Mohammed starts favourite

General Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Minister of Defence, will be starting off as one of the favourites in today's 120-km Wadi Rum International Endurance ride.

Sheikh Mohammed and nearly 100 other riders are expected to be flagged of at 7am (9am UAE time) in Wadi Rum, about 70 kms from Aqaba.

The ride is being organised by the Royal Jordanian Equestrian Federation under the patronage of RJEF President Princess Alia bint Al Hussein. This is the fifth year the ride is being run.

Sheikh Mohammed, who will be riding Qais, a 10-year-old gelding, did one loop of the ride and said the terrain was very good.

Speaking to the media after training along with other UAE riders Sheikh Mohammed said the route was very good.

"It is very firm and compact while the weather seems to be good," Sheikh Mohammed said.

While the Dh2 million total prize money and the chance to garner some important points towards the FEI World Masters Series is bound to spur the riders on, the breathtaking spectacle of the ancient valleys and towering sandstone mountains rising out of the pink-coloured sands certainly adds up to the thrill.

Wadi Rum, made more famous by the film Lawrence of Arabia, which was almost shot entirely here, draws tourists by the droves and the ride route weaves its way between the sandstone cliffs, making it a very interesting route for the competitors.

Missing from the strong set of UAE riders is World Champion Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Maktoum while Sheikh Rashid bin Mohammed Al Maktoum was expected later in the day.

World junior champion Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, Sultan bin Sulayem, Faisal Seddiq Al Mutawa, Ali Mohammed Al Muhairi and Saeed Al Tayer are some of the other UAE riders taking part.

"The Wadi Rum ride site is without doubt going to become one of the most famous endurance centres," said Faisal Seddiq Al Mutawa.

"When you approach the area where the vet gate is located the cliffs, formation looks like a lion sleeping. The riders are going to enjoy riding here as the route is different and very good. The different and spectacular views that the Wadi Rum area provides will sooth the tiring riders," he added.

While the UAE riders will be starting off as the favourites, hosts Jordan have around 60 runners with the Syrians also entering a strong team of riders.

Riders from Kuwait, Sudan, Palestine, Germany, Lebanon, Egypt, Iraq and Chile complete the list of foreign riders here.

Today's ride, which carries a total prize money of 400,000 Jordan Dinars (Dh2 million), is the richest equestrian prize on offer here. The two-star ride, which is one of the three Masters rides in the Middle East apart from the UAE and Egypt, will be run in five different stages.

The first three stages will be of 30kms distance each while the final two of 15kms each.

The winner will get Dh200,000 with the second, third and fourth-placed riders getting Dh150,000, Dh125,000 and Dh100,000 respectively.

The owner of the Best Conditioned Horse will be awarded Dh50,000.

The ride starts at 7am (9am UAE time) is being shown live on Jordan TV.