Verona, Italy: The UAE ladies endurance team are confident of defending their title in the 100km HH Shaikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Endurance CEIO Cup, one of two prestigious rides that will be held on Sunday, the second day of the Italian Endurance Festival 2015 in Verona, Italy.
Afra Al Suwaidi, winner of the individual gold medal 12 months ago and a member of the winning team, said: “We are confident. We have had a feel of the terrain here and though it is a bit hot we are looking forward to a good ride on Sunday.”
Shathra Al Hajaj, one of the more experienced riders added: “I have a young horse and the gravel terrain will be a challenging one. But I will be looking to ensure we ride according to team tactics and will be happy to finish and help the team’s cause.”
The 120km HH Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival Cup will also be held today.
Earlier on Friday, visitors were treated to a horse parade and fireworks at the historic Segurta Park at the Valeggio Sul Mincio in Verona.
The show-stopper was the great stallion Akbar – a champion Purebred Arabian race horse and a highly-successful sire who made his bow before being retired.
Organising Committee chief James Coppini welcomed the gathering which included Saqr Nasser Ahmad Al Raisi, the UAE Ambassador to Italy, Aref Al Awani, General Secretary of Abu Dhabi Sports Council and Lara Sawaya, Executive Director of the HH Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival, official sponsor of the Italian Endurance Festival.
Sawaya announced that the top five placed riders in the World Championship for Young Horses and the members of the top three teams in the Shaikha Fatima Cup and Jury and vet teams will be invited to the November 3-9 ‘One World, 6 Continents’ finale of the Festival in Abu Dhabi.
“We will also invite the lady riders of the top three teams to take part in the HH Shaikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ride on November 28 in Abu Dhabi,” she said.
The HH Shaikh Mansour 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 carrier.
