Sheikh Rashid gallops to a rousing victory

Sheikh Rashid bin Mohammed Al Maktoum hit top form to score his first win in the UAE's 2002-03 endurance season and serve notice of his intentions for the Endurance World Cup, scheduled for March 26.

Sheikh Rashid, the reigning European Open champion staved off a stiff challenge from Indian rider Younis Ali Khan and the in-form Shareef Mohammed Abdullah Al Baloushi to win the third and final round of the President His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Challenge 130-km ride yesterday at the Dubai Endurance City.

The win also helped Sheikh Rashid clinch the overall champion's title at the end of three rounds with Shareef and Saif Al Ketbi finishing as joint second followed by Buti Saif Al Mazroui.

Riding Laa'oub (Southern Exposure), Sheikh Rashid finished the five-stage ride in 5 hours 35minutes 55 seconds with Younis Ali, on Whynameeh Jarrick, and Shareef, the recent President's Cup winner on Al Bashaar, finishing second and third just 10 seconds behind.

Sheikh Rashid, who ended last season with three successive victories, had only won the Cairo Masters Ride in Egypt after the current season started here and was unlucky to lose a few close rides. However, with General Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Minister of Defence, and Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum retiring their horses at the end of 93kms (third stage), Sheikh Rashid looked determined to win this time.

In the first round Sheikh Rashid had finished second to Shareef and the Al Wathba rider was posing a strong challenge along with Younis Ali in the final 16-km stage. In fact Sheikh Rashid, after a slow start had gathered pace to muster a six-minute lead going into the final round with Younis in pursuit.