Abu Dhabi: Saudi rider wins 90km Shaikha Fatima ladies cup

Gulfnews.com - Full Article

By M. Satya Narayan, Senior Reporter
January 23, 2010

Latifa grabs lead in final two loops of race

Abu Dhabi : Saudi Arabia's Latifa Al Shaikh got the best out of her 14-year-old grey gelding Coolaroo Jubal on the final two loops to win the 90km Shaikha Fatima Bint Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Endurance Cup for Ladies ride yesterday at the Emirates International Endurance Village.

In a close finish, Latifa finished ahead of Morocco's Maha Khalid on Princess Diana TE with Estonia's Kaja Tuist on Chazar Queen of Hearts in third place.

Kaja Tuist set the pace, recording an average speed of nearly 30km an hour in the first stage of 30km, and maintaining that lead after the next stage of 24km.

However, in the third loop of 20km, Latifa made her move and soon went ahead to top that stage with Morocco's Maha moving into second followed by Spain's Uma Mencia Uranga while leader Kaja Tuist slipped to fifth place.

Long-learnt skills

Going into the final stage of 16km, Latifa, who has been involved in equestrian since the age of four, used her skills to keep Coolaroo Jubal in good condition and won the 90km ladies ride.

Maha finished second while Kaja Tuist again moved into third place.

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