Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, led a UAE sweep of the top three places in the H.H. The President of the United Arab Emirates Cup endurance ride yesterday.
Riding Kaysand Farrazah, Shaikh Hamdan completed the gruelling 160km course in 6hrs 52mins 29 secs.
Mohammad Ahmad Ali Al Subose (Kevin de Narthoux) was a close second in 6:52.30, while Mohammad Rashed Al Subosi (Genio 11) finished third in 6:57.24. Oman's Ahmad Salim Al Beloushi was fourth in 7:06.51.
With Malaysia set to host the World Endurance Championships in November, some of the top riders from around the world were in action, either to prepare or to qualify for the event.
However, even before the first loop of 34kms was over, four of the top contenders – Shaikh Rashid Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Shaikh Hazza Bin Sultan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, HH Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Cup winner Omair Hussain Al Beloushi and Ali Mohammad Al Muhairi had retired.
Striking distance
In the second stage, another favourite Yousef Ahmad Al Beloushi fell by the wayside, while in the third loop, Shaikh Mayed Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum also made an exit.
Shaikh Hamdan was 16th after the first loop while Majid Salem Al Sabri, Ali Khalfan Al Jahouri and Oman's Ahmad Salim Al Beloushi were fighting for the top place.
Shaikh Hamdan increased his pace to move into second and when the first five stages were completed he was in third. But on the final loop of 16kms, Al Jahouri's horse Aghmed went lame about two kms from the finish and Shaikh Hamdan was within striking distance to win the Dh1.5 million ride, sponsored by Hydra Properties and Emirates NBD.
Shaikh Hamdan, winner of team gold medals at the European Open Championships and the 2006 Asian Games, completed a memorable day when his horse was adjudged 'Best Conditioned Horse' to bag a special cash prize. That was after he also won the key to a 4WD car for his triumph.
Results (16.02.08)
CEI*** 160Km – President's Cup – Al Wathba – Abu Dhabi
1º HH Sh Hamdan bin Mohamed Al Maktoum (EAU) – Kaysand Farrazah – 06:52:29
2º Mohammed Ali Al Subose (EAU) – Kevin de Narthoux – 06:52:30
3º Mohammed Rashed Saeed Khamis Al Subosi (EAU) – Genio II – 06:57:24
4º Ahmed Salim Al Balushi (OMA) – Jibbah Enog – 07:06:51
5º Majed Mohd Salman Al Sabri (EAU) – Zakah Zahara – 07:13:41
6º Yousif Abdullah Al Hammadi (EAU) – Bebabeloula – 07:18:51
7º Pio Juan Miguel Olascoaga Amaya (URU) – Fino – 07:20:41
8º Ali Ghanim al Marri (EAU) – Amira Kel – 07:26:55
9º Thani Mohd Al Muhairi (EAU) – Amira Kel . 07:28:40
10º Meg Wade (AUS) – Ryton Remy – 07:48:45
19º João Raposo (POR) – Quinza – 10:02:42
20º Filipe Cacheirinha (POR) – Papoila – 10:05:22