Abu Dhabi: Layla Abdul Aziz Al Redha will be starting off as one of the favourites to win tomorrow's 100-km Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Challenge 1, a ride open only to UAE nationals from private stables.
Layla, who won the race last season, has already won three such races which were introduced a few years back to encourage individual owners and those from private stables.
Layla, who will be participating along with her father Abdul Aziz Al Redha who also is the trainer of their horses, won last season's 100-km Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Challenge on Foxtrott 40.
This season she has already tasted success when she won the 100-km Emirates Endurance Cup for privately owned horses on the same horse in Boudtheib Endurance Village. However, in tomorrow's ride Layla is expected to be on Mafalda de Bellvue.
Ata press conference yesterday, Ali Mohammad Al Muhairi, Racing manager for Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance, said, "The ride is being held under the patronage of Shaikh Hamdan and this ride is being held for the third successive year."
"The top three riders will all be presented with cars while the riders between the 4th and 20th position will be given cash awards according to the position," Al Muhairi said.
"This year we have restricted this ride only to UAE nationals and with the big stables and top riders not in the fray such rides give a huge boost to the private stables. They have been improving with every such competition," he said.
Ali Moosa Al Khamiri, General Manager of Dubai Equestrian Club said, "Nearly a hundred riders have entered for the Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Challenge 1 which will be held at the Dubai International Endurance City in Seih Assalam."
"Friday will see a record number of horses in action as two other Qualifier rides are also being held. An 80-km Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Qualifier has attracted over 100 riders while the 41-km Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Qualifier will see around 70 riders in action," Ali Moosa said.
The Shaikh Hamdan Challenge 1 will get off to a mass start at 6a.m. and will be run in four stages of 32km, 30km, 27km and 11 km. The 80-km Qualifier Ride will be run in three stages of 32km, 30km and 18 km while the 41km Qualifier will be run in two stages of 30km and 11 km.
