UAE: Yousef Ahmed Al Baloushi Wins President’s Cup Endurance Ride

Khaleej Times
Khaleej Times Online >> News >> SPORTS
15 February 2009

ABU DHABI — Champion trainer Yousef Ahmed Al Baloushi led a 1-2 in the prestigious 10th edition of the President’s Cup Endurance Ride at the Al Wathba International Endurance Village on Saturday. The Ride was run over the distance of 160 kms. The Ride had a total prize purse of Dh 1.5 million and four cars on offer.

Six stages were run which consisted of 34 kms, 32 kms, 30 kms, 24 kms, 24 kms and 16 kms. Yousef, who has trained nine winners in the season so far from the famed Al Reef Stables, finished ahead of cousin Omair Husain Al Baloushi, also from the Al Reef Stables. Yousef, astride Charlandre El Sharif, finished with a timing of six hours, 30 minutes and 53 seconds, just a second ahead of Omair. Omair, ridig Silversprings Kabir Arwa, had a time of six hours, 30 minutes and 54 seconds. Omair had led the Ride right through before Yousef made the charge in the closing stages.

Twenty riders were invited pack from around the world for the Ride which also included World Endurance champion Dubai-based Spaniard Maria Alvarez Ponton. The Ride was supported by the Breeding Stables in Normandy, France owned by Shaikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Presidential Affairs. Winner in 2007 Shaikh Khalid bin Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan and his elder brother Shaikh Hazza bin Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan also took part.

Naser Al Marzouki, astride Kaysand Farrazah, from the Al Aasa Stables, was third with a timing of six hours, 33 minutes and 54 seconds. Ali Mohammad Al Muhairi, who had won the prestigious National Day Cup, astride Sudan, was looking to clinch a double but it was not to be. Ali, riding the same horse owned by Shaikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Minister of Finance and Industry and Deputy Ruler of Dubai, was second in the fourth and fifth loop before he came in fourth with a time of six hours, 36 minutes and five seconds.

Results: 1 Yousef Ahmed Al Baloushi (Charlandre El Sharif) (Al Reef Stables) 6:30.53s; 2. Omair Husain Al Baloushi (Silversprings Kabir Arwa) (Al Reef Stables) 6:30.54s; 3. Naser Al Marzouki (Kaysand Farrazah) (Al Aassa Stables) 6:33.54s; 4. Ali Mohammad Al Muhairi (Sudan) (Shaikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum) 6:36.05s; 5. Bader Ali Al Kayoumi (Silvina) (Shaikh Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan) 6:51.08s.