Terengganu, Malaysia: Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, has pulled out of the World Endurance Championship team event.
The winner of four gold medals in the European Open Team championships was forced to switch to the individual category after deciding his horse Jazyk was not ready.
Fortunately he had also qualified on Kaysand Farrazah, which he ride in today's 160km World Championship ride.
He said: "My horse Jazyk is not 100 per cent ready. He had some swelling in the eye. So I decided to ride my other horse (Kaysand Farrazah) and also decided to pull out of the team squad.
"Luck is against me for I wanted to ride Jazyk. I know him very well and he knows me. We read each other's eyes. But luck is against me.
"But I will go all out in the individual event," said Shaikh Hamdan, who will miss the team event for the first time.
Shaikh Majid Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Mubarak Khalifa Bin Shafya, Mohammad Ahmad Ali Subose and Abdullah Thani Bin Huzaim will form the four member UAE team.
The UAE have won the individual gold in the World Championship, the individual and team gold in the European Championship, the individual and team gold at the Asian Games as well as the Pan Arab Games.Shaikh Hamdan said the focus was on the team this time.
Sole reason
He said: "We are very keen to do well in the team event and that is the sole reason I pulled out as I will not be on my best horse."
Shaikh Hamdan said he did not think the conditions would pose the team too many problems.
"Our riders are experienced in all types of climate. Even if it rains we can manage it. As for the climate it will be the same for all riders," he said.
"This championship has seven stages with is both good and bad. Good because the horse can do with the extra rest, bad because there is another chance of getting eliminated during the extra vet check."
Mubarak Khalifa Bin Shafya, who is the endurance trainer as well as a team member said: "Our focus is on the team. We have prepared well and have also experienced some night rides during the summer in Europe."
The UAE riders, who are feared for their speed, will be starting off as favourites.
The UAE riders say their focus in today's World Endurance Championship is the team event. The team members said they are well prepared and ready to go.
UAE LINE-UP
- Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum (Kaysand Farrazah)
- Shaikh Majid Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum (Spenda Crest Kamouflage)
- Sultan Ahmad Bin Sulayem (Tazoul El Parry )
- Mubarak Khalifa Bin Shafya (Zakah Zahara)
- Abdullah Thani Bin Huzaim (Castlebar Kadeen)
- Mohammad Ahmad Ali Subose (Koum Des Jamets)
