Endurance ride at Boudthib today

By A Correspondent

2 March 2006


DUBAI ? The UAE Equestrian and Racing Federation, in cooperation with the Boudthib Endurance Village, is organising Sheikh Khalid bin Sultan Al Nahyan Challenge Cup for Juniors and Young Riders at Boudthib Endurance Village, Al Khatem, Abu Dhabi, on Thursday, March 2, 2006.

The CEI, Two-star, 100-km ride, which will be run in four phases of 30 km, 30 km, 24 km and 16 km respectively, has so far attracted over 30 riders. The ride is scheduled to have a mass start at 6.30 am.

The Federation is also organising two Federation Qualifiers on the same day at the same venue. The 84 ?km Qualifier, which will be run in three phases of 30 km, 30 km and 24 km respectively, will feature around 50 riders and will start at 6.45 am. As many as another 50 riders will vie for qualification in the 46-km ride which will be run in two phases of 30 km and 16 km respectively and will be flagged off at 7 a.m.

The UAE Equestrian Federation organizes Federation Qualifiers at regular intervals to help riders and horses to qualify themselves to ride in higher category rides.

The rides are held under the patronage of Shaikh Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Emirates Heritage Club. The Boudthib Endurance Village is part of the Emirates Heritage Club.

The Emirates Heritage Club is closely involved in the development of several traditional and cultural activities and sports in the country, including endurance riding. The club also provides vital training facilities for children in the UAE and its modern and excellently planned endurance village has become a training ground for several aspiring young endurance riders.

Boudthib is located past Al Wathba on the left side of the Abu Dhabi-Al Ain highway. One can also reach the Boudthib endurance Village from different emirates by following these directions: From Abu Dhabi ? On Al Ain Road at exit for Zayed Military City, turn left and follow signs.

From Dubai- On Abu Dhabi Road at Al Mafraq bridge take exit to Al Ain Road and continue up to exit for Zayed Military City, turn left and follow signs.

From Al Ain ? On Abu Dhabi Road at Al Khatem Bridge exit right and follow signs.

The sheik behind the port deal

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By Susan Chandler and Stephen Franklin, Tribune staff reporters. Tribune reporters Ameet Sachdev, Thomas A. Corfman, Becky Yerak, James P. Miller and Mike Hughlett, and The Associated Press contribute
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He is an acclaimed poet. He is a world-class equestrian who favors endurance racing. He is an ardent believer in economic development from a country with close U.S. ties, a man who has built amazing hotels, shopping centers and office towers, transforming his tiny city-state into an international finance center and playground for jet-setters.

With his existing investments in U.S. hotels, Sun Belt apartments and health-care facilities, Dubai ruler Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum doesn't seem like the kind of foreign investor who would create a political uproar on Capitol Hill. But a proposed $6.8 billion deal by a state-owned Dubai company to take over operations at six U.S. ports has done exactly that.

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The Bahraini riders represent three stables - Royal Endurance Team, Ahmed Al Fateh and Al Asayel. The Royal Endurance Team riders are veteran Khalid Al Ruwaie, Mohammed Abdulaziz, Abdulsamad brothers Mohammed and Ahmed, Jaffer Mirza and Raed Mahmood.

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Leading experts in equine health care and endurance-related fields will be featured at several seminar sessions. Other highlights of the AERC's convention will include a trade show featuring vendors from across the country. Regional awards will be presented at an evening reception on February 23, and the convention will culminate with AERC's national awards on the evening of February 25.

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UAE: Nasser wins President?s Cup Endurance Ride

By Amith Passela
17 February 2006

ABU DHABI ? Twentyfour-year-old Dubai policeman Nasser Abdulla Mohammed Al Marzouqi claimed the President?s Cup on Kaysand Farrazah from defending champion Marzooq Salem Al Marri on Ro-Fabiola here at the Emirates International Endurance Village in Al Wathba yesterday.

Nasser?s first ever victory in seven years was also the first President?s Cup in seven attempts for owner His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

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EnduranceNet Coverage

UAE: President's Cup Victory

Abu Dhabi: Dubai policeman Naser Abdulla Mohammad Al Marzouqi came up with a live replay of a dream he had the night before to score a superb win in the 160-km endurance ride yesterday and lift the HH The President Cup yesterday.

Riding Kaysand Farrazah, a 10-year-old grey gelding owned by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice- President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, Al Marzouqi completed the 160-km ride on a dry and dusty afternoon to realise his dream and also register his first career win in seven years.

Yesterday's prestigious President Cup ride at the Emirates International Endurance Village in Al Wathba had attracted a strong field and was attended by Shaikh Mohammad, Shaikh Sultan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister, and Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance and Industry.

Al Marzouqi, who completed the ride in 7 hrs 16 mins and 29secs, was followed home by the defending champion Marzooq Salem Al Merri on RoFabiola and the 2001 winner Hassan Bin Ali on Moonlight Prince.

"The night before the ride I had a dream that I had a good chance of winning," said the 24-year old who had finished fourth, third and fourth in his last three starts.

"The field was very strong but I had a good start. Then as the ride progressed, my horse looked in top condition. Just before the final two loops of the six-stage race I knew I could win the Cup," said Al Marzouqi, who has been riding since 1999.

He and Kaysand Farrazah, a horse trained by former UAE champion Mubarak Khalifa Bin Shafya, were always in the lead pack starting off in fourth place after the first 34kms and the next 32 kms. The pair then made a move to move into the second position after the third stage of 30 kms.

Al Marzouqi then took the lead after the fourth loop and after that, just kept building on that to finally win well.

His speed on the final loop touched 27.32 kmph but that effort could not better last year's President's Cup best of 7:02.21 set by Al Merri and Ro-Fabiola, the pair who finished second.

"I tried my best but the winning horse was very good," said Al Merri, who however managed to overtake the second-placed Hassan Bin Ali and finish behind the winner. The nine-year-old Ro-Fabiola, however, earned the Best Conditioned Horse award to make Al Wathba Stables proud.

Among the favourites, only Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Al Maktoum, the reigning European Open champion, managed to do well with a sixth place finish on Nashmi as the former world champions, Shaikh Ahmad Bin Mohammad Al Maktoum, Valerie Kanavy and Danielle McGuinus, failed to make an impact.

While Shaikh Ahmad made an exit after the third stage, the mother and daughter pair of Valerie and Danielle were out after the fourth stage as both their horses went lame.

Shaikh Hazza Bin Sultan Al Nahyan on Hachim was also unfortunate when the rider withdrew after the fifth stage just before the final 16km loop.

Yesterday's ride was sponsored by Dubai Waterfront, National Bank of Dubai and Omega.

Results

1. Naser Abdulla Mohammad Al Marzouqi (Kaysand Farrazah) 7hrs 16mins 29 secs

2. Marzooq Salem Al Merri (Ro-Fabiola) 7:22.40

3. Hassan Bin Ali (Moonlight Prince) 7:28.27

4. Majid Mohammad Salman Al Sabri (Zakah Zahara) 7:31.37

5. Salem Rashid Bin Ghadayer (Dalton Du Capimont) 7:33.07

6. Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Al Maktoum (Nashmi) (7:33.08)

7. Jaume Punti Dachs-Spain- (Elvis Hab) 8:13.46

8. Khalifa Bin Ghailata (El Estande) 8:24.35

9. Udo von Schauroth-Namibia- (Barges) 8:27.36

10. Monica Comas Molist-Spain- (Janik An Triskell) 8:43:27

http://www.endurance.net/international/2006PresidentsCup/