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UAE riders face stiff test from French team
Despite their dominance of both the local and international rides held in the UAE, the country's top riders are expected to face a stiff challenge from the 12-strong French team in Saturday's Dh1.5 million His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Endurance Cup 2008.
- Staff Report
- Published: 00:25 January 8, 2008
- Image Credit: Ahmed Ramzan/Gulf News
- Cecile Miletto at the press conference for the inaugural His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Cup 2008 at Mina Al Salam Hotel in Dubai.
Abu Dhabi: Despite their dominance of both the local and international rides held in the UAE, the country's top riders are expected to face a stiff challenge from the 12-strong French team in Saturday's Dh1.5 million His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Endurance Cup 2008.
French champion Barbara Lissarrague, riding Georgat, won the 2005 World Championship here with an impressive timing of 7 hrs 04 mins and 14 seconds, finishing just ahead of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, on Nashmi.
High speeds
According to a press release from Dubai Equestrian Club, Lissarrague returns and is accompanied by a few other championship winners from France.
Jean Philippe Frances, winner of the 2006 European Open championship and also a gold medal winner with the French team in 2002, is also in the fray, as are World Equestrian Games team gold medal winners in 2006, Virginie Atger, Philippe Benoit and Sophie Arnaud.
Atger also finished second in the same World Equestrian Games, in which Elodie Le Labourier was third to boost the French dominance.
Among the French pack is the in-form Jack Begaud, currently ranked two in the FEI World Rankings. He has entered Idias Tohiba, the horse with which he finished second last November in the Malaysian World Championship pre-ride and adds to the strength of the French line-up.
Cecile Miletto, the 2000 World Silver Medallist is also back and along with Philippe Tomas, Jean Michel Grimal, Larent Mosti and Julie Lafaure, will pose a strong French challenge to the hosts UAE.
Though it is the off-season back home, most of the French horses and riders have already arrived here to acclimatise themselves ahead of the January 12, 160-km ride, which will be run in six stages.
Commenting on her preparation, Miletto, who is no newcomer to the Dubai course, said: "The weather will be a problem as it is snowing back home.
"Added to that will be the high speeds. We normally do an average speed of 19kmph but here it is about 22kmph."
The riders, who are based at the Bab Al Shams Resort next to the Dubai International Endurance City, have been giving their horses light workouts in the mornings.
Last Sunday, the Dubai Equestrian Club announced the world's richest-ever endurance ride - the His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Endurance Cup 2008 - with Omega as the title sponsor.
Twenty six international riders will be joined by UAE and other riders from the region in the 160-km event which is an FEI CEI 3 star event.
Cecile Miletto is also back and along with Tomas, Grimal, Mosti and Lafaure, will pose a strong French challenge to the hosts UAE.
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