Abdullah and Faisal make UAE proud

Abdullah Khamis Ali Saeed from the Al Reef stables rode Tora Blar-Zay to victory in the Seniors' section of the historic Tom Quilty 160km endurance ride in Australia.

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By M. Satya Narayan, Staff Reporter


Abu Dhabi: Abdullah Khamis Ali Saeed and Shaikh Faisal Bin Abdullah Al Qasimi did the UAE proud by winning the Senior and Junior rides at the historic Tom Quilty 160km endurance ride in Australia on Saturday.

Abdullah Khamis Ali Saeed from the Al Reef stables rode Tora Blar-Zay to victory completing the 160km distance in a timing of 9hrs 15 mins.

Shaikh Faisal, who won the silver medal at the World Junior Championship held in Bahrain, finished on top in the junior section, riding Kaysand Farrah to victory.

Shaikh Faisal took 10 hours 39 minutes to win the junior title. The Tom Quilty endurance event is the national endurance riding championship of Australia and is held annually in a different state.

Yesterday's ride was held in Boonah in south east Queensland.

Speaking to Gulf News from Boonah, Abdullah Khamis said he was very happy with the win. "It was wet and cold and we had a mid-night start. There were over 150 riders in the fray," he said.

"This is one of the most prestigious rides in the world and I am yet to get over the win," said Abdullah, who pushed Australian Howard Harris on Harmere Turfan to second place with Brook Sample on Brookleigh Mozart in third.

Abdullah Khamis has won quite a few rides here in the tough domestic circuit including the prestigious President's Cup.

"It was a very challenging ride and the rain had made the track very treacherous," said David Marshal, a former endurance trainer here in the UAE.

"Both Abdullah Khamis Ali Saeed and Shaikh Faisal displayed a lot of maturity to emerge the winner from a quality field," said Marshal, a New Zealander.

"With over 300 riders in total taking part in this ride, this is without doubt the biggest event and the two UAE riders winning here once again go to demonstrate the strength of UAE in the endurance sport," he said.

Results

Seniors:

1. Abdullah Khamis Ali Saeed (Tora Blar-Zay) 9hrs 15 mins.
2. Howard Harris (Harmere Turfan) 9:25.
3. Brook Sample (Brookleigh Mozart) 9:48.

Juniors:

1. Shaikh Abdullah Bin Faisal Al Qassimi (Kaysand Farrah) 10 hrs 39 mins.
2. Sasha Laws-King (Tubbarubba Cheval) 11.02.
3. Helen Toft (Don) 11.11.