French riders post clean sweep

After losing the European Open team gold to the UAE and also the European team and individual gold to Belgium, France turned on their young endurance power to sweep the FEI-Banat Al Reeh Mondial for 7-8 year-old horses, bagging 9 of the top 10 places.

The 119-km four stage ride not only threw up some fresh horses, but quite a few new names also made their presence felt including first-time winner Alain Gaudino.

The civil servant from Orthez, near the Spanish border in fact did not know he was winning and did so only when the packed crowd cheered him home inside the Grand Parc course.

He was involved in a close contest at the finish but staved off the challenge from experienced French rider Vincent Dupont on Jawad de la Saulire.

Except the fourth place which went to Great Britain's Katie Smith the remaining nine positions were all filled by French riders.

"My horse Tisebrouk is a big galloper and he likes flat courses and challenges," said Gaudino after scoring a classy win to earn some consolation for the French.

"This is only his second race and he comes from a half-racing and half endurance background. I overtook a few riders with about 11kms to go and never knew I was leading until I entered the home stretch.

"He has a big heart and you will hear a lot about Tisebrouk," said Gaudino, who was lying in sixth place in the final stage before he won the ride.

Gaudino and Tisebrouk finished the 119km ride in a total time of 6hrs 24mins and 39secs with an average speed of 18.58kmph.

The UAE's Ali Mohammad Al Muhairi was in third place going into the final loop but did not push his young horse and finally finished 13th, just behind countryman Abdulla Bin Huzaim on Zephyr.

"It is the last ride of the European circuit and the pace was a bit too much.

"I did not want to risk Djene," he said, commenting on the eight-year-old gelding, bred by General Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and UAE Minister of Defence.

Mohammad Rashid Bin Ghadayer, President of Emirates International Endurance Racing, distributed the trophies and awards to the top finishers.

UAE Riders: