Alcochette, Portugal: The UAE endurance team is on a multi-mission at the 160-km European Open Endurance Championship which kicks off at 6.00am here today.
Having won the individual gold and the team gold in 2005, the 6-member UAE team's first task will be their title defence.
However, the UAE riders will also be out to avenge a poor display at the 2006 World Equestrian Championship in Aachen, Germany, and with most of the top finishers of that event back in the fray here, an intense tussle for supremacy is on the cards.
To add another dimension to the UAE's campaign here today will be their new manager-cum-rider in the form of Mubarak Khalifa Bin Shafya, who has, as part of his team, the Asian gold medal winning quartet of Shaikh Rashid Bin Mohammad Al Maktoum, Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Al Maktoum, Shaikh Ahmad Bin Mohammad Al Maktoum, Shaikh Mayed Bin Mohammad Al Maktoum and Sultan Bin Sulayem.
While the Mohammad brothers will once again be part of the team, all six riders will take a shot at the three individual medals.
Final change
Speaking to the press after all the UAE horses passed the pre-ride veterinary check, Bin Shafya said, "We did a last-minute change and Shaikh Hamdan will be riding Kevin De Narthou while Sultan Bin Sulayem will be on Nashmi. We are mainly concentrating on the team and our aim is to send out the best horses for the team."
Bin Shafya will be riding Zakah Zahara, on whom he won a 160-km ride last month in the build-up while Asian Games bronze medal winner Sultan Bin Sulayem rides Nashmi, the horse that won the Best Conditioned Horse award under His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister of the UAE, and Ruler of Dubai, when they finished second in the 2005 World Championship.
"The horses have been in Newmarket for over three months while I took over about a month back. They have traveled well and we have some very experienced riders. However the opposition is very good and Bahrain and France also have a good chance," Bin Shafya said.
The new trainer also warned that it would be a fast ride though the stifling heat will be a major factor.
"One can expect the winner to average over 19 kmph and as I am in the race for the individual medals, I will set a fast pace," said Bin Shafya.
However the one area of concern will be the final loop which is of 27kms and the UAE riders are generally used to smaller final loops where they gather terrific pace.
"Yes that will be a challenge but we have the experience to tackle it," added Bin Shafya.
Today's ride will get off to a mass start and will be run in six phases of 34.5 kames, 21.75kms, 27.50kms, 21.75kms, 27.50kms and 27kms.
The UAE team with horses: Shaikh Ahmad Bin Mohammad Al Maktoum (Jazyk)
Shaikh Rashid Bin Mohammad Al Maktoum (Spenda Crest Karnouflage)
Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Al Maktoum (Kevin De Narthou)
Shaikh Mayed Bin Mohammad Al Maktoum (Kaysand Farrazah)
Sultan Bin Sulayem (Nashmi) Mubarak Khalifa Al Shafya (Zakah Zahara)
UAE's record in European Open
1999- Elvaz-Badacoz (Spain-Portugal): Winner of team gold (Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Shaikh Rashid, Shaikh Hamdan, Abdullah Bilhab)2001, Castiglione Del Lago, Italy - Individual gold: Shaikh Rashid Bin Mohammad Al Maktoum. Individual silver: Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Al Maktoum, Team gold: UAE (Shaikh Mohammad, Shaikh Rashid, Shaikh Hamdan, Abdullah Bilhab)
2003, Punchestown, Ireland Individual gold: Shaikh Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Individual silver: Shaikh Rashid Bin Mohammad Al Maktoum Individual bronze: Ali Mohammad Al Muhairi
2005, Compiegne, France Individual gold: Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Al Maktoum Individual bronze: Shaikh Mayed Bin Mohammad Al Maktoum
Team gold: UAE (Shaikh Mohammad, Shaikh Hamdan, Shaikh Mayed)
