Al Muhairi brothers make it a family affair in 120-km ride

Abu Dhabi: Ali Mohammad Al Muhairi and his younger brother Thani Al Muhairi finished 1-2 in the Shaikh Rashid Bin Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Challenge Two 120-km endurance ride at the Emirates International Endurance Village here on Saturday.

Ali, who is the Racing Manager for Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance, had earlier in the season finished behind his younger brother.

Even yesterday, Ali on Garaman Mikado was in second place behind Thani but a fiercely-contested final loop in which two of the UAE's best performers- Yousuf Ahmad Al Beloushi and Omair Hussain Al Beloushi were also there - left the elder of the siblings crossing the finish line first.

Determined effort

Omair, on Sharahd Sataka, and Yousuf on Estaban were in third and sixth places when they went out on the final loop. Both launched a determined effort on the Al Muhairi brothers and Ali took up the challenge while Thani decided to just keep going at a steady pace.

Ali, Omair and Yousuf were involved in a close battle and with speeds crossing 30km/h for the final loop, Ali managed to finish ahead of Omair with Thani in third and Yousuf in fourth.

However, both Omair and Yousuf's horses failed the final vet check which allowed Thani Mohammad Al Muhairi to finish second behind his elder brother.

Ali Mohammad, who had finished second to his younger brother in Dubai, had finished third in the three-day 240-km ride in Boutheib and finally won on the last day of the UAE's domestic endurance season.

"It was a tough ride and because of the two Al Reef riders, we really had to push hard on the final loop. We are very happy with these results and also on the whole season," said Ali, who is also an endurance horse trainer with yesterday's top two coming from his stables.

Earlier in the morning, a total of 126 horses started in the five-stage 120-km ride which had a total prize money of Dh400,000 and a luxury car on offer for the top riders.

Yesterday's ride was attended by Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai ,and Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance.

Results