UAE win World Endurance Championship for Young Horses for the second successive year
27 September 2015, Verona, Italy ~ Saif Ahmed Al Mazroui from MRM Stables on Descarado won the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival-sponsored FEI World Championship for Young Horses at the Italian Endurance Festival 2015 in Verona, Italy, on Saturday, 26 September.
Al Mazroui staved off a strong challenge from the Spanish and Italian riders as he negotiated the scenic but challenging course adjoining the Garda River in Segurta Park in 5 hours 26 minutes and 56 seconds at an average time of 22.02kmph.
“I led right from the start and that was because I knew the horse well. The last time I rode it here in Italy a few months ago I finished second in an 80-km event and today he was in perfect condition even though it was a bit hot,” said the young Emirati.
“This is a young horse and has been gradually improving and Saif Ahmed Al Mazroui is one of the most promising young riders in the UAE. I was confident of a good show and am happy for Descarado,” said trainer Ismail Mohammed, who had also saddled the winner in last year’s Festival-sponsored FEI World Championship for Young Horses held in Samorin, Slovakia.
Tiswan Figeole under Saif Salem Al Faresi had won in 2014 and the UAE rider almost made it to the podium this year also but fell short despite a valiant attempt on Une De Miel, another MRM Stable horse trained by Ismail Mohammed. Two Spanish riders, Alex Luque Moral on Surena MB and Jordi Pons Serra on Cata De Montfluq took silver and bronze while the loudest cheers came when Italians Camila Malta on Barbaforte Bosana and Camille Coulomb on Sharon De Suleiman took fourth and fifth spots respectively.
A total of 73 riders started in the 120-km ride which was run in four stages and 29 completed. This is an FEI CH-EU-YJ-E 120 km race staged from the main area at Parco Giardino Sigurtà. The race challenges the most promising 7-year old Arabians and the venue changes from year to year. The 2016 edition will be held in Negrepelisse in the South of France.
HE Saqr Nasser Ahmed Al Raisi,the UAE Ambassador to Italy, Aref Alawani, General Secretary of Abu Dhabi Sports Council, 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 National Feed and Flour Production and Marketing Co. LLC , 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) along with top Italian officials attended the ride.
“To witness such a large crowd stay, watch and cheer the riders through the 120-km ride is indeed heartening. And with Saif Ahmed Al Mazroui winning and flying the UAE’s flag high it is a double win for the country,” said HE Saqr Nasser Ahmed Al Raisi.
“This is a great result for the Festival as UAE is winning the sponsored FEI World Championship for Young Horses for the second year in a row and both times the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival supported the championships,” said Ms Lara Sawaya.
Sawaya confirmed that the top five to finish will be invited to the 3-9 November One World, 6 Continents finale of the Festival in Abu Dhabi.
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, 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.
Results (top five) of the 120-km FEI World Championship for Young Horses:
1. Saif Ahmed Al Mazroui-UAE-(Descarado) 5hrs 26 mins 56 secs;
2. Alex Luque Moral–Spain-(Surena MB) 5:27.21;
3. Jordi Pons Serra-Spain-(Cata De Montfluq) 5:49.34;
4. Camila Malta-Italy-(Barbaforte Bosana) 5:54.24;
5. Camille Coulomb-Italy-(Sharon De Suleiman) 6:05.12.
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