Zabeel Stables make it three in a row

Zabeel Stables completed a hat-trick of titles at the Horse & Carriage Team Karting Challenge held at the Emirates Karting Centre late on Tuesday. The Royal Stables and Jebel Ali Stables took second and third place.

Ahmed Ajtebi, a UAE national, from the Metropolitan Stables, completed the fastest race lap in 52.377 seconds.

As many as 10 teams took part in this friendly inter-stable competition, including the last minute Sheikh Saeed All Stars, brought together by local equestrian personality, Sheikh Saeed bin Maktoum bin Khalifa Al Maktoum.

This was the third Horse & Carriage Team Karting Challenge and the Zabeel Stables team has been victorious in all three.

Richard Mullen, Metropolitan Stables, qualified for pole position, but half a lap into the race Uday Singh, assistant trainer at Zabeel Stables, took the lead.

The second lap of the race saw a black flag for W-rsan Farm for driving in the gravel and a broken steering mechanism for Dubai Stables, which set them back five laps while they waited for repairs.

Nine minutes into the race Zabeel Stables had a six-second lead. Their teamwork and attention to strategy ensured they never relinquished that position during the two-hour race.

Uday Singh of the triumphant team, said: "It-s great to have an event outside horse racing. The team event has brought everyone together."

"I-m delighted that such a range of men and women, from jockeys and trainers, to work riders, farriers and secretaries took part in this event," said John Watts, owner of Horse & Carriage.

Horse & Carriage held the Team Karting Challenge in 2001, 2002 and 2004 and this was the first time the challenge was held at the Emirates Karting Centre in Jebel Ali.

The karting teams comprised of a minimum of four and a maximum of six drivers, with at least one lady driver. Compulsory driver changes were called for every 20 minutes.

Results:
1. Zabeel Stables; 2. Royal Stables; 3. Jebel Ali Stables; 4. Millennium 2 Stables; 5. Metropolitan Stables.