Major win, says elated Hamdan

Gulf News Article
By M. Satya Narayan, Senior Reporter
Published: February 17, 2008, 01:26

Abu Dhabi: Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, hailed his success at the HH The President Cup on Saturday as one of his most prestigious triumphs.

"Me and my horse finishing first is a major triumph. But the bigger victory is in the fact that it is the HH The President of the United Arab Emirates Endurance Cup," said Shaikh Hamdan after his win.

Shaikh Hamdan's best display in the eight-year history of the President's Cup has been a second-place finish in 2002 and sixth place finishes in the inaugural year and again in 2006.

Immediately after his horse passed the final veterinary inspection and was declared the winner, Shaikh Hamdan wound a UAE flag around Kaysand Farrazah, a horse with which he enjoys a close relationship having finished fourth in the European Open Championship in 2007 (Portugal). "I dedicate this win to His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Presidential Affairs, and Shaikha Fatma Bint Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan," Shaikh Hamdan said.