Jameela steers Allura Park Star Minoan to victory

Gulf News article
By M. Satya Narayan, Senior Reporter
Published: March 02, 2008, 00:09

Abu Dhabi: It was a memorable day for Jameela Ahmad as the lady rider from Al Ain Endurance Stables won the 100-km Abu Dhabi Endurance Cup for privately owned horses and small stables yesterday one of the oldest endurance horses currently in competition.

Allura Park Star Minoan, an Arabian chestnut gelding, is a battle-scarred veteran and the 21-year-old carried Jameela to her first win which helped the lady rider wclaim a Nissan car.

Jameela and Allura had together finished fifth in a similar ride held here during the three-day Shaikh Sultan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Festival and yesterday the pair pulled it off with an average speed of 21.45kmph for the 100-km distance.

"He is a great horse. During the last ride here I slowed down considerable on the final two loops. But today he showed the willingness to go for it and it is a great day for both of us," said Jameela, who switched to endurance from showjumping a few years back.

While Grand O' Sultan and Pieraz have been legends on the endurance circuits for winning three consecutive and two world championships respectively, Allura Park Star Minoan will also go down as an ageing champion and perhaps has a few more wins up his hooves!

Great result

Jameela and Allura completed the four-stage 100-km ride in 4 hrs 40 min and 20 sec with Abdul Rahman on Fahd and Abdul Aziz Al Redha on Mafalda De Bellevue next home.

Al Ain Endurance Stables chief Mattar Al Yabouni, who just on Thursday scored two goals to star in Al Ain Mineral Water Team's triumph in the HH President's Cup polo, said yesterday's win for the stables was a great result. "With Jameela's triumph, it will be encouragement for more such national riders to come to the fore," Yabhouni said.

Results: 1. Jameela Ahmad (Allura Park Star Minoan) 4 hrs 40 mins 20 secs; 2. Abdul Rahman Saleh Al Marzouqi (Fahd) 4:48.19; 3.Abdul Aziz Al Redha (Mafalda De Bellevue) 4:54.31; 4. Hamad Ebrahim Abdullah Al Marzouqi (El Mudo) 5:09.35; 5. Ahmad Tariq Abdullah Al Mutawa (Quintet) 5:28.15.