Mubarak Khalifa bin Shafya wins Omega sponsored Triple Crown

Mubarak Khalifa bin Shafya rode Comes The Dawn to win the 140-km third and final leg of the Omega-sponsored Triple Crown Endurance ride at Dubai Endurance City on March 25. A total of 32 riders started off at 6 in the morning in the last ride of the season for Dubai.

The temperature soared to the mid-80’s (29C), which advised constraint for many of the riders. Bin Shafya, a former National Champion, still finished exactly 10 minutes ahead of Majed Khalfan Al Jahouri, himself a top contender. Jaber Bittar, of Al Reef Stables, finished in third place. Bin Shafya, who was the top UAE rider in the domestic circuit two years ago, finished the first loop in fifth place, and rode cautiously before taking over the lead after the third stage.
"It was very hot out there from the first stage itself”, said Bin Shafya. “However towards the latter part of the ride there was a lot of wind which provided a lot of relief to the horses. Comes The Dawn is one of the best horses and I am thankful to Sheikh Saeed bin Maktoum Al Maktoum for all his support," said the winner.

Leader after the first two rounds, young Sheikh Rashid bin Hamdan Al Maktoum finished seventh.

Before the last stage, General Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Crown Prince and Minister of Defense, was riding in fourth place, but withdrew from the ride before the final loop, keeping in mind the welfare of his horse as he felt that the heat was a bit harsh over the 140km distance.

Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance and Industry, along with Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum also attended the ride.

Anna Kournikova, celebrity tennis star, was flown down by Omega, who sponsored this final leg of the Triple Crown. She said she was overawed after watching the horses and riders in action. "This is the first time I have watched an endurance ride and it was unbelievable. The horses and riders were really working hard out there in the sun and it seems to be a wonderful sport," said the Russian.


Results

Triple Crown final leg (provisional)
1. Mubarak Khalifa bin Shafya (Comes The Dawn) 6:44.58;
2. Majid Khalfan Al Jahouri (Almanda Special Edition) 6:54.58;
3. Jaber Bittar (Beniarich Rezek Al Arab) 7:13.59;
4. Hassan Ahmed Al Bloushi (Rowallan Shanty) 7:14.00;
5. Ahmed Ali bin Harmash (Walstroom Hammam) 7:25.10;
6. Jesus Manuel Berna (Jamile) 7:54.12
7. Sheikh Rashid bin Hamdan Al Maktoum (Damas El Ainhoa) 8:02.46
8. Rashed Hamad Al Suwaidi (Zeyn Sha Zam) 8:02.56

Pinamar - Pan American Pre-ride wrap-up

03.24.2004
Steph Teeter



...The completion rate for the 160km was pretty good, most riders were simply trying to get a solid completion or qualify for the WEC. Some of the horses looked great at the end, some looked tired. I´m still trying to get full results, with gate times, recovery times, etc, it will be interesting. I think most of the eliminations were lameness, a lot of the horses don't train in the sand, and there was a lot of muscle fatigue from pushing off of the deep footing, and strain from pulling the feet out of the deep sand. Many people are realizing that they will need to train in the sand for next year´s Pan American.

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CEI *** ends Dubai's endurance season

Dubai 3/25/04: General Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and UAE Minister of Defence, leads a strong field of riders in the March 25 CEI-Three Star ride, which will also end Dubai's endurance season for 2003-04 with the end of a 3 ride series. The ride will be 140-km and will have six stages of 32, 29, 26, 19, 19 and 15km.

Sheikh Mohammed, the reigning European Open champion, is scheduled to ride the eight-year-old part-Arab chestnut gelding, Maldiyo, in the race held at Dubai Endurance City in Seih Assalem.

More than 30 riders are expected to get off to a mass start at 6am. Sheikh Rashid bin Hamdan Al Maktoum, who is currently leading the Triple Crown, will be looking for a good finish in the 140-km event.

Sheikh Rashid will again ride Shikira, the horse that he rode to a third place in both the first and second rounds of the Triple Crown races.

In addition to Sheikh Mohammed some of the other top contenders are Abdul Rahim Al Juneibi, Majed Khalfan Al Jahouri, Mubarak Khalifa bin Shafya Hassan bin Ali, Jaber Bittar and Saeed Al Tayer. Among some of the top riders from outside the UAE, Italy's Gianluca Laliscia on Shock, France's Marc le Bervet on Al Rumani and Spain's Jesus Manuel Berna are among the frontrunners.

Extreme temperatures might be a problem, and the riders and horses may have to contend with some tough conditions. Because of this, the average speed is expected to be much lower than the usually fast speeds for which the UAE riders are known.

Top tennis star Anna Kournikova, spokesperson for Omega, is scheduled to attend today's ride, sponsored by Omega. Many world visitors, in the city for the Dubai World Cup on Saturday, are also expected to view the ride.

Pinamar Ride Results

23Mar 2004
Steph Teeter and www.solocaballos.com


We have received preliminary results for the CEI***/** events which occured at Pinamar Argentina on 20Mar. The 160km *** event was won by Joesfina Chas from Argentina riding JC Farid in a time of 9:53. This is an average speed of 16:19.

Best Condition for the 160km event was awarded to ZC Hyshah riden by Andrea Pajudas also of Argentina. There were 27 starters in the 160km with 18 finishers.

The 147km event was won by Beatriz Muriel riding Cal Flaming Mar in a ride time of 06:47:00 (18.72 km/hr ave). Best Condition was not awarded in the 147 km event. There were 17 starters and 8 finishers in the event.

Further results, including we hope, statistics for the gates will be availabel in the near future.

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AERC Research Grants Awarded

AERC Research Grants Committee
Report for March 2004 - bob morris Chair

The American Endurance Ride Conference Research Grants
Committee now has in place two studies that will take place
this summer. One is to be done by the University of
Pennsylvania, New Bolton Center with Mary M Durando, DVM,
PhD, Dip ACVIM (internal medicine) Research Assistant
Professor, Section of Sports Medicine as principal
investigator.

This study is entitled; Can successful endurance performance
be predicted by physiology? Relationship between a
heart-specific regulatory protein (cardiac troponin I),
electrocardiograms, and competitive performance in endurance
horses."

The second grant that is in place will be done by, Michigan
State University, with Harold Schott, DVM, PhD, Department
of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, as principal
investigator.

Dr. Schott will: ....


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TYX Passes

On Saturday March 20th, the Arabian race world was sad to lose another star, when Tyx (SAMTYR x DIMFIXA), owner by Flight Leader Farm in Texas, died of a massive heart attack. TYX was standing at the farm owned by David Kaden and Tracy Webb. TYX (1986) has sired some notable endurance horses, among them, Shahdon, winner of the 2003 AHA 100 mile National Championship and BC; Maqina, winner of the 2003 Japan Cup and BC; Celebracion, winner of the FEI 80km race in Norway 2/04 & BC; Tycker Tape won BC in his first race in Japan; Dunedust, winner of Renegade III and Cow Tanks III ridden by Alyx Luck; and Proud Legacy, winner of the 2003 Kings Forest FEI ride in England. Flight Leader Farm has a supply of frozen semen at Colorado State University so the Tyx progeny will continue.

Riders endure much for the love of horses

The Oregonian
03/21/04
WALLY BENSON

It's a vacation most of us probably have never imagined taking.
An hour south of Nampa, Idaho, in late October. Far from warm beaches -- or warm anything, for that matter. Milling about in a small city of pickups, horse trailers, horses and dogs, with water hoses that freeze overnight and outhouses that don't have roofs.

Really.

This was a gathering of people who love horses -- and of people who love those people. This was a world where riding a horse 25 or even 30 miles is considered 'limited distance.' "

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