Dubai: Qatari-owned camels captured the two most prestigious prizes on offer on the penultimate day of the 2017 Al Marmoum Heritage Festival being held at the Dubai Camel & Racing Club as local camels added more trophies for their owners.
Al Shariyar (meaning ‘Law’) was the biggest winner on a thrilling day’s racing when storming home a convincing winner of the eight-km final for Tribesmen in day’s best time of 12 minutes 27.3 seconds.
Abdullah Naser Abdullah Almusnad, who trains the winner at Qatar’s famous Al Shahaniya Stables, received a cash prize and a Golden Sword.
The second biggest prize of the day was Dh1 million in cash and a Golden Sword, which was won in impressive fashion by another Al Shahniya Stables protege, Shalal (Waterfall), who romped home a winner in 12 minutes 54.5 seconds.
The evening session, which featured six prestigious contests, was attended by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Sports Council, Shaikh Sultan Bin Hamdan Al Nahyan, Adviser to the UAE President, Shaikh Ahmad Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of the National Olympic Committee, Shaikh Joaan Bin Hamdan Bin Khalifa Al Thani from Qatar and Shaikh Maktoum Bin Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
Earlier in the afternoon session, Ramz (Code), an athletic camel owned by Shaikh Mattar Mohammad Al Ketbi, upstaged his rivals to clocked 12:35.04secs over the 8-km course. Al Ketbi collected a Golden Sword, Dh500,000 and the keys to a Range Rover.
Mohammad Ahmad Ak Amri sent out Nashwan (Happy) to win the second event of the season, which earned him a prestigious golden spear and Dh500,000. Nashwan timed 13:12.00 secs,
Obaid Sultan Mattar Markan Al Ketbi, another prominent local camel owner and breeder won Dh500,000 and a golden spear after Shaheen, the Falcon, came home a big winner of an 8km contest in a time of 13:15.09 secs, The fourth and final race of the afternoon was won by Behour (Seas) representing Sultan Mattar Markhan, who collected the keys to a spanking new Luxury Mercedes Four Wheel Drive. A prestigious dagger and Dh500,000.
In the morning session, Al Shahaniya’s veteran trainer Salim Bin Faran Al Mari showed and confirmed that he is still the leading trainer and a force to be reckoned with as his stars stole the major prizes.
The first win was registered on the first feature race through the uncatchable Al Rubdah (Gray Camel), who clocked 17:16:10 minutes as the best time recorded in the morning session to grab her owner the Mercedes Jeep and Dh130,000, The third race for Zumool Category camels owned by Shaikhs was won by Hayadh, who won her owner a Range Rover and Dh130,000.
A Mercedes Jeep with Dh130,000 was the prize allocated for the first feature race: Open for Haul Category Camels owned by tribesmen. The luxury car was driven to Saudi Arabia by Mohammad Suliman Hamad Bin Jubrain, owner and trainer of Rahya (The Bee).
