Abu Dhabi: Mansour Saeed Mohammad Al Faresi on Fenwick Sunset Tryst, a 10-year-old chestnut gelding, won the Al Wathba Challenge, a CEN 120-km endurance ride at the Emirates International Endurance Village, Al Wathba in Abu Dhabi on Saturday.
A total number of 153 riders started the five-stage race with 58 completing the race.
Al Faresi completed the course in four hours 12 minutes and 54 seconds.
Shaikh Hamed Dalmouk Juma Al Maktoum on Printemps De Marot finished second in 04:15:25 while Rashid Ahmad Al Beloushi on Rivergum Drifter was third in a time of 04:16:06.
After the 1-2-3 sweep by UAE riders, India’s Shiv Singh Swaroop Singh on Quersick Niellans and the UAE’s Ahmad Mohammad Ahmad Belqaizi Al Falasi on Castlebar Tornedo finished fourth and fifth respectively.
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 Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and UAE Minister of Finance attended the event.
Adnan Sultan Al Nuaimi, Director General of Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club; Al Awani of Al Awani General Enterprises; Lara Sawaya, Executive Director of the HH Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival, Chairperson of International Federation of Horse Racing Academies (IFHRA), Chairperson of Ladies Racing Committee in the International Federation of Arabian Horse Racing Authorities (IFAHR) and Chairperson of Apprentice Jockeys and Racing in IFAHR, and other officials took part in the prize distribution.
The HH Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival is organised by the Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority and coordinated by Abu Dhabi Sports Council in association with Emirates Racing Authority, IFAHR and Emirates Arabian Horse Society. The event is supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the General Authority of Youth and Sports Welfare with Arabtec Holding PJSC as the official partner and Emirates airline as the official carriers and sponsored by Invest AD, Tourism Development and Investment Company (TDIC), Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (Adnec), Al Rashid Investment, Al Awani General Enterprises, Kabale, Al Wathba Centre, the UAE’s General Women’s Union, the HH Shaikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy, Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition 2014, Dr. Nader Saab Switzerland, Al Wathba Centre, Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, Eastern Mangroves Suites-Abu Dhabi by Jannah, Abu Dhabi Sports Channel and Racing Post.
