NINETY-two riders are in the fray for today's National Guard Endurance Horseride Championship, starting at 5.30am at the Bahrain International Endurance Village in Sakhir.
The second endurance race of the season, to be held under the patronage of National Guard Commander Shaikh Mohammed bin Isa Al Khalifa, will be over 120km.
The race will be divided into five stages. The first and second stages will cover 30km each, 25km for the third stage, 20km for the fourth and 15km for the fifth.
A huge number of riders have confirmed their participation in this challenging event which is open to seniors and juniors of all ages and nationalities.
Among top stables taking part in the senior race is the Royal Endurance Team who will be represented by 18 riders, led by veteran Yusuf Taher who will ride Maraka.
Other prominent team riders include Ghazi Al Dossary, Jaffer Mirza, Khalid Al Ruwaie, Fahad Bakheit, Raed Mahmood, Ahmed Abdulsamad, Abdulhaq Qadoori and Ahmed Abdulsamad.
The remaining Royal team members are Mohammed Batch, Mahindra Singh, Karan Singh, Ahmed Abdulla, Elene Lyon, Morgan S., Abdulrahman Al Zayed and Mohammed Al Thawadi.
Al Talia Stable, another title favourites, will be spearheaded by three riders - Sang Singh Bhati, Samir Singh and Dalpat Singh.
Shaikh Saqer bin Khalid Al Khalifa will lead a three-member team of Al Fateh Stable. The remaining two are Abdulla Al Muawda and Isa Buhazza.
Other stables in the fray include the Kingdom Stable, Al Shuwamekh, Hawar Equestrian, Hossam Mansoor, Jehad Al Sharaf, Awal, Ibrahim Abdali Stable, Al Ruwaie, Falcons, Saar Riding School, Hassan Al Ruwaie, Generation Stable, Al Asayel, Ali Ghuloom and Shabeer Malalla.
In the junior race, the Royal Endurance Team will be represented by Shaikha Maryam Al Khalifa and Ahmed Al Qaud.
From Al Fateh Stable, Shaikha Najla bint Salman Al Khalifa is another favourite to win a podium spot in this category. Shaikh Mohammed bin Khalid Al Khalifa, Isa Al Ghatam and Hussain Aref are the other riders to race for Al Fateh Stable.
Also taking part in the junior races are riders from the Kingdom Stables, Hawar, Al Shuwamekh, Awal, Ras Jameel, Abu Younes, Al Mughairat, Al Ruwaie, Saar, Hassan Al Ruwaie and Al Asayel.
This prestigious championship will also feature two qualifying races over 60km and 80km. These warm-up races mostly attract young riders seeking experience for major events in the future.
In the 80km race, three riders are in the fray and they are Tito from Al Shuwamekh Stables, Nasser Awad from Al Mughairat Stable and Sayed Hussain Sayed Ali from Jawad Radhi Stable.
Six riders will line up in the 60km, including Abdulla Al Qaud and Abdulla Johar of the Royal Endurance Team, Mohammed Al Belooshi and Mohammed Al Khatry and Abdulrahman Ali of Al Asayel Stable besides Amelia Boyd from Abbas Khalil Stable.
Meanwhile, the veterinary examination will be held today from 2.30am until 4.30am at the endurance village. The weight procedures will also take place today during the veterinary examination as each rider should not be less than 75kg in weight.
The veterinarian and grounds jury committee members were announced as Carol B of Great Britain was named head of the ground jury committee which also includes Ghalib Al Alawi, Haider Al Zu'bi of Jordan and Bahrain's Abdulsamad Al Busta, Mahdi Al Kelaiti, Ali Ghuloom and Fahad Al Rumaihi.
Tunisia's Dr Yasine Al Mo'tamiri is head of the veterinary committee which consists of veterinarians from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, India, Argentina and Bahrain.
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