loop of 35kms. At that stage British rider Emma Victoria Finnie on Quelea Du Bas Palais was still in the lead 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 worked and Ramaah lived up to our expectations,” 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.

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.

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, with National Feed and Flour Production and Marketing Co. LLC as associate sponsors, IPIC as Strategic Partner, The National Archives as the official partner and Emirates airline as the official carriers, in cooperation with Emirates Racing Authority, IFAHR, Emirates Arabian Horse Society, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, General Authority of Youth and Sports Welfare and sponsored by Al Aweer Stables, Ayadii LLC, Global United Veterinary Services LLC, Bloom, Petromal, Rise General Trading Co. LLC, Hayatna, Wathba Stallions, Abu Dhabi Falconers Club, Emirates Falconers Club, Mohamed Bin Zayed Falconry and Desert Physiognomy School, Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), Al Awani General Enterprises, Kabale, Omeir Travels, Dr Nader Saab Switzerland, Laboratories Fadia Karam Cosmetics, YAS Channel, Racing Post, Paris Turf, 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 2017, Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, Eastern Mangroves Suites-Abu Dhabi by Jannah, Anantara Eastern Mangroves Spa and Resort./H6>

Provisional results (top 5) of National Day CEN 120 Km Endurance Ride:
1 – Saif Ahmed Al Mazroui –UAE – Ramaah 04:16:31 (No. 71)
2- Saeed Sultan Shames Al Maamari – UAE-Shaddad 04:18:32 (No. 14)
3 – Khalifa Ali Khalfan Al Jahouri – UAE – Tra Jet 04:18:40 ( No. 132)
4 – Emma Victoria Finnie –GBR-Quelea Du Bas Palais 04:19.57 (No. 131)
5 – Suhail Ali Rashed Ali Al Ghailani – UAE- Pintoresco 04:23.28 (No. 133)

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