Italians emerge victorious in 4 of 5 rides
22 April 2018, Arborea, Sardinia, Italy ~ Adrien Benedetti from France on Uzim d’Altare prevented an Italian endurance domination after winning the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Endurance Cup (Open) Two-star 120-km ride in the Sardegna Endurance Festival in Arborea, in the province of Oristano, Sardinia, Italy on Saturday, 21 April 2018.
Benedetti on Uzim d’Altare triumphed with a ride time of 6 hrs 40 minutes and 23 seconds finishing over 35 minutes ahead of Italians Antonello Mulas on Su Rai (7:15.45) and Marco Angeli on Sabra Nirwana.
Italian Luca Zappettini riding Agraria won the In the Year of Zayed 160-km CEI Three Star ride with Stefano Mori on Aechmea della Bosana and Chiara Marrama on Quintaessenza finishing in that order.
The HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies 120-km Two Star ride was again an Italian sweep but ended in a close contest with Linda Iosa on Giorgio (6:42.59) winning from Giada Bottiglia on Soraia (6:43.49). Elisabetta Montanari on Verbena della Bosana finished third in a time of 6:44.44.
In the 120-km Two Star ride for Juniors and Young Riders, Valentina Galli on Nordai finished ahead of Chiara Bruschi on CG Twice Nimroz.
Alessandro Generali rode A Big Aladyr to victory in the 90Km CEI One star ride with French rider Rollland Vergé on Malik’sha d’Olmarellu in second place. Carmine Calvanese on Luke finished third.
The rides were held under the umbrella of the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival in association with Horse Country Resort and the Italian Equestrian Federation.
Ms. Lara Sawaya, Executive Director of 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) said, “Endurance is a sport that the Festival is very keen to support and we have been doing this with a special focus on lady riders and young riders. This year in 2018 we not only mark the 10th anniversary of the Festival but more important the 100th birth anniversary of the late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, Founder and father of the UAE.”
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, The National Archives as the official partner and Emirates airline as the official carrier, in cooperation with Emirates Racing Authority, IFHRA, IFAHR, Emirates Arabian Horse Society, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Abu Dhabi Youth Council, General Authority for Sports and sponsored by Ayadi LLC, Global United Veterinary Services LLC, Nissan Middleast Al Massood Automobiles, Nirvana Travels and Tourism LLC, Equicare Veterinary Services, Alawal Stud, Cavalos Equine Care & Supplies, SET Sustainable Environmental Technologies, Al Awani General Enterprises, Omeir Travels, Kabale, YAS Channel, Abu Dhabi Falconers Club, Emirates Falconers Club, Mohammed Bin Zayed Falconry and Desert Physiognomy School, 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 2018, Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, Anantara Eastern Mangroves Spa and Resort.
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