UAE: Mohammad in Giants Ride even

photo: Adnan Sultan (right) Director-General of Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, Dr Al Fahim, CEO, Hydra Properties and Lara Sawaya, managing director of Tasweeq announcing the 37 National Day Cup and Giants Endurance Challenge.

By M. Satya Narayan, Senior Reporter
Published: December 10, 2008, 23:40

Abu Dhabi: His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai and Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Presidential Affairs, head a strong list of riders in the 120-km Giants Endurance Challenge to be held on Saturday at Emirates International Endurance Village in Al Wathba.

The Giants Ride is the first of the three rounds in the 75-kg Body Weight series and Saturday will also see the prestigious 120-km National Day Cup also being staged at the venue.

Hydra Properties and Shaikh Mansour's breeding stables in Normandy, France have joined hands to sponsor and support the National Day Cup and the Giants Endurance Challenge.

As well as Shaikh Mohammad and Shaikh Mansour, Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Shaikh Majid Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority will also be in the contest. Shaikh Khalid Bin Hamed Al Khalifa and Shaikh Nasser Bin Hamed Al Khalifa are the two top riders from Bahrain who will stage the second round of the Giants Challenge.

Addressing a press conference here yesterday, Adnan Sultan Saif Al Nuaimi of Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club said: "The Second Round will be held in held in Bahrain on January 10, 2009 and Dubai will host the concluding race on February 28, 2009."

"It is also our privilege to collaborate with the Breeding Stables in Normandy, France owned by Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan in sponsoring these two endurance rides and other events this season," said Dr Sulaiman Al Fahim, CEO, Hydra Properties

"This is the first time that Hydra Properties has been involved with the National Day Cup which is one of the most important events and most of the top riders in the UAE will be there to add to the prestige of this event," he said.

"Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan's breeding stables in Normandy, France is supporting the National Day Cup and the Giants Endurance Challenge as part of its promotional campaign," said Lara Sawaya, managing director of Tasweeq.

"The campaign to promote Shaikh Mansour's breeding stables started with the Sorouh Cup Endurance Ride last month and will become more prominent as the season unfolds and will be associated with various equestrian events," she added.