February 20 2025
Al Hasani makes history on opening day of HH Sheikh Mohammed Endurance Festival
Dubai, United Arab Emirates: Zamzam Al Hasani made history by becoming the first Omani female to win an event on the HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Endurance Festival schedule when she claimed the Ladies Cup sponsored by Azizi Developments on the opening day of the 2025 meeting at Dubai International Endurance City in Seeh Al Salam on Tuesday.
And what a victory it turned out to be as she made a colossal leap up the leaderboard to claim the summit in the nick of time aboard the Seeh Al Salam Endurance Stables-owned and Salem Mohammed Al Sabousi-trained Dorzok. The pair were 11th heading into the last of four loops of the DIEC 101km HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Cup for Ladies, but somehow managed to clinch victory by a second with a time of three hours, 22 minutes and 57 seconds (3:22:57).
The Omani rider was followed home by a pair of M7 Stables riders in Argentina’s Milena Mendez, who might have been heartbroken after clocking a close 3:22:58 on the back of Poli, and fellow South American, Luba Leoni Varela, of Uruguay, who partnered Willowmere Encore and was home in 3:23:38. Both M7 Stables horses were trained by Mohammed Ahmad Al Sabousi.
Al Maghaweer Stables’ Italian rider Veronica Giussani took command of the race aboard DS Creston having posted the fastest time over the first loop spanning 35 kms, but made way for Reem Al Mansoori on Al Aasfa 2 Endurance Stables’ Agora VF to take over during the course of the 25 km second loop.
In a bid to keep reserve in the tank for the final loop, Al Mansoori rode with reservation during the course of the third loop over 21 kms and dropped to 20th on the leaderboard. That left Fay Mohammad Ali aboard Al Bararri Stables’ Hoggar D’Olbia as the one to catch during the course of the fourth and final loop spanning 20 kms.
Al Hosani’s only major previous success had arrived in the CEN Ladies 100km Ladies Emirates Heritage Club Cup in 2017. Thereafter, she won a minor event at Barka in her native Oman. However, determined to make amends she ensured the opportunity did not pass her by. She started the day ranked 11th and moved up two spots during the second loop, but she was back to where she started going into the final loop of the competition after falling two spots. Aiming from 11th, 1m:20s behind Fay was never going to be easy, but determined as she was, Al Hosani revved up the engine of her 15-year-old Arabian partner and rode at 36.02kph during the final 20 km loop, up from 28.64kph previously, to go past Fay and a host of others and claim her well-deserved victory.
For their part, Mendez and Varela did well to move into the podium spots after setting off for the final loop from 14th and 17th respectively.
The Ladies Cup sponsored by Azizi Developments witnessed a total of 106 pairings start, but only 46 were deemed to have completed the ride.
The HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Endurance Festival is held in honour of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, a former World Endurance Champion himself and one of the world’s most ardent supporters and benefactors of equestrian sport.
The five-day Festival comprises four rides in all, with the Ladies Cup sponsored by Azizi Developments followed by tomorrow’s 101km Private Stables competition. The third event on the Festival’s schedule is the Gamilati Endurance Cup for Mares sponsored by Al Tayer Motors, a 120km ride that will be held on Thursday, 20 February.
The Festival culminates on Saturday, 22 February, with the showpiece HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Endurance Cup sponsored by Emirates Airline, a 160km ride designed to test the skill and ability of both horse and rider. Pic
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HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Endurance Festival's Private Stables Cup
Al Awasif claim a 1-3 in HH Sheikh Mohammed Cup for Private Stables
Dubai, United Arab Emirates: Al Awasif 2 Stables clinched the HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Cup for Private Stables on the second day of the HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Endurance Festival after Ali Mohammed Qambar Al Blooshi guided Sandine Raptor with absolute consistency during the course of the 101 km ride to gain a comfortable victory at Dubai International Endurance City in Seeh Al Salam on Wednesday.
Riding the Australian bred eight-year-old Anglo-Arab gelding, Al Blooshi completed the four-loop ride in a time of three hours, 24 minutes and 37 seconds (3:24:37) to claim what was the biggest prize of his career so far.
Finishing second were Zabeel Stables pair of Maitha Al Qubaisi and her mount Picnic Park Parisian Dawn with a time of 3:24:45, while third place was claimed by another Al Awasif 2 Stables rider Hind Albedwawi, who completed the ride aboard Schelmigra Truckstarr in a time of 3:24:53.
Al Blooshi began the day with the 12th best time of the first loop spanning 35 km, which saw Anan Aref Al Katheeri take the summit on the SM Private Stables-owned Cadete TB. Al Katheeri managed to hold on to her position during the course of the 25 km second loop, but dropped to seventh during the 21 km third loop which saw Layla Al Marqooqi of Al Kamda Endurance Stables on Goldika Folie take charge of proceedings going into the fourth and final phase spanning 20 kms.
With consistency Al Blooshi did well to move up the rung. He climbed four spots during the second phase and then a further three during the third loop and set himself to aim for glory from fifth. And with plenty left in the tank of Sandine Raptor, he was able to easily cast aside the four riders ahead of him and win with an average speed of 29.62 kph.
Al Qubaisi was one of those riders ahead of him going into the final loop and managed to hold on to second even as Albedwawi stormed home to finish third.
The HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Endurance Festival is held in honour of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, a former World Endurance Champion himself and one of the world’s most ardent supporters and benefactors of equestrian sport.
The five-day Festival comprises four rides in all and got underway on Tuesday with the Ladies Cup sponsored by Azizi Developments, which was won by Omani rider Zamzam Al Hasani. The third event on the Festival’s schedule is tomorrow’s 120 km Gamilati Endurance Cup for Mares sponsored by Al Tayer Motors.
The Festival culminates on Saturday, 22 February, with the showpiece HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Endurance Cup sponsored by Emirates Airline, a 160 km ride designed to test the skill and ability of both horse and rider.
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HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Endurance Festival's Gamilati Cup for Mares sponsored by Al Tayer Motors
Al Mazrouei wins Gamilati for MRM by fractions of a second
Dubai, United Arab Emirates: In an extremely keenly-contested renewal of the Gamilati Cup for Mares sponsored by Al Tayer Motors, Saif Al Mazrouei managed to grind out a sensational victory for MRM Stables aboard Bullio Ahnu by the narrowest of margins after clocking the exact same time as Al Aasfa Stables rider Niroshan Periyalagan.
The 120 km ride at Dubai International Endurance City was the third ride on the ongoing HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Endurance Festival schedule and brought joy to the home team as Al Mazrouei was adjudged the victor after a review of the fractions that made up the final second on the clock. Both Al Mazrouei and Periyalagan were clocked at an identical four hours, 21 minutes and 56 seconds (4:21:56).
Emirati Al Mazrouei did well to stay close to the top of the leaderboard dominated by Seeh Al Salam Stables pairing of Hazeem Al Shehhi and his mount Nastasi. The pair led from the start and looked set to go all the way, however, Al Mazrouei, fifth after loop one and then second over the two subsequent phases, and company had different plans and put paid to the hopes harboured by Al Shehhi with higher revs on their respective mounts.
While Emirati rider Al Mazrouei rode the final loop at 28.28kph, his Sri Lankan counterpart Periyalagan went about his business at a marginally quicker 28.55kph as he looked for a podium spot from his 10th-place at the end of the penultimate loop. It worked out well for the chasing pair as they turned the competition into a match race with Al Mazrouei winning by the skin of his teeth.
Third place Mohammed Al Farsi aboard Al Maghaweer Stables’ HM Kika Kaiser did well to finish third with a time of 4:22:00, climbing 11 spots during the course of the final loop. Al Tayer Motors, sponsors of the Gamilati Cup for Mares, gave away 10 cars, including Defenders, to the top 10 finishers in the race. The event witnessed a total of 130 pairings start, but with 81 eliminated during the course of the competition, only 49 were deemed to have completed the ride.
Organised by Dubai Equestrian Club, the HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Endurance Festival is held in honour of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, a former World Endurance Champion himself and one of the world’s most ardent supporters and benefactors of equestrian sport.
The five-day Festival comprises four rides in all and culminates on Saturday, 22 February, with the showpiece HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Endurance Cup sponsored by Emirates Airline, a 160km ride designed to test the stamina and skill of both horse and rider.
ABOUT DUBAI EQUESTRIAN CLUB
Established in 2002 by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, Dubai Equestrian Club is a world leader in the sport of endurance riding and a pioneer when it comes to organising competitions in the United Arab Emirates at its purpose-built, state-of-the-art Dubai International Endurance City. Its annual calendar is headlined by two globally-renowned events: the HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Endurance Festival and Crown Prince of Dubai Endurance Festival.
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