Abu Dhabi: The UAE’s Saif Ahmad Al Mazroui, astride 11-year-old 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.
The winner covered the distance in four 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 celebrated the 45th anniversary of the National Day.
Al Mazroui was 73rd after the first 40 kms and then after the second loop of 35kms, he was lying 46th. At that stage, Briton Emma Victoria Finnie on Quelea Du Bas Palais was leading 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 Finnie finished fourth.
Two other UAE riders: Suhail Ali Rashed Ali Al Ghailani and Saeed Ahmad Jaber Al Harbi finished fifth and sixth, respectively, and all six riders won a 4WD car each for their efforts.
The race was attended by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, Shaikh Nasser Bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Shaikh Jumaa Bin Dalmmok Al Maktoum and Dr Ahmed Nasser Al Raisi, Chairman of the Emirates Equestrian Federation besides a number of officials.
Shaikh Hamdan 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’ Tra Jet when we were five minutes off the pace. I think he deserves to win, but our strategy has worked and Ramaah lived up to our expectations,” he told Dubai Racing Channel.
“Right now we are preparing Ramaah for the big challenges ahead, including the President’s Cup,” he added.
Trainer Ismail Mohammad, who looks after the top two finishers, was over the moon saying that the directives of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum had inspired the team and encouraged them to work hard in order to be always in the lead.
Provisional results (top 5) of National Day CEN 120 Km Endurance Ride:
1. Saif Ahmad Al Mazroui — UAE-(Ramaah) 04:16:31
2. Saeed Sultan Shames Al Maamari — UAE-(Shaddad) 04:18:32
3. Khalifa Ali Khalfan Al Jahouri — UAE-(Tra Jet) 04:18:40
4. Emma Victoria Finnie — GBR-(Quelea Du Bas Palais) 04:19.57
5. Suhail Ali Rashed Ali Al Ghailani — UAE-(Pintoresco) 04:23.28
